Customer Reviews

3rd Eye Vision [Explicit]

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have been a fan of Hieroglyphics like I have, then you are going love this cd. The album's first single "You Never Knew" will capture your heart. Third Eye Vision (the name of the album) is different from the mainsteam rap that we here now days. Hieroglyphics mastered the art of staying ths same and yet still keeping the songs fresh and new. They have not fallen into the "money and fame" pit that most Hip-Hop artists have over recent years. They state this fact most prodominantly the song "Dune Methane". Each member of Hieroglyphics has a interlude to demonstrate the unique skills of there talents. And unlike most musical interludes on some albums, these managed to last at least a minute and thirty seconds. The most impressionable thing about this album is rhyming skills of every single member of the group. Everybody sounds different but they all come together to form one great flow. Almost every song on this album should have you dancing in your chair. If you want a definite hit in your cd or tape collection, pick up Third Eye Vision. This surely represents one of the best Hip-Hop has to offer in the ninties!

This album, from '98, is exactly what hiphop is meant to be; immaculate lyrics,flows,beats and samples,cuts & alla that good stuff! yeh! 3rd Eye vision is fresh... the feel you get is reminiscent of bizzare ride II (Pharcyde), with a jazzy feel that reminds you of why hiphop is so good. The group; made up of Del (the funkee homosapien), Pep Love, A-Plus, Causal, Tajai, Opio, Phesto, Domino, Jay-Biz, Toure & Extra Prolific (well, not really anymore since events that had taken place between him & casual's sister were revealed) show that they're in it for the love and not for the money...with every MC kicking a verse in a track all to themselves! STRAIGHT HIP HOP. All I can say, is if you are into that jazzy, fresh, original essence of hip hop then this is for you! Although it is somewhat of an aquired taste, most real heads will have stumbled across a slept on gem here,(By the way, check out Del's; no need for alarm/Future Development and Extra Prolific's ; like it should be...as they are the best from the groups memebers, in my opinion, and worthy of recognition!)

Best Tracks : Off the Record
You Never Knew
Mics of the roundtable
See Delight
The Last one (but every single track is sick!) DONT SLEEP

LYRICS - 10/10
BEATS - 10/10
ORIGINALITY - 10/10
Peace

If you found this helpful, check out my other reviews

I was over at a friend's house one day and he decided to pop in an underground cd he'd found to check it out. Well it turned out to Third Eye Vision and I heard some of the best hip-hop that I'd ever heard. I was completely amazed at what I had been missing for the last 5 years or so in all of the individual efforts put forth from various members of the Hiero crew. But this cd really brings it all together: great beats, great lyrics, and excellent flows. It's a shame that relatively many people still have not heard of Hieroglyphics, but if you the reader happen to stumble upon this review, then trust me, this is a must have album. If you're a fan of real hip-hop, then this will be a relief from all the [stuff] that wishes it could hip-hop that you hear today. I would also recommend checking out some titles from Del the Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Casual, and Pep Love if you find that you like this album.

For years now the Hieroglyphics have released numorous albums estabolishing themselves a household name in the West Coast. But right before this album, many tragedies struck the Hiero Fam. First Del the Funkee Homosapien was cut from Electra's Record's Roster after the album "No Need For Alarm". Souls Of Mischief were also cut from their record label after their release "No Man's Land". Casual had a fall out with a good fiend Saafir which sparked the Hobo Junction/Hiero battle. And last Hiero member Snupe of Extra Prolific was cut during the making of this album. The whole Hiero fam would put their minds together to come out with an underground classic "Third Eye Vision" (believe it or not, this is their debut as a whole group). I have to say that this album blew my mind completely, because I didn't think that this group was going to come off with anything special on this album. Boy was I wrong.

One thing that many fans have an expectation is that each memeber to rhyme over some funky-jazzy type production, as was shown in previous Hiero albums. The majority of these songs fit that type of description. Mostly with some nice samples added to it. "You Never Knew" would be one of those songs, as most of the members open up the album, giving what you to expect. Another example is the low funky song "All Things" as Opio and Pep Love trade verses. Another great song that carries with a nice beat is "Miles To The Sun", the very last track on the album.

Also, the Hieroglyphics are known for comming off with some hard but at the same time creative lyrics. An example of what I can think of is on the song "No Nuts", Del The Funkee Homosapien says "Even if our demo tapes add to the myth of Hiero's gifts/ Those that don't agree is just pleading the Fifth...". Many of the members get their own chance to shine on their self-titled tracks, cutting a rhyme for about a minute in a half, possibly letting new fans know who is who if they didn't know. Aside from those, the members would also come off hard on normal tracks. Del is mostly known for his battle rhymes dissing wack emcees, head on the song "At The Helm", telling people if they don't have the rhymes, not to speak. Pep Love's dark and echo voice, carries on the dark song "After Dark". The Souls Of Mischief would come together to pass the mic around throughout the song "Mics Of The Roundtable". Another great song is when some of the members come togeher for the song "Off The Record" to show off their mic skills.

