Given that hip-hop was born to independent record labels, it is hardly surprising that a rap purist like Del--who was born to hate gangsta rap, despite being the cousin of NWA's Ice Cube--never quite fitted the corporate mould. Two albums on from his parting of the ways with Warners-owned Elektra, it seems that the creative freehand and the freedom of speech of independent life suits him. As ever, The Funky Homosapian and his Hieroglyphics crew are raiding the tombs of the hip-hop's ancients, pulling out the break-beat gems and, with scathing words--"...most rappers don't have any focus...buy my album, I'll show you how it's done", he boasts on "Press Rewind"; "This real hip-hop, not a phoney phranchise", Del, uh, promises on "Phoney Phranchise"--stepping up his war on the fakers and corporate cash cows. His passion is admirable, his old-skool sentiments commendable and his rhyming skills undeniable. But it is the melding together of jazz sounds, funk grooves, electro tones and an acidic tongue (Jurassic 5 and Black Eyed Peas, but with real attitude), that guarantees that when the old skool/roots revolution is over and the new hip-hop kingdom established, Del will most definitely be king. --Dan Gennoe