Heiruspecs
{{short description|American hip hop group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Heiruspecs
| image =
| caption = The hip hop group Heiruspecs
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
| genre = Hip hop{{cite web | last =Carlson | first =Keri | title =Back to the future | publisher =The Minnesota Daily | date =September 23, 2004 | url = http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/09/23/61328 | accessdate =2007-10-22 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080315025841/http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/09/23/61328 |archivedate = 2008-03-15}}
| years_active = 1997 – present
| label = Razor & Tie
Interlock
| website = http://www.heiruspecs.com/
| current_members = Felix
Muad'dib
Twinkie Jiggles
dVRG
Peter Leggett
Josh Peterson
}}
Heiruspecs ({{IPAc-en|"|h|aI|.|r|u|,|s|p|E|k|s}}) is a live hip hop band based in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Their name is a deliberate misspelling of the word haruspex, which is a Roman term for a person trained to practice divination from the inspection of entrails.Nishimoto, Dan (30 March 2005) [http://www.popmatters.com/feature/heiruspecs-050330/ "An Interview with Felix of the Heiruspecs"] PopMatters
The band's first releases Live from the Studio, and Antidisestablishmetabolism are out-of-print, though a compilation featuring songs from them was released as 10 Years Strong in December 2007. Their self-titled album Heiruspecs was released on December 13, 2008. On April 22, 2014 the band released Night Falls.{{Cite web|url=http://www.heiruspecs.com/news/106-night-falls-now-available-for-pre-order|title=Heiruspecs Scholarship|website=www.heiruspecs.com}}
In contrast to many contemporary hip hop groups that use sampling and turntables, Heiruspecs emphasize a raw, live sound celebrating their roots, and local music scene, and are more known for their live performances than records. They do shows with Minnesota-local hip hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment, and the group's style has been compared to the live hip hop band The Roots. They have a very upbeat sound and at one point were typically on tour for at least half of the year.Harris, Keith (August 2, 2000), [http://articles.citypages.com/2000-08-02/music/funk-is-instrumental/ "Funk Is Instrumental"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070815002104/http://articles.citypages.com/2000-08-02/music/funk-is-instrumental/ |date=2007-08-15 }} City Pages The band has since stayed closer to the Twin Cities and band members have picked up day jobs.
History
Heiruspecs formed in 1997 when the members were attending St. Paul Central High School. They met while taking a studio recording arts program there. Sean (Twinkie Jiggles) would play bass while four or five drummers would rotate in and out of freestyle sessions, and Felix would rhyme throughout the whole process.Tatasciore, David (October 27, 2003), [http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2003/10/10-27-03tdc/10-27-03darts-01.asp "Underground hip-hop sound of Heiruspecs invades area"] The Daily Collegian Early Heiruspecs music contained trombone and saxophone, but these were absent on Small Steps and A Tiger Dancing. In 2004 Heiruspecs was named the best live artist in the Twin Cities by City Pages.[http://www.citypages.com/bestof2004/sexdrugsrocknroll/bestof2288.asp "BEST LIVE ARTIST: Heiruspecs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521163143/http://citypages.com/bestof2004/sexdrugsrocknroll/bestof2288.asp |date=2008-05-21 }} 2004. City Pages Reviewing A Tiger Dancing for CMJ New Music Monthly, Owen Strock wrote that "Heiruspecs are smart enough to keep James Brown's advice close to heart—they always make it funky."{{cite magazine |last=Strock |first=Owen |date=2004 |title=Reviews: Heiruspecs, A Tiger Dancing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCsEAAAAMBAJ |magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly |location= |publisher=CMJ Network, Inc. |access-date= 2023-08-08 |page= |issue=127–128}}
In commemoration of 10 years of St. Paul pride and good Hip Hop music, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman declared December 22 Heiruspecs Day in Saint Paul, Minnesota.Wheat, Mark (December 21, 2007),[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/12/21/heiruspecs/ "Heiruspecs perform in The Current studios"] Minnesota Public Radio
Heiruspecs took an unofficial hiatus after their tour van was totaled in 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.citypages.com/2008-12-03/news/minneapolis-hip-hop-heavies-heiruspecs-end-their-hiatus/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206062828/http://www.citypages.com/2008-12-03/news/minneapolis-hip-hop-heavies-heiruspecs-end-their-hiatus/ |archivedate=2008-12-06 |title=Minneapolis hip-hop heavies Heiruspecs end their hiatus}}{{cite news |last1=Tillery |first1=Grant |title=High respects |url=https://mndaily.com/245190/arts-entertainment/high-respects/ |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=The Minnesota Daily |date=July 16, 2014}} Heiruspecs was released in 2008 at a point when the band began touring less.
In summer 2010, the band was in the studio working on a new album.{{cite web|last=Chris |first=Opposition |url=http://www.vimeo.com/14539330 |title=Heiruspecs in the Studio 2010 on Vimeo |publisher=Vimeo.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-06}}
On December 23, 2022, the group released a new album, Pretty Random But What Happened To the Heiruspecs.{{cite news |last1=Elabbady |first1=Ali |title=Inside Heiruspecs' sizzling new summer block party |url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2023/08/16/inside-heiruspecs-sizzling-new-summer-block-party |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=www.thecurrent.org |date=August 16, 2023 |language=en}}
Many of the band's concerts since 2010 have benefited charities including those in honor of Philando Castile and for students at Saint Paul Central.{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Scholarship in Philando Castile's name a way to 'create a legacy for him' |url=https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/scholarship-in-philando-castiles-name-a-way-to-create-a-legacy-for-him |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=Bring Me The News |date=8 March 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Adler |first1=Erin |title=Event marks scholarship in Philando Castile's name |url=https://www.startribune.com/event-marks-scholarship-in-philando-castile-s-name/390867471/ |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=August 21, 2016}}
Members and former members
=Current=
- Felix (Chris Wilbourn) - Vocals
- Muad'dib (Jon Harrison) - Vocals, Beat Box
- Twinkie Jiggles (Sean McPherson) - Bass
- dVRG (DeVon Gray) - Keyboards
- Peter Leggett - Drums
- Josh Peterson - Guitar
=Former=
- Martin Devaney - Saxophone
- Bryan Alvarez - Trombone
- Alex Oftelie - Drums
- Al McIntosh - Trumpet
- Steve McPherson - Guitar
- Kevin Hunt - Drums
- Conor Meehan - Drums
- Tasha Baron - Keyboards
- Alex Danovitch - Keys
- Joshua Herbst - Drums
- Brett Bullion - Drums
- Noah Paster - Percussion, 808 pad
- Tim Glenn - Drums
Discography
=Studio albums=
- Live from the Studio
- Antidisestablishmetabolism (2000)
- Small Steps (2002)
- A Tiger Dancing (2004)
- Heiruspecs (2008)
- Night Falls (2014)
- Pretty Random But What Happened To the Heiruspecs (2022)
- Four Were Wolves Forever Young (2023)
= EPs =
- Theskyisfalling (2016)
=Compilation albums=
- 10 Years Strong (2007)
- 20/20 (2017)
References
{{Reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite web | last =Bucket | first =Charlie | title =Heiruspecs | publisher =Urbansmarts | date =September 22, 2004 | url =http://www.urbansmarts.com/interviews/heiruspecs.htm | accessdate =2007-10-22 }}
- {{cite web | last =Roberts | first =Chris | title =The pride of St. Paul | publisher =Minnesota Public Radio | date =September 30, 2004 | url =http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/09/30_robertsc_heiruspecs/ | accessdate = 2007-10-22 }}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American hip-hop groups
Category:Musical groups from Saint Paul, Minnesota