Del’s an East Bay hip-hop icon (the cousin of gangsta rappa Ice Cube, he was born in Oakland and now lives in Richmond), and if you’re not down with him yet you’re certainly late to the party. If that’s the case, here’s your chance to catch up — a quick taste of “If You Must” [click “View Media” below], originally from 2000’s Both Sides of the Brain. The lyrics are vintage Del: playful, smart, and a bit wacky. This here’s not actually the original cut, but a remix with a brand new beat by Dan the Automator that’ll sound fresh even to longtime Del fans. The track comes from a release last month by Hieroglyphics, Del’s crew and record label, called Over Time, which celebrates ten years of business through 14 odds ‘n’ ends, including five Del songs.
