Del the Funky Homosapien
Future Development [Reissue]
RHYMESAYERS
As a cassette-only release on his Hiero Imperium Recordings, and as a break from his ties with the major label universe, Bay Area boss rapper and Hieroglyphics Crew founder Del the Funky Homosapien was out for true artistic and entrepreneurial independence in 1997 with his third album and first release away from Elektra Records. That’s saying a lot for a creative already known for an alt-jazz-hop musicality, a cartoon-y persona to go with his cleverly quirky lyricism, and a maxi-syllabic flow dedicated to blowing down the house of society’s ills at the time.
In his best De La fashion, Del sung-spoke in opposition to all things “gangsta” at the time of Future Development’s original release with gluey, gooey tracks dedicated to joy (“Love Is Worth”), convivial neighbors (“Corner Story”), and sly-fi (“X-Files”) without eschewing hip-hop’s street traditionalism of rap battles with the quickly bristling bonus cut “Checkin Out the Rivalry.” Added to this record’s mix was a dark, robo-tronic vibe and tech-heavy textures (as exemplified on “Del’s Nightmare”) that only played into Del’s goals for future-forward development. All of this wily wordplay—along with the metal-to-rubber production techniques of Del and Hiero crew members A-Plus, Opio, and Toure—aids in making Future Development just that: something that was out-of-time back in 1997, and handsomely timeless now.
While Del has spent the 2020s rapping on records from Kool Keith and Gorillaz, reuniting Hieroglyphics, and road-testing a Deltron 3030 revival, he’s been absent from making new solo music. Here’s hoping Del’s newly minted cartoon rap act thegoodnews. make more fresh music beyond a 2025 Record Store Day EP. Until then, this Future is a bright, bold gift.
