Deltron 3030 is a hip hop supergroup who made a huge impression on the genre with their self-titled debut album, which dropped back in 2000. On that record, producer Dan The Automator, DJ Kid Koala, and emcee Del The Funky Homosapien came together to tell a science fiction story about life in the year 3030, where the environment is damaged and the rich rule the world with an iron fist while everyone else has to scramble just to survive. Sound familiar?
Deltron 3030 is a hip hop supergroup who made a huge impression on the genre with their self-titled debut album, which dropped back in 2000. On that record, producer Dan The Automator, DJ Kid Koala, and emcee Del The Funky Homosapien came together to tell a science fiction story about life in the year 3030, where the environment is damaged and the rich rule the world with an iron fist while everyone else has to scramble just to survive. Sound familiar? Any disturbing references to the current era embedded in that album’s narrative have only become more ominous and prescient in the thirteen years since its release. In the meantime, Del has kept himself busy with several solo albums–his most recent is 2012’s Root Stimulation–as well as collaborations with his crew, The Hieroglyphics (The Kitchen came out back in July). Dan The Automator has collaborated with Prince Paul on Handsome Boy Modeling School, Mike Patton on Lovage, and Gorillaz on their self-titled debut album, as well as producing everyone from Ben Lee to Head Automatica to Kasabian. And Kid Koala has stayed busy with solo instrumental albums full of his signature turntablism, as well as creating a couple of graphic novels.
But now they’re back together, and Deltron 3030’s nearly-a-decade-in-the-making second album, Event II, drops today. Along with the high-quality rapping, scratching, and production you’ve come to expect from the three main men involved, there’s an absurd amount of celebrity guest appearances on the album–everyone from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Amber Tamblyn to Casual and Zach De La Rocha to Mike Patton and Damon Albarn to David Cross and The Lonely Island. Narratively, things have gone from bad to worse in the year 3030, and Deltron Osiris is back to try and set things right. Will he succeed? Will he fail? We’re not sure, but the whole thing will definitely sound amazing. Hear for yourself–check out “Melding Of The Minds,” an early single from Event II featuring Zach De La Rocha:
Event II can be ordered from Bulk Recordings on vinyl, CD, and digital formats–click here to grab a copy for yourself. And get ready for the Event II tour, which starts next week and will bring Deltron 3030 to Charlottesville’s Jefferson Theater next Friday, October 11. The trio will be accompanied by the 3030 Orchestra, a 16-piece crew adding symphonic backing to the work of the Deltron 3030 main men; plus, they’ll have former Mars Volta bassist Juan Alderete along for the ride, laying down the funky grooves. With opening sets from hip hop/punk rock hybrid Itch and Kid Koala taking a solo shot at the turntables, you can expect a fun evening from beginning to end. Don’t sleep on this one!
WHAT: Deltron 3030 Brings The Future To Charlottesville In The Present!
WHO: Deltron 3030, Itch, Kid Koala (solo DJ set)
WHERE: The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St, Charlottesville VA
WHEN: Friday, October 11, Doors open at 8 PM
ADMISSION: $20 in advance/$23 at the door–order advance tickets HERE
And hey, if you’re really lucky, you could see this entire show for free! That’s right, one lucky RVA Magazine reader will win a pair of tickets to the Deltron 3030 show at The Jefferson Theater next Friday. If you want that winner to be you (and you know you do), just plug your info into the handy dandy widget below, and keep an eye out for bonus chances to win! The giveaway ends on Friday at 5 PM, so enter now!
