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Even if you've followed the Hiero's decade-plus career, it sometimes helps to have a scorecard to parse out each member. On their latest family album,
Full Circle, it's Pep Love who puts in the best work--his flow bobbing and weaving with a boxer's grace. In contrast to
Casual's thunderous presence, Pep strikes like lightning and the two complement each other well on the thoughtful "Make Your Move."
Souls' member Opio also stands out, especially on "Heatish" where he sprints off with outrageous lines like, "they know my skills/fire swept through your dialect/like the Oakland Hills." No song on
Full Circle seems to offer the same crew combinations twice and the Hiero's longevity manifests in their enviable chemistry with one another. Though the disc offers few new surprises it still packs in a satisfying, 16-track serving of Hiero's quick-witted, quick-spitted lyricism and funk-fried beats.
--Oliver Wang
Reader Reviews
No way does this album deserve some of the hate that it's been getting, although people are finally showing it some love with the last few posts. Okay, so Del's not all over the album. So what? We've heard from Del for 12 years up to "Full Circle," it's time to let the other members get their time to shine. We need to thank Pep Love love for his work on this album. Almost every verse he drops is memorable, and he saved a few songs that would have been mediocre otherwise. Pep Love is arguably the strongest Hiero member RIGHT NOW (sorry Del) and proves it on "Full Circle." Opio is all over the album too, and shows how valuable he is. The album starts out on an excellent roll that lasts until midway where the momentum dies somewhere in the arguably mediocre songs "Chicago" and "Heatish." "Halo" follows and is a standout, it touches on a lot of spiritual themes, and the till the end of the cd, the following songs are hit-or-miss (more "hitting" than "missing" in my book). "Jingle Jangle" seems to be the only track that I can't get into, it's a little too much. The beat on "Love Flowin'" might be a little overdone. Otherwise, the last two tracks are definitely winners. I believe that "Powers That Be" is the album's best cut, with a lively, upbeat sound and outstanding lyrics and a chorus with humming in the background. Plus, Del and Pep Love grace that track. The single "Make Your Move" is actually quite good compared to the cold reception it's getting. Goapele's vocal's are so soulful, and actually enhance the track instead of feeling recycled. If there's any doubt, just listen to Pep Love's lyrics and you should like the song. "Classic" has one of the best beats on the album, although the lyrics aren't the tighest they have to offer, it's still a standout. "Let It Roll" is a faster song, and one of the best, but the preceeding "100,000 Indi" is lacking energy, and somewhat wastes the talents of guest Abstract Rude. "Maggie May" revolves around a rather cliched story, but they end up making it worthwhile. The title track has some of the strongest lyrics through-and-through. Although I was feelin' Goapele's vocals more on "Make Your Move," the title track is still probably my second favorite off "Full Circle." The last one, "7 Sixes," all the members join in and just flex their skills (especially Del.) The best songs on the album??? I think they are: "Powers That Be," "Halo," "Let It Roll," and "Full Circle." "Fantasy Island," "Make Your Move," "Classic," "Maggie May" and "7 Sixes" are the other notables. I don't see this album as being inferior to "Third Eye Vision." "Third Eye" wasn't as untouchable as some are claiming it to be, anyway. This has got some memorable tracks, and the whole album flows quite smoothly, song-to-song. The production, overall, was much, much better, which is where "Third Eye Vision" dissappointed. Jay-Biz is not to be found on "Full Circle," so just eight of the members are involved. I can see people complaining that this is too much 'business as usual.' That feeling arises at points, but Hieroglypics are too strong to have that notion be a deterrant. They do need to work on their hooks, though, some of them being the low-points of the songs. If you can't think of a good hook, just lay low and let the DJ do some scratching or something! Anyways, this album still clocks in at 4 to 4.5 stars, which is quite impressive given the mediocrity and disposability of Rap these last few years.
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