In 2001, Del tha Funkee Homosapien appeared on one of the biggest songs in the world. Here’s how an underground Oakland rapper ended up on a Gorillaz track — and how it changed the conversation about hip-hop’s reach.

The Connection: Del and Damon Albarn

By 2001, Del tha Funkee Homosapien had already built a decade-long career as one of hip-hop’s most creative minds. His debut I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991), the Hieroglyphics collective work, and — most significantly — the Deltron 3030 concept album (2000) with Dan the Automator had earned him serious credibility in underground circles worldwide.

Damon Albarn, the Blur frontman and creative force behind the animated Gorillaz project, heard something in Del’s voice and approach that fit the Gorillaz universe. Gorillaz blended alternative rock, hip-hop, dub, and electronica under the guise of a fictional animated band — and Del’s abstract, irreverent lyricism was exactly the kind of guest appearance that made sense.

“Clint Eastwood”: The Song

“Clint Eastwood” was built around a Clint Eastwood melody (from the 1971 film Pale Rider — specifically a piano riff), layered over Gorillaz’s signature lo-fi, dreamy production. The track opens with the ghostly, melodic hook, then Del arrives with the verse that cemented his crossover moment.

Del’s verses on “Clint Eastwood” showcased exactly what made him different from conventional hip-hop: a science fiction sensibility, dense internal rhyme schemes, and a delivery that felt otherworldly — fitting perfectly for a band that already existed in an animated, surreal universe.

“I got sunshine in a bag / I’m useless, but not for long / The future is coming on” — the hook was Damon Albarn, but the verses were pure Del: “I’m heeere, you might as well fear this / Since front to back, I’m the dopest rhymist.”

The Impact: Underground to Mainstream

“Clint Eastwood” reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart, went platinum in multiple countries, and put Del in front of millions of ears that had never encountered Hieroglyphics. Rock fans, alternative music fans, European audiences who had never heard of Oakland underground hip-hop — suddenly they all knew who Del the Funky Homosapien was.

For existing Hiero fans, it was a vindication. Here was an artist who had never compromised for mainstream success appearing on one of the biggest songs of the year — on his own terms, in his own style, without adjusting a single thing about his approach.

The Legacy

“Clint Eastwood” remains in regular rotation 25 years later. It appears in films, television shows, commercials, and playlists built around Y2K nostalgia, alternative hip-hop, and early 2000s indie culture. The Gorillaz self-titled album is regularly cited as one of the best albums of the 2000s.

And Del? He remains an icon of independent hip-hop, still recording with Hieroglyphics Imperium, still performing at Hiero Day and on the road. His contribution to “Clint Eastwood” is a high-water mark in a career full of them.

Discover Del’s Full Catalog

If “Clint Eastwood” is your entry point into Del’s world, here’s where to go next:

• Deltron 3030 (2000) — His sci-fi concept album with Dan the Automator. Start here.
• I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991) — Where it all started.
• Both Sides of the Brain (2000) — A solo album released the same year as Deltron 3030.
• 3rd Eye Vision (1998) — The Hieroglyphics collective album featuring Del in full crew mode.

Stream Del’s catalog on Spotify or Apple Music — or go deep on Bandcamp to support the label directly.