DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN  (November 2004) | Interview By: SGV

       Dubcnn.com had the chance to talk with Oakland legend, Del. It went so well, we're actually doing a part two of the interview, hence why it seems as if it cuts off at the end. He talks about his up coming project 11th Hour, the possibilities of Hiero or Gorillaz' projects, his health problems and MUCH much more. Feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview: sgv@dubcnn.com

Huge thanks to Del for taking time out to answer the questions fans wanted to know! (Interview was done by email in November of 2004)

Questions Asked By : SGV

 

PART 1

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Dubcnn: We got Del right here...So Del How’s the Cali Comm tour going?

Del: Lovely. Aside from my health, which is a big deal.

Dubcnn: Whats going on with that?

Del: Too much touring man year in, year out...stress mainly.

Dubcnn: You need a break?

Del: It's time to stop a second, yep. A long one.

Dubcnn: Well aren't you recording an album now?

Del: Trying to.

Dubcnn: 11th Hour right?

Del: You got it. But, it's hard to focus on the road.

Dubcnn: How far along are you?

Del: I got joints, half way, about 9.

Dubcnn: When can we expect to see it in stores?

Del: After Opio's joint maybe, that's Jan 25th, he out here with me.

Dubcnn: Yea I see Op at the show ya'll had in Pomona. Who have you worked with on the album?

Del: Oh, just me. I'm a hermit.

Dubcnn: haha No features? What about production?

Del: Me and Freestyle Fellowship was chatting bout some shit.

Dubcnn: Oh shit that sounds sick

Del: I've studied for year’s music production.

Dubcnn: So you're doing your own production?

Del: Yep, by default.

Dubcnn: Coo.

Del: I got it though. I've got it polished to the level of a Major.

Dubcnn: What up with Deltron 3030 Pt. 2? Will we ever see one?

Del: Oh yeah fo sho. Automator hit me yesterday.

Dubcnn: Oh really?

Del: Yep

Dubcnn: How’s that Handsome Boy Modeling School album? I heard you on the single.

Del: It's doing well, I believe. I'm in a whole other world out here though.

Dubcnn: Yea. Where you at now?

Del: Who knows? My side hella hurt.

Dubcnn: Word?

Del: So I'm not really concerned with much of the details of travel.

Dubcnn: I get you. But the tours almost over right?

Del: Yep. Plus ODB just died.

Dubcnn: Oh I know man R.I.P. ODB. Speaking of deaths, you heard Mac Dre died right?

Del: Yeah man, dunno how though.

Dubcnn: He got shot In Kansas City.

Del: Ope told me not too long ago.

Dubcnn: He was a pioneer out in the Bay

Dubcnn: Fo sho.

Dubcnn: But so were you

Del: Shit is wild.

Dubcnn: Why do so many people sleep on Hiero?

Del: I dunno. {We} under the radar

Dubcnn: You were coming up in Oakland around the time everyone else was.

Del: I feel as though I didn't really consider what people felt at first, not to slight anyone, but... So I started taking my job more serious about 5-6 years ago.

Dubcnn: Making music more appealing?

Del: You could say that, less discord. Now I can pretty much produce a full album anywhere.

Dubcnn: I get you

Del: Which would make it more appealing, I guess.

Dubcnn: Probably.

Del: Or peel back the layers shielding people from getting my point.

Dubcnn: But you still got your following

Del: Oh yeah. That's one thing...

Dubcnn: You've made it that you're appealing but not different.

Del: Explain...

Dubcnn: Like the stuff with The Gorillaz. That’s mainstream appealing, but it was still your style that your old fans would feel.

Del: That's hella different to me, but I got you. You know, mainstream is whatever's mainstream. It's a state of being.

Dubcnn: Right

Del: So you can't create it really.

Dubcnn: True.

Del: That's up to the listener.

Dubcnn: Anything can be mainstream.

Del: Although fools do try to alter shit, as always.

Dubcnn: Of course. People always try to follow trends.

Del: The keyboard is an even tempered instrument. Because fools tried to make it where you wouldn't have to tune it. They didn't succeed, so they got almost all the keys evenly tempered. Almost! God does that. Not humans!

Dubcnn: Right...But it'll never be perfect.

Del: exactly.

Dubcnn: Nothings ever perfect.

Del: As soon as you get it to a perfect state, you realize how it can be perfected. So, you know, I just try to make music I would buy.

Dubcnn: That leads me to my next question. What is Del feeling right now?

Del: Oh I'm feeling in control of my life and my music. But I feel like people around me sometimes think I'm trippin'. Cause it's never been done before.

Dubcnn: But I’m saying, what music are you feeling? Outside of yours.

