DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN
The Scene:
Del The Funky Homosapien's crib side lab (i.e. the extra bedroom in his house which is loaded with recording equipment, Manga videos, 4 game consoles, and music theory books). The sun is shining brightly outside, but inside, however, the incense is smoldering…
Besides diving into his latest obsession, which is studying music theory, Del is also gettin' back to the basement, as far as recording techniques go. That's right, D-E-L is all about home recording, makin' the tights beats at the crib, where you can capture spontaneous creativity with the touch of a button.
"Now I'm primed to record all my albums from now on here. So that's in-effect. This was my dream. The best it's gonna be is right here, trying to repeat it, it ain't never gonna be as good," he says while motioning to his small but strong in-house studio set-up. "It's digital. It ain't gonna get no better'n that."
Hailing from Oakland, California, Del and his crew, the Hieroglyphics, came out as a markedly non-gangsta response to a burgeoning West Coast scene. After being introduced to the world at the tender age of 17 by his cousin Ice Cube, Del released two records on Elektra, I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991) and No Need For Alarm (1993). Despite record sales in the hundreds of thousands, he recorded a third album, Future Development, which Elektra elected not to release.
Del parted with Elektra and started work on the Hieroglyphics’ family album, 3rd Eye Vision (Hiero Imperium, 1998). Hiero went on the road and toured incessantly in support of the album for much of 1998. Del also spent a good portion of his time drawing, practicing Japanese, and playing mass amounts of video games.
In 2000, Del released his first solo album through Hiero Imperium records, Both Sides Of The Brain, seventeen tracks of pure Del. ”. In the past, Del has felt restrained by the formulas in hip hop and the expectations fans place upon emcees who have had hits, but he says of his work on this album: “I’ve had complete control”. Apart from collaborations with Prince Paul, El-P, and help from a few of his Hiero cohorts (A-plus, Casual, Domino) Del handled the majority of production on this album.
The year 2000 also brought about the release by the underground hip-hop supergroup Deltron 3030 that featured Deltron Zero (Del), the Cantankerous Captain Aptos (producer/remixer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura) and Skiznod The Boy Wonder (turntablist Kid Koala). In 2001 His role of hired gun rapper for the Gorillaz’s awesomely popular tune “Clint Eastwood” arguably makes their debut album.
In the winter of 2003, after what seem like an eternity, Hiero Imperium released Full Circle, the follow up smash to Third Eye Vision. Del and the Hieroglyphics crew once again hit the road on a 40-day, 40 night North America tour. Album sails soared and critics again fawned over the lyrical prowess of Del and his crewmates.
Currently Del is in the studio working on his next opus for Hiero Imperium, the 11th Hour. This time around Del is handling a large portion of the production with a little help from Hiero-Domino, Casual and A-Plus.
By staying true to himself, Del has earned legions of adoring fans. He may have said it best in his classic, “Mistadobalina” when he declared, “it’s all in the mind and the heart”. Indeed.