I believe that is one of the most under respected, and unappriciated albums that ever came out in the 90's. All of the Hieroglyphics related albums were heavily slept on, and this would be a fresh new independant start to gain some appriciation. I just so happened to read the magazine reviews that this album received, and saw that The Source called this album medicore and gave it 3 mics. It shouldn't suprise me, because this album came out in 1998, when mostly rappers from the east coast and the south were starting to blow up. So when something like this came from Oakland, the media didn't want anything like this to become national and stay underground. God forbid people to accept who you are, if you kept true to your mic skills, and didn't rhyme about cars, girls, or shooting someone like everyone else did back in '98. Also around that time, there was a saying that "The West Coast was dead", and I highly can prove that untrue. Comming from the south, I've always believed that The West Coast can come with some of the most creative music to hear, and the Hieroglyphics "Third Eye Vision" just proves that. I recommend this to anyone and everyone who like underground hip hop with creativity.

Lyrics: A

Production: A+

Musical Vibes: A+

Overall: A+

My favorites: You Never Knew, All Things, Duane Methane, Mics Of The Roundtable, Off The Record, Miles To The Sun

It was about six months ago when I decided to take a plunge and go for this album. Not that I had any prior knowledge about these guys: I just had to witness for myself what the fuss is all about, and boy, am I glad I did! No nonsense in their lyrics. Just pure poetry/word-play from the hearts of cats who really ARE hip-hop. Thanks to the Hiero crew for producing a project that, to steal Jeru's words, "was made to save hip-hop and the people who listen to it".

I bought this CD because I had heard two songs on the new snowboard vid "Technical Difficulties". This absolutely rocks, I'm not really into the rap stuff nowadays, but this is totally different. Like they say, they're trying to make something better, and this definately is! If you like this, also try Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and The Roots.

This is the best large group I've seen and heard since the Wu-Tang Clan. Every member has their own moment and they all shine on this great collection of tracks. With Domino producing, the beats are unlike anything I've ever heard. I was overwhelmed by their talent when I saw them live in concert a few weeks ago. Del, Pep Love, A-plus, and Opio are my personal favorites but they all have blessed talent. My favorite songs on Third Eye Vision are probably At the Helm, Oakland Blackouts, See Delight, Del, Opio, You Never Knew, After Dark, and why waste my time listing more tracks because they are all musically and lyrically brilliant. If you are sick of mainstream rappers and like underground hip hop, check this CD out. If you love this than get Soul's of Mischief's "93' til infinity", or the new Hieroglyphics album, "Full Circle".

When it comes to innovative, entertaining , and fresh hip-hop; Hieroglyphics is the crew to check out. It seems that now in 2001 and 2002, with underground hip hop getting more popular, more people are finally discovering this dope album, and crew. "At the Helm," is one of the best Del songs ever, and the list goes on with Third Eye Vision. "If you ever Knew," and "After Dark" are some other lyrical gems. Anyone who likes this album should definitely check out any of Pep Love's,Del's, The Souls of Mischief, and Casual's sounds. Better yet, they should check out Hieroglyphics.com, to listen to just about any song this crew has ever done.

man this Group is crazy, there debut album 3rd Eye vision is amazing. Every MC has there chance to shine and has there own single track to show off there lyrics. The best MCs are hands down Opio, Pep Love and the amazing Del. There was maybe 1 or 2 tracks i wasnt feeling. Other then that the album is amazing. The beats by Dan the Automator top notch and is must own for anyone looking for great hip hop. Also what I love about this group is that every mc is different and unique in there own way(like Wu Tang Clan)

The best tracks are "You never Knew" "all things" "The Who" "Dune Methane" "at the helm" "Oakland Blackouts" "Mics of the roundtable" "Pep love" "No Nuts" and my all time favorite track on this album "After Dark"..

Overall...4.8/5

Hiero has been in the game since the early 90's. And I have loved del since "I wish my brother george was here" .

When I heard he was teaming up with Souls Of Mischief and Casual
I knew a classic album was in the making.

3rd eye vison is hip-hop in it's purest form. Just a bunch of guys
spitting lyrics. This is what hip-hop was like before
it was bottled up and manufactured for a mass audience.

Since I don't think we will ever get back to a point where they will play good hip-hop on Tv again. Thank God for independent labels like Hiero - Imperium.

I like every song on this album.

Especially One life one love and oakland blackouts.

This album is classic material. Go see these guys live if you can.