Dubcnn: Oh ok. Well, I don't listen to my music much. I make new shit constantly.

Dubcnn: Yea...

Del: But, Consequence is ill. Kanye West, funny niggard. Both them niggas.

Dubcnn: Yea they got some funny ass lines.

Del: Uh, Dave Chappelle.

Dubcnn: I'm still waiting for Season 2 to come on DVD!

Del: Huh?! Hell yeah. {I'm also feelin'} Red, Mef, Wu, always. I fucks with Erick Sermon too. The Liks, MF Doom, that's my nigga.

Dubcnn: I aint feeling MF Doom much.

Del: What? Get outta here.

Dubcnn: I don’t know why, I just can't get into him.

Del: Why? Too ill?

Dubcnn: Not even with Madlib production could I get into dude I don’t know what it is...He don’t got replay value for me.

Del: You gotta know why? Not to pester you...

Dubcnn: Na its coo. His voice is a little rough for me.

Del: Oh I can get that. Eh, but Suga Free is the nigga though!

Dubcnn: Suga Free is wild.

Del: I can feel that.

Dubcnn: He's not the greatest emcee, but he's just wild on the mic. Says some crazy ass shit.

Del: Yeah Suga Free/Quik is like my top shit. I think he is a real dope emcee.

Dubcnn: Yea he's crazy.

Del: His style is different as hell though, in a cypher he might get laughed at.

Dubcnn: "She got fired from the sperm bank for drinking on the job!"

Del: See?

Dubcnn: That’s a dope ass line.

Del: He got new ones though. And he a real nigga.

Dubcnn: Would you ever consider a collabo? You and Suga Free?

Del: I'm from Oakland, so you know the pimpin' is natural... I just don't use it for pimpin' hoes. But hell yeah! I love Suga Free. I mean, I play his new joint constantly. Some cats don't feel me though, they think I'm trippin'.

Dubcnn: Who?

Del: Every thing he raps about I been through you know... Some of my friends who just don't get it or get me getting it dig?

vYea you’re not the typical town rapper.

Del: Naw

Dubcnn: Is that why?

Del: Although I am pretty regular, in terms of tastes, I’m a medium.

Dubcnn: I’m saying style wise, you don’t sound like Richie Rich, Dru Down or Yukmouth.

Del: Yeah

Dubcnn: They're personified by most as the Oakland sound.

Del: They don't sound alike either…

Dubcnn: Oh na. Not at all. But their styles are, I guess, more accepted as the Oakland/Bay sound You know?

Del: I think that it's just time musically for someone to really break the bank.

Dubcnn: I feel you.

Del: Niggas don't work all that hard in general. I’ve been bustin my ass.

Dubcnn: Whets your take on the New Bay?

Del: I love it. Hate the fact niggas can't get along though.

Dubcnn: You don’t feel disrespected?

Del: Oh hell naw. I get tons of love all the time.

Dubcnn: As you should. Some rappers have said they feel disrespected by that.

Del: Oh by what? Sorry.

Dubcnn: By The New Bay.

Del: Huh? hahahahaha neva heard of it.

Dubcnn: Oh you aint heard of the New Bay?

Del: Nut uh. Like the new South?

Dubcnn: Oh let me break that down first haha

Del: Ok…

Dubcnn: Locksmith, Left, Balance and Mistah F.A.B. and some other cats have started this Movement called New Bay Locksmith was that cat who made it to the finals on the MTV Battles .

Del: Oh ok.

Dubcnn: Lock and Left are with E-A-Ski's label.

Del: Oh like that? Good shit.

Dubcnn: Yea. They just put out their album.

Del: F.A.B. is dope too.

Dubcnn: Yea he is. All them are sick. On some lyrical shit.

Del: They are kinda like a new Bay.

Dubcnn: Pretty much.

Del: That don't mean I' m an old Bay. I’m just Del.

Dubcnn: Of course not. That’s not what they’re saying

Del: I feel I exist outside of that.

Dubcnn: They're just the new cats in the Bay doing some different.

Del: Oh I feel that, I’m just clarifying.

Dubcnn: Right No doubt.

Del: Agreeing with you basically.

Dubcnn: I think that’s the beef a lot of people hold.

Del: I’m for Black people advancing period.

Dubcnn: They probably feel this new cats are calling them old and washed up, but they're not.

Del: That make me stronger that's why I clarified.

Dubcnn: I feel you.

Del: But I can see how it can be taken as implied.

Dubcnn: True.

Del: I’m a medium, so I can see it both ways.

Dubcnn: That’s good.

Del: Sorta used to confuse me, cause most people take sides, theirs usually.

Dubcnn: Yea they do.

Del: I take mine as a grain of salt by default, cause I’m a Leo.