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DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN-Discography
Albums
I Wish My Brother George Was Here (Elektra, 1991)
No Need For Alarm (Elektra, 1993)
Future Development (Hiero Imperium, 1996)
Third Eye Vision (Hieroglyphics Crew-Hiero Imperium 1998)
Both Sides of The Brain (Hieroglyphics Imperium, 2000)
Deltron 3030 (75 Ark Records, 2000)
Full Circle (Hieroglyphics Crew-Hiero Imperium, 2003)
12" SIngles
• Sleepin’ On My Couch (Elektra, 1991)
Sleepin’ On My Couch/ Ahonetwo, Ahonetwo
• Mistadobalina (Elektra, 1991)
LP Version/ Remix/ Burnt f. Hieroglyphics/
Ahonetwo, Ahonetwo (Remix)
• Dr. Bombay (Elektra, 1992)
LP Verion/ Remix/ Hoodz Come In Dozens (LP Version)/
Hoodz Come In Dozens (SD50 Remix)/ Eye Examination
• Catch A Bad One (Elektra, 1993)
Album Vocal/ Remix/ No More Worries (Album Vocal)/
Wack MC’s (Album Vocal)
• Wrongplace (Elektra)
LP Version/ Casual Remix/ Don’t Forget (LP Version)/
Undisputed Champs f. Pep Love & Q-Tip
• Phoney Phranchise (Hieroglyphics Imperium, 1999)
Del Mix/ Domino Remix/ Press Rewind/ Masterminds f. Tajai
• If You Must (Hieroglyphics Imperium, 2000)
LP Version/ Automator Remix/ It's About Time/ Fake As Fuck
• Deltron 3030 - Virus/Things You Can Do 12" (75 Ark, 2000)
• Deltron 3030 - Positive Contact/Time Keeps On Slipping (75 Ark, 2001)
Guest Appearances
• Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted (Priority, 1990)
Turn Off The Radio f. Del
• Yo-Yo - Stompin' To Tha 90's / Dope Femininity 12" (Atlantic, 1990)
Ghostwriter : "...with The Funky Hip-Hop Punch From Delvon, Tha Funkee Homosapien"
• Made In America Soundtrack (Elektra, 1993)
Made In America - Del
• New Kingdom - Goodtimes (The Lumberjacks & Del Remixes) 12" (Gee Street, 1993)
"Goodtimes" Produced by Del
• Del The Funky Homosapien - Made In America 12” & CD Single (Elektra, 1993)
Whoopi’s Mix/ SD50 B-Boy Mix/ Del’s Mix
• Judgement Night Soundtrack (Immortal, 1993)
Missing Link - Dinosaur Jr. w. D
• Digital Underground - Future Rhythm (Critique/BMG, 1996)
Food Fight f. Del
• Bust It 2 (JCI/Essex)
Mistadobalina - Del
• Beats & Rhymes: Hip-Hop... Part 3 (Rhino, 1997)
Mistadobalina - Del
• The Coup - Steal This Album (Dogday, 1998)
The Repo Man Sings For You f. Del The Funkee Homosapien
• Beats & Lyrics (Industry, 1998)
Help Me Out
3 Emcees (Del, XZibit, Casual)
• Del - Help Me Out (EQ Remix) 12” (Industry)
• DJ EQ f. Xzibit, Casual & Del - Three Emcees 12” (Industry, 1997)
• Swollen Members - Balance (Battleaxe, 1999)
Left Field f. Del
• Swollen Members f. Del - Left Field 12” (Battleaxe, 1998)
• Handsome Boy Modeling School - So...How’s Your Girl? (Tommy Boy, 1999)
Magnetizing f. Del
The PJ’s f. Del & Trugoy
• Defenders of The Underworld (Battleaxe, 1999)
Hoe! - Del
• Strength Magazine Presents: “Subtext” (London, 1999)
Cyberpunks - Del
• Various Blends - Levitude (Baraka, 1999)
Re:Chill f. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
• Eligh - Gas Dream (Caravan, 1999)
A Lesson Garden f. Del
• Catacombs Compilation (2000)
Tenjku/Monster! - Shing02 (produced by Del)
• Sunspot Jonz - Child Ov Da Storm (Outhouse, 2000)
Ice Pirates f. Del
• Terracotta Troupe - Dynasty/Monster! 12" (Revolg, 2000)
Dynasty f. Del / Z-Trip Remix / Monster! f. Shing02
• Push Button Objects - 360 Degrees/Breaker's Delight 12" (Chocolate Industries, 2000)
360 Degrees f. Del, Mr. Lif & DJ Craze
• Gorillaz - Tomorrow Comes Today EP (EMI, 2000)
Rock The House f. Del
• Gorillaz-Gorillaz (Virgin, 2000)
• Kool DJ EQ - Dirty Sounds (Industry, 2001)
Three Emcees (Remix) f. Del, Casual & Xzibit
Digital photos, bio and music available at
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/DelFor more info contact:
Michelle McDevitt Audible Treats, Ltd 718.768.7275
