For the past few years, Del and the rest of Hieroglyphics have been doing apretty decent job| of using the net to circumvent the record companystructure through their own label, Hieroglyphics Imperium. Thearrangement has also provided Del with the artistic freedom he has needed.

"I get to do what I want now instead of having to beg them to pay my carnote," he says. "I already made more money than I made on the label[Elektra]."

After getting dropped by Elektra, Del released 1997's FutureDevelopment- which was distributed through the Hiero website. Thecollective has also been satisfying their fiercely loyal fans with exclusivetracks available only at concerts and through their site.

With his latest release, Both Sides of The Brain (HieroglyphicsImperium),Del is aiming at expanding his distribution. His goals, by major labelstandards at least, are modest. "I would be happy with 100, 000," he says."I'd be making four dollars [for every record sold]."

Del's manager Domino also wants to establish a strong retail presence. "Ijust wanted to have it as a regular release," Domino says. "I wanted tomake our mark in the [traditional record store] marketplace. We have stuffthat we offer online, but that's the exclusive stuff."

Being independent also gives Del the freedom he needs. "I'm taking it backto the essence of where I started," he says. "I'm doing what I want for thefirst time.

"Shit, I got three albums worth of material. We've got more of ourselvesthat we want to express. I feel like I've gotten better in rapping andproducing."

As a testament to that, he will handle the bulk of the production and therewill be few guest spots.

Both Sides of The Brain will, however, feature additionalproduction from Domino, A Plus, Prince Paul, SD50s, Maseo from De La Souland EL-P of Company Flow, who also co-stars on the yet to be titled trackwhich he produced.

The first single, the self-produced "Phony Phranchise," backed with theDominoproduced "Press Rewind," will be released next month, according toDomino. There will be no video. The album will be dropped in late July atthe earliest; however, Domino added, an August release is probably morerealistic.

The record will probably be a favorite amongst the so-called "backpackers,"a term Del doesn't appreciate. "That term," he says, "I don't really getit. Since I walk or catch the bus everywhere, I always got a backpack."

He'll be packing that bag with paint and pencils soon; he's pursuing hisdreamsand planning to attend art school. "I'm about to put this record out andputten G's towards art school," he says. "I'm studying Japanese now, so I'mjusttrying to be rounded with everything."

Del says he wants to be fluent before he's 35. "I can't really communicatetoo well, I probably read it better than I speak it. I have a Japanesefriend who helps me out. It's about to be about to be 2G--I'm trying toadvance."--Adam Matthews