Dubcnn: You’re laid back?

Del: Yep. So off the back, I’m throwing too much on it, so I take some off by default.

Dubcnn: Yea...That’s good though.

Del: Sorta hotheaded.

Dubcnn: It causes less stress.

Del: Yeah I’m bad though.

Dubcnn: Stress can kill you.

Del: Yep, that’s why I need to chill on the road. I love people, you know, performing, but the other shit extended over time is murder.

Dubcnn: You’re real stressed on the road?

Del: Yep never stable.

Dubcnn: What stresses you? Being on the go?

Del: We constantly moving, no stability.

Dubcnn: Ah...Yea that is pretty stressful you stay on the Tour bus right?

Del: It's better and worse that we got a bus. I’m highly allergic to dust, floating particles, the ac is always on.

Dubcnn: Would flying be better?

Del: Naw I hate flying.

Dubcnn: Oh really?

Del: And the ac problem is there too.

Dubcnn: Yea...

Del: At least I got a say if it's on or off on the bus

Dubcnn: That’s good

Del: But the filters be filthy.

Dubcnn: Otherwise that'd be a problem

Del: That's how my lung blew out.

Dubcnn: Oh really? When did that happen?

Del: About three four days ago. Niggas is so used to controlling they climate, they forget about opening the window.

Dubcnn: Damn

Del: I was hurt real bad.

Dubcnn: And you’re still touring?

Del: Got a brace on now, but I’m barely making it. No movement on stage but my lips. I use my bo to walk.

Dubcnn: Damn That sucks

Del: They think it's for show, like a prop.

Dubcnn: I can see why you need a break.

Del: It's gotten to this point, it's my fault ultimately. I aim to please, you need something, I’ll probably say yeah.

Dubcnn: I get you. Sometimes you gotta say no though. You can’t please everyone.

Del: Like jada said, some hear that, and tend to run with it.

Dubcnn: Yea You like Kiss?

Del: Oh Jada album is off the meat rack too.

Dubcnn: He makes great mixtapes.

Del: He did everything he said he was gonna do in interviews, cause I felt he was holding back first album.


Dubcnn: He tried to please everyone on his first album.

Del: He felt that, he listened to the people. So I gotta feel him, he said he was just living the high life, mansions, chilling skrilla.

Dubcnn: Yea

Del: Then shit got realer; you can hear it in his album.

Dubcnn: You never really let money influence your raps huh?

Del: Not really, I feel if my music's top notch, then money obviously will come. So I focus on my music, I’m obsessed with music.

Dubcnn: While I’m asking about influence. Did Cube being your cousin influence you much?

Del: Oh yeah he my hero, one of them.

Dubcnn: He exec. Produced your first album right?

Del: Yep. He a black hero, man!

Dubcnn: People say he fell off, what do you think?

Del: Cube the nigga, he get mad about that too. First niggas all saying he the shit, then he rep shit harder, niggas say he fell off.

Dubcnn: People are never satisfied.

Del: So he isn’t happy about Hip-Hop right now of course. As soon as you get to perfection, you realize how to perfect it.

Dubcnn: Right...Even the most perfect thing has room to be perfected

Del: Just illustration on never being satisfied. It's a goal to be obtained I guess, although it's flimsy.

Dubcnn: He’s on two tracks on the new Lil Jon album.

Del: Oh word?

Dubcnn: Yea One track just him and Lil Jon, the other is with Jada, Nas, T.I. & Bun B. That shit is crazy.

Del: Oh ok, I gotta get that then T.I. is the nigga too, good nigga.

Dubcnn: Yea he’s coo.

Del: Bun B is the nig too,

Dubcnn: Bun B is the shit to me, I hold him higher than Scarface.

Del: I gauge niggas on what they reppin’, niggas styles is always gonna be different, so I can't really gauge a nigga on how he flow. If it sound good, cool.

Dubcnn: Yea I get you. Lyrically though, Bun B is top notch.

Del: Oh no doubt, just intermingling my thoughts, I be all over the place. May not be my personal taste, but I can see that a nigga bustin’ still.

Dubcnn: haha Don’t worry.

Del: Since everything relates to me, I mean in my mind, not literally to me.

Dubcnn: Who would be your 3 favorite emcees ever?

Del: Damn, that's tough, Rza, A.G., Red.

Dubcnn: Wow Rza huh?

Del: there's others, but since emceein' is a format, their styles come closest to what I rep

Dubcnn: Yea I get you Red is that dude though

Del: rza I relate to almost 100 percent

Dubcnn: That's A.G. of Showbiz & A.G. right?

