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<<The Ill Advisor>>

<< Jack Spilberg:The Ill Advisor 05/15/2000 >>

Blackalicious opened for Del the Funky Homosapien this week at the Sunset Strip's House of Blues.

Led by an insanely skilled lyracist, Gift of Gabb, Blackalicious got the Hollywood crowd hyped. The bay area crew is fresh off their first full length album, "Nia", which includes production from DJ Shadow. Not your average hip hop crew, Blackalicious combines harmonies from their three MC's and vocalist to create a smooth rhythmic style. Combined with their entrancing rhythms, DJ Xcel provided acid-jazzy/funky beats and bass lines to add another layer to their complex sound. Gabb proved his rep as one of the dopest MC's on the planet, closing off the set with rhymes paced at the speed of light.

Front man of the notorious underground crew, The Hieroglyphics, Del has just dropped his third solo lp entitled Both Sides of the Brain and is currently on a touring rampage.

The Funky Homosapien hit the HOB stage and immediately began rocking the spot with old school Hieroglyphic cuts as well as a grip of his dope new 'ish. Early on in the set, Del dished out an ill medley of Hiero hits. Del blew the crowd away with his mind boggling lyrical stylings backed by some of the freshest beats I've ever experienced. Del's sometimes simple, sometimes prolific rhymes have a strange effect, infecting your dome on impact. He covers everything from his video game obsession, to women, to opening and expanding your mind. As he explained between songs at one point in the set, Del aims to open people's "third eye" in order to "think for yourself, and not just do what you're told".

-Written by Jack Spilberg