In some ways, Both Sides of the Brain, launched on Hiero Imperium in 2000, stands as a key milestone in Del The Funky Homosapien‘s profession, marking a definitive flip towards inventive independence. He had already constructed a robust following along with his two albums for Elektra Records, I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991) and No Need For Alarm (1993). Beyond establishing himself as an progressive drive, his time on Elektra additionally served as a launching pad for his crew, Hieroglyphics. However, the panorama shifted when Del ready Future Development, a mission initially meant for the key label, solely to have his deal terminated shortly earlier than its scheduled launch in 1997. This pivotal second, coupled with related major-label exoduses for different Hiero members, in the end freed them to take full management of their future, forging their very own path with their impartial label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings.

This newfound independence sparked a inventive development that shines via on each observe of Both Sides of the Brain. While Del was concerned in manufacturing on his earlier albums, right here he takes a extra definitive function, producing the vast majority of the tracks himself with choose contributions from Domino, Casual, A-Plus, El-P, Prince Paul, and Khaos Unique. The ensuing beats present a large sonic canvas, starting from funk-laden bass grooves and spacey pattern collages to robotics-tinged turntablism and game-influenced loops. Lyrically, Del is in uncommon kind, sounding totally settled into his type as if rhyming is merely second nature. He masterfully balances a stream-of-consciousness circulation with pinpointed intent, showcasing his capacity to zone out in freestyle mode simply in addition to he can deal with existence and life experiences. From humorous observations to sharp takes on fair-weather mates and trade fakes, to critical cautionary tales and a full-blown ode to video-game tradition, Del covers all of it. Ultimately, Both Sides of the Brain feels and appears like an artist hitting his full inventive stride, discovering consolation in pushing his personal boundaries.