Vulture’s Wisdom Volume I
Heiro Imperium
3 stars

Opio first burst onto the underground hip-hop scene 15 years ago as one-fourth of Oakland’s Souls of Mischief crew, which was at the center of the Bay Area’s influential Hieroglyphics family. Alongside similarly bohemian-but-rugged MCs A-Plus, Phesto and Tajai, Opio picked up the abstract storytelling mantle of Native Tongue legends like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, with an added dash of avant-garde lyricism inspired by West Coasters such as Freestyle Fellowship and the Pharcyde. S.O.M. hasn’t released a new album since 2000, but on his third solo album Opio continues to carry the Hieroglyphics family torch proudly.

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