If you were around in the early 90s, you probably remember a lanky kid with a mouthful of silver and a flow that sounded like it came from a different dimension. That was Teren Delvon Jones. Most people just know him as Del the Funkee Homosapien. He’s the guy who gave the Gorillaz their soul on "Clint Eastwood" and basically invented the concept of the "alternative" West Coast rapper.
Honestly, it’s wild to think about how much he’s actually done.
From being Ice Cube’s cousin to becoming a digital pioneer with the Hieroglyphics crew, Del has spent over 30 years zig-zagging through the industry. He never quite fit the "gangsta" mold of his cousin's circle, and that was clearly by design. He wanted to talk about hygiene, video games, and galactic wars in the year 3030.
The Weird, Wonderful Rise of Sir DZL
Del didn't just stumble into hip-hop. He was trained for it. Being Ice Cube's cousin meant he was around the N.W.A. explosion, but Del’s brain worked differently. While everyone else was focused on the streets of Compton, Del was busy obsessing over Parliament-Funkadelic and Japanese anime.
His debut, I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991), was basically a funk-fueled middle finger to expectations.
It was produced by Cube, but it didn't sound like Cube. It was quirky. It was "Mistadobalina." That song was everywhere. But here’s the thing: Del hated being boxed in. He didn't want to be the "funny funk guy" forever. By his second album, No Need for Alarm, he’d traded the P-Funk loops for a darker, more complex style that eventually birthed the Hieroglyphics collective.
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That Near-Fatal Fall and the Long Road Back
We have to talk about what happened in 2018. It’s one of those moments that could have ended everything.
During a Gorillaz set at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Del fell right off the front of the stage. He wasn't just "shaken up." He fractured seven ribs and punctured a lung. It was terrifying.
"I thought I was gonna die, basically," Del told VICE during his recovery.
He spent weeks in a Danish hospital. He had to learn how to breathe properly again. For a long time, fans wondered if he’d ever get back on a mic. 2026 finds him still active, but he’s moved at his own pace since that accident. He’s been open about the trauma and the anxiety that followed, even getting a cat to help with the mental recovery process. It changed him. It made him more selective about where he puts his energy.
The 2025 Return: "This Just In!"
If you thought he was retired, you haven't been paying attention to Record Store Day. In April 2025, Del dropped a project called This Just In! with his new band, thegoodnews.
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It's a weird, lush, cartoon-inspired EP that feels like a spiritual successor to his work with Gorillaz. It’s got Juan Alderete on bass and Taka Tozawa on guitar. It doesn't sound like "modern rap." It sounds like Del.
He’s also been running a series on his YouTube channel called Manik Mondaze. He’s basically turned into a community leader for the Oakland underground, posting weekly songs and interviews with local artists like Baslonius.Funk and Lord Takim. He’s not chasing the Billboard charts anymore—he’s building a digital fortress.
Why We Still Care About Deltron 3030
You can't mention Del without talking about the space opera. Deltron 3030 is widely considered one of the greatest concept albums in the history of the genre.
Working with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala, Del created a dystopian future where rappers were rebels fighting against a global corporation. It was sci-fi, but it was also a biting critique of the music industry. It’s the reason people still wear Hiero hoodies in 2026.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of casual fans think Del was "written out" of the Gorillaz after the first album. That’s not really the case. While he was the "Ghost Rapper" (Del tha Ghost Rapper), his absence from later albums was more about creative shifts and, later, the physical toll of touring.
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He did pop back up on the Cracker Island deluxe edition in 2023 for "Captain Chicken." It proved the chemistry with Damon Albarn never really left; it just evolved.
The Hieroglyphics Legacy
Del and the Hieroglyphics (Souls of Mischief, Casual, Pep Love, etc.) were the first ones to really figure out the internet. When Elektra dropped Del in the late 90s, he didn't panic. He helped start Hieroglyphics Imperium, one of the most successful independent labels in rap history.
They sold merch, they ran their own website, and they kept their masters.
Without Del’s blueprint, you don't get the independent empires of the 2010s. He proved you could be an outcast and still be a mogul.
Moving Forward
If you want to support the legend in 2026, don't just stream "Clint Eastwood" for the thousandth time.
Go check out his Bandcamp. Buy the This Just In! vinyl if you can find it. Watch the Manik Mondaze videos on YouTube to see how he's mentoring the next generation of Oakland talent. Del is a survivor who chose art over fame every single time.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Archives: Dig into Future Development. It’s often overlooked but contains some of his most honest writing.
- Support Independent: Visit the Hieroglyphics website for official releases that actually put money in the artists' pockets.
- Listen to "Captain Chicken": It’s his most recent official Gorillaz collab and shows he’s still got that weird, erratic energy that made us love him in '91.