Del the Funky Homosapien – I Wish My Brother George Was Here

Review

Before Del became the underground legend behind Hieroglyphics and Deltron 3030, he dropped I Wish My Brother George Was Here — a 1991 debut that’s as quirky, bright, and left-field as its title suggests. At just 18, Del was already showing off his trademark wit and laid-back charm, floating over P-Funk-infused beats courtesy of his cousin, Ice Cube. But where Cube was all menace and politics, Del was the playful observer — half comedian, half philosopher — narrating everyday life with a stoner’s grin and a poet’s wordplay. Tracks like “Mistadobalina” and “Dr. Bombay” shimmer with youthful confidence, their humor wrapped around serious technical skill.

What makes the album so memorable is how it stands apart from the West Coast sound of its era. Instead of gangsta grit, Del leaned into funk, jazz, and cartoonish eccentricity, creating a sound both distinctly Oakland and entirely his own. You can hear him sketching out a future where hip-hop could be weird, thoughtful, and fun all at once. I Wish My Brother George Was Here may not have the cosmic scale of his later work, but it’s the spark that lit the fuse — a funky time capsule from a kid already too smart to fit the mold. - Lena