Del the Funky Homosapien

Teren Delvon Jones(born August 12, 1972),better known by his stage nameDel the Funky Homosapien(sometimes stylized asDel tha Funkee Homosapien) orSir DZL,is an American rapper.

Del the Funky Homosapien
Del performing in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Teren Delvon Jones
Also known as	Deltron Zero Sir DZL Del Del the Ghost Rapper Funky Homosapien Joe Higashi Unicron
Born	(1972-08-12)August 12, 1972 Oakland, California,U.S.
Genres	Alternative hip hop West Coast hip hop
Occupations	Rapper songwriter record producer
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Elektra Hiero Imperium Definitive Jux
Member of	Hieroglyphics Deltron 3030
Website	delthefunkyhomosapien.com

Music career

1988–1997: Early life and beginnings

Born inOakland, California,he is the cousin of seminal West Coast rapperIce Cube,and began his career writing lyrics for Ice Cube's groupDa Lench Mob.In 1991, with the help of Ice Cube, Del released his first solo album,I Wish My Brother George Was Here,at the age of 19. The album was a commercial success largely due to the popularity of the hit single "Mistadobalina".Ultimately Del, who was not pleased with the limited musical range of the album, severed his production-artist relationship with Ice Cube for his next album,No Need for Alarm.

No Need for Alarmsaw the introduction of the Oakland cliqueHieroglyphics,whose original members includedSouls of Mischief(Opio, A-Plus, Phesto and Tajai), Casual, Pep Love, Del, and producer Domino.No Need for Alarmhelped to expose both the regional Oakland sound of hip hop, as well as the freestyle based, "golden era 90s" style of hip hop being expanded at the time.

1998–2006: Middle era

Del would not produce another album for five years. About a month before the release of his third album,Future Development,Del received a letter from his label,Elektra,stating that his contract had been terminated.Together with his crew, Del established his own independent record label,Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings,which primarily consists of an expanded Hieroglyphics roster and a few other artists with whom the group collaborates on a regular basis.Future Developmentbecame available in 1998 and was only available on the Hieroglyphics website in tape formbut was re-released in 2002 on the Hieroglyphics Imperium label. Del also released another collaborative work with the Hieroglyphics crew in 1998, which was also the Hieroglyphics crew's first album,3rd Eye Vision.

Del performing inRed Deer, Albertain 2006

Two years later, Del released his fourth solo album,Both Sides of the Brain,as well asDeltron 3030which was a collaborative work with artistsDan the AutomatorandKid Koala.With Nakamura and Koala, Del was also a guest performer forGorillaz'seponymous 2001 album.He appeared on the singles "Clint Eastwood"and"Rock the House".2003 saw the release ofFull Circle,the second full-length album from the Hieroglyphics crew.

In 2004, Elektra releasedThe Best of Del tha Funkee Homosapien: The Elektra Yearswithout Del's approval. The CD only includes songs from his first two albums, along with a handful of B-sides from that era. Del was not pleased and advised people to not buy the CD, saying it was just Elektra trying to make money off of him due to his newfound fame.

2006–present: Recent years

On March 11, 2008, Del releasedEleventh HourthroughDefinitive Jux.On March 31, 2009, Del's next albumFunk Man (The Stimulus Package)was made available for free download on the internet. The album is available at his page onBandcamp,though he gave away some hard copies on his supporting Funk Man tour. In September of the same year, he released a new album,Automatik Statik,for an unfixed rate with a minimum of $3.

Del released his next albumIt Ain't Illegal Yeton August 6, 2010. There is no fixed price for the album, allowing listeners to pay whatever they wish for the album. Paying certain prices for the album will give certain incentives, including opportunities for personal collaborations with Del. Del released the albumGolden Eraon April 19, 2011, in a three-disc set includingFunk Man (The Stimulus Package)andAutomatik Statik.

Del shared a free LP entitledIller Than Moston January 2, 2014. He uploaded the record toSoundCloudunder the username Zartan Drednaught COBRA. He described the project as "lyrically ill but fun to listen to, nothing super heavy." Del handled the production on the project as well.

In 2024, Del formed a series named Manik Mondaze on his YouTube Channel where he and his local crew (which consists of Baslonius.Funk, Lord Takim from the Regional Oakland Group, AMW, Q Shy and many others) where they posts songs weekly and exclusive interviews and behind the scenes on the Manik Mondaze Official Website.

