If you recognized that voice floating over Gorillaz’s “Clint Eastwood” in 2001 and found yourself wondering who that was — you just discovered one of hip-hop’s most original minds. That’s Del the Funkee Homosapien, an Oakland, California MC who was already a decade into a groundbreaking solo career before that song introduced him to a global pop audience.
Who Is Del the Funkee Homosapien?
Del the Funkee Homosapien, born Teren Delvon Jones on August 12, 1972, grew up in East Oakland, California. He’s the cousin of rapper Ice Cube, through whom he got his earliest industry connections. Del signed to Elektra Records as a teenager and released his debut album I Wish My Brother George Was Here in 1991 at just 19 years old.
That first album, produced largely by Ice Cube and his production team, was a breakout statement — sharp, witty, and completely different from the gangsta rap that dominated the West Coast at the time. Del was rapping about sci-fi concepts, absurdist humor, and abstract wordplay, establishing a lane uniquely his own.
Del and Gorillaz: How “Clint Eastwood” Happened
In 2001, Gorillaz released their debut single “Clint Eastwood” — a collaboration between Damon Albarn of Blur and visual artist Jamie Hewlett. The second verse features Del the Funkee Homosapien delivering a rapid-fire, futuristic rap that became one of the most recognizable verses of the early 2000s.
Albarn was drawn to Del’s abstract, science-fiction-inflected style. The combination of Gorillaz’ trip-hop mood and Del’s cerebral rhyme style became something entirely new. “Clint Eastwood” reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the most licensed songs in commercial history. Del appeared in the iconic animated music video as “Del Tha Ghost Rapper.”
Del and Gorillaz revisited their collaboration on “Rock the House” from the same self-titled debut album, cementing a creative partnership that remains one of the most celebrated in alternative hip-hop.
The Hieroglyphics Connection
Before and after the Gorillaz collaboration, Del’s main artistic home has always been Hieroglyphics Imperium — the Oakland-based, 100% artist-owned independent hip-hop label he co-founded in 1993 with Souls of Mischief, Casual, and Domino.
The Hieroglyphics collective formed out of friendship and a shared aesthetic: underground West Coast hip-hop with Afrocentric symbolism, abstract lyricism, and zero compromise with major label commercial pressure. The eye symbol — borrowed from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs — became the collective’s logo and a Bay Area hip-hop icon.
Del has been the creative anchor and founding voice of Hiero since the beginning. His solo career and Hiero’s group releases have run in parallel for over 30 years.
Del’s Solo Discography
Del has released multiple solo albums, each pushing further into abstract territory:
- I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991) — Debut on Elektra. Produced by Ice Cube’s team. Established Del’s comedic, abstract approach immediately.
- No Need for Alarm (1993) — Denser lyricism. Del develops his sci-fi worldview more explicitly.
- Future Development (1996) — Self-released on Hieroglyphics Imperium. Pioneering indie hip-hop distribution before it was fashionable.
- Both Sides of the Brain (2000) — Released the same year as Deltron 3030. Some of Del’s most technically complex verses.
- Eleventh Hour (2008) — Shows Del’s continued restlessness and artistic evolution.
Deltron 3030: The Sci-Fi Concept Album
If you want to understand Del’s artistic ceiling, start with Deltron 3030 (2000) — a concept album set in the year 3030, following a character named Deltron Zero fighting a corporate-controlled dystopia.
Del created the project with producer Dan the Automator and turntablist Kid Koala. The album is widely considered one of the greatest concept albums in hip-hop history — Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The Source have all recognized it as a landmark work.
The sequel, Event II, arrived in 2013, featuring Damon Albarn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and others. Del’s vision expanded across both albums into a complete artistic universe.
Read about Deltron 3030 on Hieroglyphics.com →
The 93 ’til Infinity Legacy
Del is not a member of Souls of Mischief — that’s a distinct four-member group (Tajai, A-Plus, Opio, Phesto) also from the Hieroglyphics collective. But their catalog is intertwined. 93 ’til Infinity (1993) was released the same year Hieroglyphics Imperium was founded.
93 ’til Infinity is widely considered the West Coast’s answer to A Tribe Called Quest — jazz-influenced, lyrically sophisticated, and optimistic. The title track remains one of the most beloved hip-hop songs of all time, instantly recognizable from its opening piano sample.
Del in 2026: Still Active, Still Touring
Del is still performing and recording. In October 2026, Hieroglyphics headlines Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado — alongside Cypress Hill, Method Man, and De La Soul on October 29, 2026.
For fans who found Del through “Clint Eastwood,” it’s a rare chance to see the full Hiero family live at an iconic venue.
Red Rocks 2026 info and merch →
Where to Start With Del the Funkee Homosapien
If you’re new to Del beyond “Clint Eastwood,” here’s a recommended listening path:
- Deltron 3030 (2000) — the most cohesive album and fullest expression of his vision
- I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991) — hear where it all started
- Souls of Mischief’s 93 ’til Infinity — essential West Coast context
- Hieroglyphics’ 3rd Eye Vision (1998) — the collective’s masterpiece group album
- Both Sides of the Brain (2000) — released the same year as Deltron, peak output
Browse the full Hiero discography →
Del the Funkee Homosapien’s Lasting Legacy
Del’s influence runs deep through hip-hop’s alternative and underground traditions. His willingness to be abstract, comedic, and sci-fi-obsessed at a time when West Coast rap was dominated by gangsta aesthetic opened a lane that dozens of artists have followed.
His collaboration with Gorillaz introduced him to a generation who didn’t know Bay Area hip-hop. And his decision to co-found an artist-owned independent label in 1993 — before that was fashionable — made Hieroglyphics Imperium a model for how independent hip-hop could work.
Thirty-plus years in, Del the Funkee Homosapien remains one of the most original voices in American hip-hop. The voice you heard on “Clint Eastwood” is just the entry point.