The 11th Hour (2008)

Del's played some far-out roles in his collaborations, from an intergalactic freedom fighter (Deltron 3030's self-titled CD) to a jocular ghost (Gorillaz's ''Clint Eastwood''). Yet on his first solo effort in eight years, The 11th Hour, he's morphed into an old-school battle rapper, belittling adversaries over basic instrumental loops. The retro kick works remarkably well: Those simple beats give us room to appreciate his nimble, word-stuffed flow. Funky as ever, the Homosapien manages to evolve yet again, this time by embracing sounds of the past. B+
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