In 2000, Del tha Funkee Homosapien and producer Dan the Automator made a rap album set in the year 3030. The world had fallen. A corporation called Deltron Parallax had taken control of everything. A lone warrior named Deltron Zero, voiced by Del, was fighting back.
Deltron 3030 is one of the most original concept albums in hip-hop history — and it came out of the same Oakland independent infrastructure that built Hieroglyphics.
What Is Deltron 3030?
The project is a collaboration between three people:
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien — MC, Hieroglyphics founder, Oakland. Voices the character Deltron Zero.
- Dan the Automator — Producer. San Francisco. Also behind Gorillaz, Dr. Octagon, Handsome Boy Modeling School.
- Kid Koala — Turntablist. Montreal. One of the most technically gifted scratch DJs alive.
The self-titled album was released June 13, 2000 on 75 Ark / Rawkus Records. 71 minutes, 18 tracks. Guest appearances from Damon Albarn, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Sean Lennon, Casual, and others.
The Concept
The album is set in a dystopian future where mega-corporations have enslaved humanity. Deltron Zero is a skilled warrior who has rejected the system — a fugitive trying to survive and resist. The story is not delivered in linear narrative. You absorb a world through Del’s rapping and the cinematic, layered production.
The Production
Dan the Automator had already demonstrated his ability to build worlds with Dr. Octagon (1996). For Deltron 3030, he pulled orchestral arrangements, dissonant jazz textures, heavy bass, and Kid Koala’s turntablism to create something that did not sound like anything else in 2000.
Tracks to start with:
- “Battlesong” — The opener. Orchestral intro gives way to Del over propulsive percussion. Sets the tone immediately.
- “Upgrade” — The most accessible track. Del’s technical ability meets the album’s melodic production.
- “Mastermind” — Dark, bass-heavy, dystopian.
- “3030” — The mission statement. Del describes the world and his position in it.
- “Virus” — Features Damon Albarn. The Gorillaz connection made explicit.
Del and Gorillaz
Damon Albarn heard Deltron 3030 and wanted to work with Del. The result was Del’s verse on “Clint Eastwood” (2001) — one of the biggest alternative hits of the early 2000s. Del also appeared on “Feel Good Inc.” (2005) on the Gorillaz Demon Days album.
For millions of listeners worldwide, Del’s voice on those Gorillaz records was their introduction to Hieroglyphics. If you came to Del through Gorillaz, Deltron 3030 is the next step.
Event II (2013)
The sequel arrived 13 years after the original. It expanded the concept with more guests including Damon Albarn again, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Zack de la Rocha. As a companion to the original, it adds depth to the world Deltron Zero inhabits.
Where to Listen
Both albums are on major streaming platforms. Bandcamp has lossless downloads for those who want to own the music.
Start with the original (2000). Give it a full uninterrupted listen. By the time “Battlesong” fades in, you will understand why this album has sustained a devoted following for 25 years.
Del performs with Hieroglyphics live. Red Rocks. October 29, 2026.