Del the Funky Homosapien

Del the Funky Homosapien has always been one of the coolest cats in hip-hop’s underground.

The Northern California native busted out in 1991 with his classic debut, “I Wish My Brother George Was Here,” which provided a funky, oddball alternative to the gangster rap that dominated the times. His second album sold well, too, but then Del — ever the eccentric — retreated to the shadows to work with and build up his home town crew, Hieroglyphics. It worked; these days, Hiero is one of the most popular and respected collectives in a genre that loves its collectives.

In 2011, Del is a godfather of West Coast hip-hop, with a cultish following, a slew of critically acclaimed solo records, and a couple of big-name side projects (Deltron 3030, Gorillaz) adding up to one of the strongest — if underappreciated — resumes anywhere.

Now comes his new album, “It Ain’t Illegal Yet,” which finds Del following his usual muse: mostly low-key, meandering jams, featuring the MC’s rubberband rhymes and more than a dab of spacey, stuttering Parliament Funkadelica. Never one to shy away from the cutting edge, Del released the album on his Bandcamp site (delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com), and you can pick your price. Paying $3 gets you the music, and there’s a $3,000 option that’ll buy you a day of hanging out with the man himself!

Keep up (if you can) at www.delthefunkyhomosapien.com.

Del the Funky Homosapien, with Bukue One, Serendipity Project and more ; 9 p.m. Saturday, doors open 8 p.m.; $17 plus fees in advance, available at outlets listed at the website below, $20 at the door; Domino Room, 51 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend; www.randompresents.com.