In other media

Del's songs have seen frequent use in various forms of media including video games, film soundtracks, as well as skateboarding, rollerblading and snowboarding videos. In 2000 the song "Catch All This" fromBoth Sides of the Brainwas featured in the gameStreet Sk8er 2,"Jaw Gymnastics", featuring Casual, was featured inKnockout Kings,and "Positive Contact" fromDeltron 3030was featured inMat Hoffman's Pro BMX.In 2001, "If You Must"was featured inTony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.In 2003, "Positive Contact" fromDeltron 3030was featured inTony Hawk's Undergroundand "The Izm" was featured inRolling.In 2005, the Hieroglyphics song "Soweto" is featured onESPN NBA 2K5(the Hieroglyphics crew is unlockable as a bonus team) and Del's song "Burnt" was featured inTony Hawk's American Wasteland.

In 2006, "Catch a Bad One" was featured inMarc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressureand "At the Helm" featuring Hieroglyphics was featured inTony Hawk's Project 8.Also in 2006, his song "Dr. Bombay" was used in the movieBeerfest.The Hieroglyphics song "Don't Hate the Player" was also featured inNBA 2K7,and "Clint Eastwood" was featured inNBA 2K14."Teamwork" is featured on PlayStation Home. Del has had many songs featured in snowboarding movies. "Press Rewind" was the song for Eero Ettala's part in the filmWhite Balanceand "If You Must" was featured inDC Mountain Lab.

Del collaborated with John King of theDust BrothersandMark MothersbaughofDevoto produce the original score forSkate 3,released in May 2010. In February 2016, Del,Black Thought,MursandFashawnrecorded a new track called "Rise Up" for the video gameStreet Fighter V.A music video for the song was released byCapcom,and includes appearances by Del and his fellow collaborators.

In October 2018, Deltron 3030 collaborated with theCartoon Networkanimated seriesCraig of the Creek,with Del making an appearance in the episode "The Kid from 3030" as Deltron. The episode featured original songs by Deltron 3030 made just for the episode of the show.Deltron briefly returns in the Season 3 finale singing "Positive Contact" from Deltron 3030's debut album of the same name.

He has also made cameo appearances in films, such asTed Demme's directorial debutWho's the Man?,as a teen with two members ofDa Youngsta'sand an uncreditedAshanti,andJonah Hill's directorial debutMid90s,as a homeless bum alongsideChad Muska.

He made a guest appearance as a rapper named "Old Skool" (paying homage to Del's prominence in the 1990s) on theNickelodeonseriesMiddlemost Poston the episode "The Same Ol' Same".

Collaborations

In 1993, Del collaborated with the bandDinosaur Jr.to create the song "Missing Link", featured on theJudgment Nightsoundtrack. In 1999–2000, Del collaborated withKid KoalaandDan the Automatoras thesupergroupDeltron 3030whosedebut self-titled albumwas released in May 2000. Exposure from the 3030 project helped to expand Del's fan base—the 3030 project worked well as a marketing move because the CD capitalized on the growing interest of computer technology, incorporating motifs of science fiction, telling stories about life and hip hop based in the year 3030, and infusing much of the popular internet terminology and culture in circulation at the time. A follow-up album,Event 2,was released in 2013.In 2005 Del worked with theWu-Tang Clanand their affiliates on the collaboration albumWu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture.

Del collaborated with the virtual bandGorillazon two songs on their debut album, "Clint Eastwood"and"Rock the House",both of which became singles and videos and achieved chart success. Del was not, however, originally selected to collaborate on these songs. By the time Del came onto the project, the album was already finished, and British hip-hop group Phi Life Cypher had already recorded verses for" Clint Eastwood ". But when Del finished makingDeltron 3030withDan the Automator,Dan asked if he could stay in the studio a little longer to record new verses for the Gorillaz songs.For the purposes of the music videos and the Gorillaz storyline canon, Del performed under the identity of "Del the Ghost Rapper", who was said to be a spirit that was hiding from death within the band's drummer,Russel Hobbs.Del later commented in an interview on the success of "Clint Eastwood" by saying that he actually wrote the song with the bookHow to Write a Hit Song,a book that he bought with a coupon his mother gave him. After the song went platinum he gave the plaque to his mother.As part of Russel Hobbs' back-story, the character of Del was one of Russel's friends that was gunned down in a drive-by shooting, whose ghostpossessedRussel.

