Many U.Va. students, like me, will be recovering Sunday from the crazy events of Homecoming. I am planning to get right cozy in the ever-so-comfy bottom floor of Clemons with a 12-pack of Red Bull and pile of textbooks. However, for those looking for non-scholastic activities to engage in that night, I would like to turn your attention to the Del Tha Funkee Homosapien concert at the Satellite Ballroom.
Del hails from Oakland, Calif. and came onto his unique hip-hop scene around 1990. On his first album, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, Del received financial help from his famous cousin, former NWA member/actor Ice Cube. The album opened to mediocre reviews, from both the public and Del himself. After that, Del came out from under his cousin's shadow and more fully developed his own sound.
Many people might recognize Del from the Gorillaz smash hit single, "Clint Eastwood," or "Rock the House," another track of the Gorillaz debut album. Del was the primary rapper in both songs.
Del has released four studio albums and one greatest hits compilation. His upcoming album, The 11th Hour, will be Del's first solo release of new material since 2000's Both Sides of the Brain. A promotional DVD also titled The 11th Hour was released in 2006, but the album has not been given an official release date yet. Hopefully, this CD will not turn into Del's Chinese Democracy (see Guns N' Roses).
Del's sound is similar to that of many Bay Area rappers. His rhyming takes more of an old-school approach with new-school tricks -- his lyrics steer away from the popular hip-hop topics of broads and Bentleys. Instead, Del chooses to rap about things like good hygiene, battling rappers in outer space and other subjects not too often broached in the hip-hop community.
Del formed the Bay Area group Hieroglyphics in the early 1990s. They have released two albums and have a large and faithful underground following.
Del is also part of the alternative hip-hop super group Deltron 3030. 3030 is comprised of Del, Dan the Automator and DJ Koala Kid. They released their self-titled debut album in 2000 to underground success. Another album is in the works and Dan the Automator has said it will come out sometime in 2007.
Del's opener, Devin the Dude, is another well-respected underground rapper. Devin hails from Houston, Texas, and like Del, tends to steer away from 'popular' hip-hop, preferring to cultivate his own sound. He released his first solo album, The Dude, in 1998. Though the album did well critically, Devin did not achieve mainstream success. He has since released three albums, including his most recent CD, Waitin' to Inhale. Devin has worked with many other hip-hop superstars, such as Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.
So, if you are a fan of solid, original hip-hop, I would highly recommend going to the Satellite Ballroom Sunday and seeing Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Devin the Dude. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.
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