Another Look: Heru Heru, ‘Heruglyphics’

Diving into the latest full-length from the ‘heal-hop’ outfit

Since COVID lockdown, we’ve run a recurring print column called Another Look that rounds up several super-brief record reviews. It’s a way to highlight worthy releases from Nashville-residing musicians during the past few months that we haven’t yet covered in-depth. The time has come for an evolution: Rather than one whopping article, we’re revamping Another Look as a series of single short reviews, with one or more iterations online each week.

Together with producer Konscience Beatz, MCs Ah-Deli and Foundation Mecca make up hip-hop trio Heru Heru. Since their 2021 LP The Legacy, they’ve been expanding on the movement they’ve dubbed “heal hop” with a slow and steady stream of singles, culminating in their latest full-length Heruglyphics. Released in November, it’s a gritty yet uplifting listen in the way fans have come to know and love. Boom-bap drums and jazzy loops lay the foundation for raw lyricism that dissects global struggles amid the search for a path to healing.

The album examines systematic oppression, environmental threats and more, and it reads as an effort to push hip-hop forward through its ’90s-inspired beats and sharp social commentary. If you crave substance over spectacle, Heruglyphics delivers, demonstrating classic sounds and conscious storytelling still have a place in the genre’s future.

Find Heruglyphics on your favorite streaming platform and follow Heru Heru on Instagram for updates.