Deltron 3030
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 23, 2000[1]
Recorded1999–2000
StudioThe Glue Factory
(San Francisco, CA)
GenreAlternative hip hop, underground hip hop, hip hopera
Length60:18
Label75 Ark
ProducerDan the Automator
Deltron 3030 chronology
Deltron 3030
(2000)
Event 2
(2013)
Singles from Deltron 3030
  1. "Time Keeps On Slipping"
    Released: 17 October 2000
  2. "3030"
    Released: 17 October 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Alternative Press4/5[2]
The Guardian[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Melody Maker[5]
NME8/10[6]
Pitchfork8.8/10[7]
Q[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Spin7/10[10]

Deltron 3030 is the debut album by the hip hop supergroup of the same name: rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, producer Dan the Automator, and DJ Kid Koala. It was released on May 23, 2000,[1] by 75 Ark. The album was reissued on July 1, 2008 with 3 bonus remixes. The album's cover features a photograph of the Perisphere, a structure constructed for the 1939 New York World's Fair.

It is a rap opera concept album set in a dystopian year 3030. The album's story casts Del in the role of Deltron Zero, a disillusioned mech soldier and interplanetary computer prodigy rebelling against a 31st-century New World Order. In a world where evil oligarchs suppress both human rights and hip-hop, Del fights rap battles against a series of foes, becoming Galactic Rhyme Federation Champion. Del the Funky Homosapien's lyrics veer from serious social commentary to humor to epic sci-fi battles, while producer Dan the Automator creates an eerie and dense atmosphere.

The song "3030" was used as the theme song on the short-lived CBS series Robbery Homicide Division.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dan Nakamura and Teren Jones, except where noted

No.TitleWritersLength
1."State of the Nation" (featuring Damon Albarn) 0:25
2."3030" 7:29
3."The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza" (featuring Prince Paul) 0:21
4."Things You Can Do" 4:59
5."Positive Contact" 4:42
6."St. Catherine St." (featuring Beans, Mr. Lif, P. Wingerter, Peanut Butter Wolf, Verna Brown) 0:43
7."Virus" 4:26
8."Upgrade (A Brymar College Course)" 4:10
9."New Coke" (featuring Mark Ramos-Nishita) 0:41
10."Mastermind" 3:34
11."National Movie Review" (featuring Brad Roberts) 0:53
12."Madness" 4:38
13."Meet Cleofis Randolph the Patriarch" (featuring Paul Barman) 0:36
14."Time Keeps On Slipping" (featuring Damon Albarn)
  • Nakamura
  • Jones
  • Albarn
4:59
15."The News (A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Microsoft, Inc.)" (featuring Hafdís Huld) 0:49
16."Turbulence" (remixed by Mark Bell) 3:33
17."The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza Part II" (featuring Prince Paul) 0:37
18."Battlesong" 4:07
19."Love Story" 3:26
20."Memory Loss" (featuring Sean Lennon)
  • Nakamura
  • Jones
  • Lennon
4:39
21."The Assmann 640 Speaks" (featuring Damon Albarn) 0:31
Total length:60:18
2008 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
22."Positive Contact" (Charlie Clouser remix)4:56
23."Turbulence" (Mark Bell remix)4:18
24."Positive Contact" (Mario C remix)3:56

Samples

The following lists some of the songs and sounds sampled for Deltron 3030.

"State of the Nation"
"3030"
"Things You Can Do"
"Positive Contact"
"Virus"
"Mastermind"
"National Movie Review"
"Madness"
"Turbulence"
"The News (A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Microsoft Inc.)"
"Love Story"
  • "Milk and Honey" by Bonnie Dobson
  • "Le Massacre Du Dragon" by the Maurice Vander Trio
"Memory Loss"

Personnel

Charts

Year Chart Peak position
2000 Heatseekers #13
2000 Billboard 200 #194
2000 Top Independent Albums #43
2000 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums #90

Legacy

In the Cartoon Network series Craig of the Creek, the episode "The Kid From 3030" has Craig and his friends encounter a boy (voiced by Del) who states that his name is Deltron and that he is from the year 3030. He wears a cassette player on his chest that reads "Automator".

References

  1. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Deltron 3030 – Deltron 3030". AllMusic. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  2. ^ "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030". Alternative Press. No. 152. March 2001. pp. 68–69.
  3. ^ Kabuubi, Maxine (October 20, 2000). "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030 (75 Ark)". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Hochman, Steve (November 17, 2000). "Deltron 3030, 'Deltron 3030,' 75 Ark". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030". Melody Maker. November 8–14, 2000. p. 52.
  6. ^ "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030". NME. October 21, 2000. p. 44.
  7. ^ Eccleston, Sam (January 17, 2001). "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  8. ^ "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030". Q. No. 178. July 2001. p. 108.
  9. ^ Relic, Peter (2004). "Del tha Funkee Homosapien". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 227–228. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  10. ^ Weisbard, Eric (January 2001). "Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030". Spin. Vol. 17, no. 1. p. 120. Retrieved April 1, 2016.