Deltron 3030

Like most works of science-fiction, Deltron 3030 is more a commentary on its present moment than a prediction of the future. A collaborative effort between producer Dan the Automator, DJ Kid Koala, and MC Del tha Funkee Homosapien, the album explores a theme that is as old as hip-hop itself: the crusade of creative, forward- thinking artists against boring, commercialized, and highly “wack” MCs. The weapons utilized by Deltron in this uphill battle are densely verbose rhymes, and imaginative, unconventional beats. The sounds are loopy and unexpected, but never abstract — nor are Del’s rhymes, which are densely packed but precisely rendered. In its sharpness and attention to detail, the music echoes the innovations of ‘80s hip-hop pioneers, and that lineage is referred to repeatedly throughout this program. The motley list of cameos reads like a funhouse reflection of the usual feature-heavy rap album, and adds to Deltron’s alternative pedigree. Deltron 3030 is an affirmation of core old-school values yet sounds identical to nothing in the contemporary rap landscape.