On this day, Oct. 22, in hip-hop history...

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1991: Del tha Funky Homosapien stepped out of his cousin Ice Cube's shadow with his 1991 debut album I Wish My Brother George Was Here. Del was an original member of Da Lench Mob before veering off to pursue his own career in 1991. Released under Elektra Records with financial and creative help from Cube, the then 18-year-old MC introduced himself to the hip-hop world with 14 unflinching and funk-infused tracks. The title of the album is Del's effort to give a nod to one of his biggest influences, the funk master himself George Clinton.

Though there are many fan-favorites on the debut—"Dark Skin Girls," "Hoods Come In Dozens" and "What's A Booty" to name a few—the album's commercial success definitely lied in the popularity of the entrancing single "Mistadobalina".

The LP as a whole peaked at No. 48 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and Del was hailed as an exciting mixture of Q-Tip and George Clinton by rap publications. Though the album was a success, Del wasn't satisfied with the musical range of the project. His next albums, 1993's No Need for Alarm and 1997's Future Development would prove to be more experimental.

27 years later, I Wish My Brother George Was Here is still remembered and revered among rap fans as a defining moment in blending rap and funk.

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