Deltron 3030
Encyclopedia
Deltron 3030 is an alternative hip hop
supergroup
composed of producer
Dan the Automator
, rapper
Del the Funky Homosapien (Portraying the role of the character Deltron Zero for the project) and DJ
Kid Koala
. Their work features many other artists as well, all taking on various futuristic pseudonyms.
, released on May 23, 2000, is a concept album
set in the year 3030
that tells of the fight by Deltron Zero (Del's alter ego) against huge corporations that rule the universe. The lyrics were written in less than two weeks and are characterized by extravagant allusions to futuristic outer-space themes in the tradition of Afrofuturist
works by Sun Ra
and George Clinton
. Many samples originated with the contemporary French classical composer William Sheller
.
Following the release of the album, all three members worked on the Gorillaz
' self-titled debut album
.
In November 2006, Del told IGN
that four songs for Event II were already written and that "the album's lyrical theme has been basically mapped out." Dan the Automator stated that the recording of the new album would probably be completed by December 2006, and that it would be released in 2007. However, the album was then delayed until "sometime in 2008". In March 2008, Del told the News-Observer that "Kid Koala and Automator already finished the production. It's done. So, it's just up to me to write [the lyrics]."
During XM 66 RAW's Subsoniq in April 2008, Del was asked about the progress of the album. He stated that he has written six songs so far and that it shouldn't be long before the album is completed.
Del commented on the album again in August 2010,In an interview with Melancholy Native blogger Triassic. Saying that "it's just about finished actually."
In February 2011, Del commented to Westword.com, "now the lyrics are done for second event. I just have to lay the recordings, which won't take long".
In April 2011, Del is interviewed in a RasputinMusic.com video, and says that he is currently recording his parts for the album.
He comments "I was just in the studio with Dan last week. The only reason I'm not in there now, is because his basement had hella dusty instruments and stuff, and it made me hella sick, so I couldn't stay there. But I'm almost well now, so it's gonna be finished pretty soon, you feel me?". In an interview with The Capital Times published in June 2011, Del said the album should be out before the end of 2011.
In October 2011, on his twitter account, Kid Koala (@therealkidkoala) stated "finished final deltron turntable sessions at 7 am this morning. very excited about this record."
In November 2011, Del the funky homosapien commented on his Facebook page on a photo of himself and Dan the Automator, claiming "The album is done, Kid Koala put the final scratches/touches on it. Will probably be out sometime next year once the logistics are all figured out. Peace".
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
composed of producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Dan the Automator
Dan the Automator
Daniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
, rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Del the Funky Homosapien (Portraying the role of the character Deltron Zero for the project) and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Kid Koala
Kid Koala
Eric San , who records under the name Kid Koala, is a Canadian DJ, turntablist, musician and an author of graphic novels. He is signed to the British record label Ninja Tune, is a member of alternative hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030, and The Slew with Dynamite D and former members of the...
. Their work features many other artists as well, all taking on various futuristic pseudonyms.
Deltron 3030
The group's debut album Deltron 3030Deltron 3030 (album)
Deltron 3030 is the 2000 debut album by hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030. It is a rap opera concept album set in a dystopian year 3030.-Album information:...
, released on May 23, 2000, is a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
set in the year 3030
31st century
The 31st century AD will span from January 1, 3001–December 31, 3100 of the Gregorian calendar. It will be the first century of the 4th millennium.-Astronomical events:...
that tells of the fight by Deltron Zero (Del's alter ego) against huge corporations that rule the universe. The lyrics were written in less than two weeks and are characterized by extravagant allusions to futuristic outer-space themes in the tradition of Afrofuturist
Afrofuturism
Afrofuturism is an emergent literary and cultural aesthetic that combines elements of science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, Afrocentricity, and magic realism with non-Western cosmologies in order to critique not only the present-day dilemmas of people of color, but also to revise,...
works by Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
and George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
. Many samples originated with the contemporary French classical composer William Sheller
William Sheller
William Sheller is a French classical composer and singer.-Biography:William Sheller was born William Hand in Paris.He left school at 16 to study composition with teacher Yves Margat and later harmony, fugue and counterpoint at the Paris conservatoire. He turned to pop music after hearing the...
.
Following the release of the album, all three members worked on the Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
' self-titled debut album
Gorillaz (album)
Gorillaz is the debut album by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released in March 2001. It includes the singles "Clint Eastwood", "19-2000", "Rock the House" and "Tomorrow Comes Today"...
.
Deltron Event II
Deltron 3030's second album will be titled Deltron Event II. Production began in 2006 and, as of 2011, is still in progress. According to Kid Koala's website, he finished the turntable portions of the album in May 2006. Dan the Automator predicted in 2008 that the album would be released that year or the next.In November 2006, Del told IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
that four songs for Event II were already written and that "the album's lyrical theme has been basically mapped out." Dan the Automator stated that the recording of the new album would probably be completed by December 2006, and that it would be released in 2007. However, the album was then delayed until "sometime in 2008". In March 2008, Del told the News-Observer that "Kid Koala and Automator already finished the production. It's done. So, it's just up to me to write [the lyrics]."
During XM 66 RAW's Subsoniq in April 2008, Del was asked about the progress of the album. He stated that he has written six songs so far and that it shouldn't be long before the album is completed.
Del commented on the album again in August 2010,In an interview with Melancholy Native blogger Triassic. Saying that "it's just about finished actually."
In February 2011, Del commented to Westword.com, "now the lyrics are done for second event. I just have to lay the recordings, which won't take long".
In April 2011, Del is interviewed in a RasputinMusic.com video, and says that he is currently recording his parts for the album.
He comments "I was just in the studio with Dan last week. The only reason I'm not in there now, is because his basement had hella dusty instruments and stuff, and it made me hella sick, so I couldn't stay there. But I'm almost well now, so it's gonna be finished pretty soon, you feel me?". In an interview with The Capital Times published in June 2011, Del said the album should be out before the end of 2011.
In October 2011, on his twitter account, Kid Koala (@therealkidkoala) stated "finished final deltron turntable sessions at 7 am this morning. very excited about this record."
In November 2011, Del the funky homosapien commented on his Facebook page on a photo of himself and Dan the Automator, claiming "The album is done, Kid Koala put the final scratches/touches on it. Will probably be out sometime next year once the logistics are all figured out. Peace".