DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN Del has been there all along, somewhere between hip-hop’s underground and mainstream. From his big-time debut, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, under cousin Ice Cube’s wing, to way-intelligent sci-fi concept rap as Deltron 3030, Del’s tried on pretty much every hat — often with stunning results. These days, he seems to cut a middle path between the two extremes, resting on his presumed laurels rather than testing his limits. The recent West Coast Avengers mixtapes, for instance, blend thematic, consciously retro production with unfortunate lines like, “I’m attracting flies/ I’m the shit.” It’s starting to seem like Del’s out of things to say, which is a damn shame.

Corbie Hill

Price: $15