Del: Yep. Bronx niggas got that, but D.I.T.C., the whole camp is ill. So is Def Squad. Red I relate to a lot cause A-Plus is my best friend. They both Aries. Red Sister Roz too I know, he was rough.

Dubcnn: Yea man. Too bad Big L died. He fathered the style for so many emcees today.

Del: Yeah, but I look at it as a format, so you know, we all rap.

Dubcnn: Right…

Del: So nobody really fathered it to me, except the first nigga who ever said a rap.

Dubcnn: I get you. I’m saying though, the heavy punch lines…

Del: And that's so long ago that its relevance is damn near trapped into just that fact. I feel you, niggas bite.

Dubcnn: He got that from Lord Finesse, but Big L made it popular.

Del: Lord Finesse is definitely on my top list, he introduced me to A.G., Big L…

Dubcnn: He’s slept on heavy.

Del: I know, I was just sayin that in the shower yesterday.

Dubcnn: haha

Del: Like niggas is trippin’! E-Dub though, that's my nigga, simply states shit.

Dubcnn: EPMD was the group.

Del: That's my shit, PMD is nice too.

Dubcnn: Yea...But I wasn’t feeling his new album.

Del: I felt a lot of his shit.

Dubcnn: Erick Sermon still got some beats.

Del: But it's kinda one sided. E is nice, he keep a groove though, that can’t get old like James Brown.

Dubcnn: Yea

Del: He will work a groove man!

Dubcnn: He was one of the only East Coast cats on some Funk shit. Him and Redman.

Del: That's why I love em to death, cause I’m a Funk cat, I don't listen to rap hella.

Dubcnn: Haha What Funk you feelin?

Del: Parliament of course.

Dubcnn: Mandatory

Del: Godmoma Brides is my most favorite group of all time.

Dubcnn: That’s a name you rarely hear.

Del: I know they only had two albums.

Dubcnn: Yea... They weren’t that popular.

Del: I love female vocalists and their best, to me simply stated, was they style. Some find it redundant, repetitious, it's bigger than what they sayin’ though.

Dubcnn: Yea. It’s all about feeling the Vibe.

Del: You got it.

Dubcnn: Everyone has different tastes.

Del: Niggas rhyming try to get over with that though sometimes.

Dubcnn: Example?

Del: Like, my flow sounds ill, I can say anything and niggas will like it be the mind state. Till they do it too much and niggas notice. That's why I decided to study so I won't run dry.

Dubcnn: Oh ok I get you. They go to the well one too many times.

Del: Yeah ha! Exactly. Not that I would do that on purpose, but I felt like I was gonna hit a point of stagnation that could ruin my career if I’m in it for the long haul.

Dubcnn: Yo...What’s up with the Gorillaz? You gonna do anything else with em?

Del: Oh, that was a spontaneous thing, not intended to blow that fat, so I dunno if it's the sort of thing that they feel needs to be repeated in a series. It was a hobby between the artists. It was meant only for the internet, overseas, stuff like that.

Dubcnn: How did it come about anyway?

Del: Automator happened to be producing it, while producing Deltron, so he needed a vocalist on those joints; he knew I could do it fast and good.

Dubcnn: Crazy. That shit came out nice.

Del: Like that night, I just finished reading a book on writing hit songs. Used it on that joint “Clint Eastwood,” went platinum.

Dubcnn: haha That’s what’s up.

Del: So in my mind, that means it worked. You gotta freak it your way though, that's the first page in the book. I mean I was surprised to hear of it,

Dubcnn: True. Were you surprised people felt here over here in the states?

Del: Yeah! I forgot about it, then one day, some kids recognize me on the street, say they heard me on the radio. Of course I'm thinking, huh? They explain to me it's Gorillaz.

Dubcnn: haha

Del: I actually had to think for a minute... “Oh you don't know? They play it constantly!” I’m like huh?

Dubcnn: Everywhere too MTV, Radio etc

Del: I’m still stunned, but pleased that definitely helped me build my studio setups. That helped me continue to further my music studies to create major league music. It's for the people really.

Dubcnn: I’m sure it did. What about another Hiero album?

Del: uh...That {Hiero album} depends...

Dubcnn: I know everyone’s doing their own thing…

Del: You see, I feel in the past, my eagerness to do shit has been abused, so now I’m falling apart... Physically.

Dubcnn: You're not thinking of retiring are you?

Del: I need a rest, if more Hiero projects require road trips which I’m sure it will... then no ut-uh, not till I get my shit on.

Dubcnn: Oh ok

Del: And it's not any of the groups fault, Cas, Som, Pep, those is my fam.

Dubcnn: Its time to look out for you though right?

Del: Exactly! No offense. So they know already, I need to relax.

Dubcnn: Right…


 

PART 2