In 2009, Del is featured on the song "Lothar" bySleepoff his albumHesitation Wounds,as well as on the song "Dreamin'" byGift of Gaboff his albumEscape 2 Mars.In March 2010, Del collaborated with independent pop/funk duo Modern Science on a track called "Do It Right Now" that is available on the band's Bandcamp website.Del collaborated on the track "Smoke Rings" withDirty Headson their 2012 albumCabin by the Sea.In August 2012, Del appeared on the track "The Ride" from the EPThrift Store Halosby¡Mayday!.

In September 2013, Del appeared on two tracks fromFigure'sHorns of the ApocalypseEP: "Beast Mode" and "War Call". In January 2014, Del appeared on the track "Viberian Son" withMF Doom.In March 2014, Del appeared on the track "Life and Time" withKool A.D.In 2016, Del was featured on the track "World Renown" with Mr. Lif's albumDon't Look Down.In April 2017, Del appeared (along with Carnage the Executor) on the track "Lone Wolves" from Cas One Vs Figure's "So Our Egos Don't Kill Us". In 2017, Del was a guest artist on the debut album of Halo Orbit (a band featuringJuan Alderete,ex–Mars VoltaandMark Guiliana) on the track "One Of These Days". He also appeared on the track "Pizza Shop Extended" from the albumIwasverybadbyJay IDK.

Using hisDeltronpersona, Del guests on the track "3030 Meets the Doc, Pt. 1" fromDr. Octagon'sMoosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation.Released on streaming services April 6, 2018, the album reunitesKool KeithwithDan the AutomatorandDJ Qbert.

On July 7, 2018, as he was appearing with Gorillaz during the final act of the2018 Roskilde Festival,Del fell off the stage during a performance of "Clint Eastwood". He was unable to get back up, and it was decided to cut the performance short. Although he was at first thought to have suffered only minor injuries, he had actually fractured seven ribs and punctured one of his lungs. He was still hospitalized inRoskildefour days after the accident.According to his Facebook page and official website, Del was back out touring in September 2018.

Del once again collaborated with Gorillaz in 2023, appearing on theCracker Islanddeluxe edition bonus track "Captain Chicken".

Discography

Main article:Del the Funky Homosapien discography

See also:Hieroglyphics DiscographyandDeltron 3030 Discography

Solo studio albums

• I Wish My Brother George Was Here(1991)
• No Need for Alarm(1993)
• Future Development(1997)
• Both Sides of the Brain(2000)
• Eleventh Hour(2008)
• Funk Man (The Stimulus Package)(2009)
• Automatik Statik(2009)
• It Ain't Illegal Yet(2010)
• Golden Era(2011)
• Root Stimulation(2012)
• Iller Than Most(2014)

Mixtapes

• West Coast Avengers (WCA D-Funk Limited)(2012)
• West Coast Avengers II (Fela)(2012)
• West Coast Avengers III(Frank Zappa) (TBR)

Other releases

• "Missing Link" withDinosaur Jr.–Judgment Night(1993)
• One Big Trip(Soundtrack) (2002)
• The Best of Del tha Funkee Homosapien: The Elektra Years(2004)
• Del's Leak Pack #1(2008)
• Del's Leak Pack #2(2008)
• The Ice Cold – Leak Pack(2011)
• Del's Funky Leak Pack Aug.(2011)
• Event 2a collaboration as a part of Deltron 3030 (2013)
• 3rd World Vision(2015)

WithGorillaz

• Gorillaz(2001 album)
  • "Clint Eastwood"
  • "Rock the House"
• Cracker Island (Deluxe)(2023 album)
  • "Captain Chicken"(feat. Del the Funky Homosapien)

Mike Relm's "Spectacle"

• Mike Relm(2008)

N.A.S.A.

• The Spirit of ApolloSamba Soul (featuring Del the Funky Homosapien & DJ Qbert) (2009)

WithTame One

• Parallel Uni-Verses(2009)

With Parallel Thought

• Attractive Sin(June 19, 2012)

Marcus D

• Simply Complex"Back to the Roots" (featuring Del the Funky Homosapien) (October 10, 2013)

WithAmpLive

• Gate 13(April 20, 2018)

WithKool Keith

• FNKPMPN(January 01, 2022)

External links

• Official website
• Del the Funky Homosapiendiscography atDiscogs