Deltron 3030 is one of the most important projects in the history of hip-hop. That’s not overstating the point, at all. Anyone with half-an-ear and even the slightest bit of appreciation for the artform regularly hails Deltron 3030’s debut album as being worthy of words like seminal, landmark, and watershed.
Their debut album (released in 2000) was a hip-hop lover’s wet dream as far as supergroups go – Del the Funky Homosapien, from rap collective Hieroglyphics was the voice, Dan the Automator was the producer, and Kid Koala was the D.J. This created a fertile, concept album that dissected what would happen to the world of hip-hop in the year 3030, in a post-apocalyptic society. Spoiler alert, it’s ends up being a prophetic metaphor for the current state of mainstream hip-hop, which is a barren wasteland of miscellaneous debris and scorched Earth wrecked by soul-less performers like Lil’ Wayne, Drake, and Wiz Kalifa.
After their debut album wrecked our collective consciousness (in a good way), Deltron went quiet. Del and Dan the Automator went on to work together in Gorillaz with Damon Albarn; but really a second album was just a pipedream for most of us, a thing of legend to be whispered about in the back rooms of seedy bars, and told to sleeping children as a reminder that the world still has the potential for good in it.
And then last year, a mere 13 years after their debut album, the team got back together to release their follow-up record, Event II. The album was trippier, less mature in some ways, but still clever, witty, and acting as commentary on the state of modern music. The second album feels less like: “We told you so…” and more like a victory lap. The boys in Deltron do it with humor, and thought provoking lyrics - there is no envy or bitterness - but they leave you to decide for yourself whether you wanna have a McDonald’s burger (Lil’ Wayne, et al) for dinner or prime cut Filet Mignon (Deltron 3030).
All of that said…Deltron 3030 will be performing at Mercury Ballroom tonight. If you’re tired of eating burgers for your hip-hop, you won’t be disappointed with the steak they’re going to be serving up. Doors are at 7PM, show is at 8PM. There will be a special opening D.J. set by Kid Koala, and tickets are $24.
