Before Hieroglyphics Imperium was a label, there was a teenager in East Oakland rapping about the world from a perspective no one had heard before. Del tha Funkee Homosapien — born Teren Delvon Jones — became one of hip-hop’s most distinctive voices, a lyricist whose combination of science-fiction imagery, abstract wordplay, and Oakland-rooted perspective made him unlike anyone else in the game.
Origins
Del was born in Oakland in 1972. He is the cousin of Ice Cube, who executive produced his debut album. That debut — I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991, Priority Records) — announced Del at age 19 as a wildly original voice. While the G-funk era was dominating West Coast rap, Del was rapping about something else entirely: consciousness, humor, and a refusal to follow trends.
The break from Priority came quickly. Del wanted full creative and business control. In 1993, along with Souls of Mischief, Casual, Domino, and others from the Oakland underground, he co-founded Hieroglyphics Imperium — a 100% artist-owned independent label. They would do it themselves.
Deltron 3030
In 2000, Del, producer Dan the Automator, and turntablist Kid Koala released Deltron 3030 — a concept album set in the year 3030, following the hero Deltron Zero as he battles a corporate-controlled galaxy. The album was a critical sensation, hailed as a visionary fusion of hip-hop and science fiction.
The 2013 sequel Event II continued the story, with a full live orchestral performance at major venues worldwide.
Beyond Hip-Hop
The Gorillaz track “Clint Eastwood” (2001) — which featured Del’s verse — became a worldwide hit, reaching the top 5 in the UK and introducing Del to millions of new listeners globally. He has collaborated with DJ Shadow, Danger Mouse, and Dan the Automator — always as the same unmistakable voice: abstract, intelligent, Oakland to the bone.
Discography Highlights
- I Wish My Brother George Was Here (1991)
- No Need for Alarm (1993)
- Both Sides of the Brain (1998)
- Future Development (2000)
- Deltron 3030 (2000) — with Dan the Automator & Kid Koala
- Funk Man: The Stimulus Package (2009) — with Parallel Thought
- Deltron 3030: Event II (2013)
Explore Del’s full catalog on his artist page.
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