In 1996, Del was ready to release his Future Development album. However, just before its release, Del was released from his recording contract with Elektra Records. Around this same time, Souls of Mischief, Extra Prolific and Casual (all members of Del's Hieroglyphics group) were all released from their recording contracts with Jive Records. Frustrated, Del and the rest of Hieroglyphics decided to start their own record label, called Hieroglyphics Imperium. Because of the problems with Elektra, Future Development was available only on cassette via the Hieroglyphics website for a time, until its eventual widespread release on CD in 2002, six years after its proposed release date.
The mistreatment of Del & Hieroglyphics by their record labels became infamous in hip-hop circles, as a perfect example of "industry rule #4080" (record company people are shady). After Hieroglyphics' successful reemergence with their own independent label, Del & Hieroglyphics became an inspiration for some rap artists to start their own labels while keeping the lion's share of the money for themselves. Arguably the efforts of Del & Hieroglyphics paved the way for other famous independent rap labels known today, such as Roc-a-Fella Records or Rawkus Records.
In 1998, Hieroglyphics came out with their first full length album, Third Eye Vision, in which Del shined. The album was well received by both fans and critics. Two years later, Del came out with Both Sides of the Brain, and in 2001, he released Deltron 3030 with Dan the Automator Nakamura and Kid Koala, which garnered extreme praise for its combination of beats and flow and futuristic style. Deltron 3030 helped expand Del’s audience, though not quite to the commercial mainstream.
Del collaborated with Gorillaz for two songs on their debut album, both of which became singles: "Clint Eastwood" and "Rock the House". In their videos he was portrayed as a clown-like ghost. 2003 saw the release of Full Circle, a second album with the Hiero crew. This latest album has gotten many mixed reviews, with some people liking its originality and display of talents of the entire crew, whereas some have complained that Del was seen only sporadically on the album, acting more like a guest artist.
Del’s lyrics often reflect his imaginative interests, offering humor and themes not usually found in most new hip hop, including video games, bad hygiene, intergalactic rap battles, and more. In 2000, the song "Positive Contact" from Deltron 3030 was featured in the game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX. In 2001, the song "If You Must" was featured in the game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. In 2003, the song "Positive Contact" was again featured in a video game - this time in Tony Hawk's Underground. In 2005, the song "Burnt" featuring Hieroglyphics was featured in the game Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland. In 2006, his song "Catch a Bad One" was featured in the game Mark Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.
Eight years following his last solo album, Both Sides of the Brain, in March 2008 Del released his newest solo, titled Eleventh Hour, under the Definitive Jux record label.
In 2009, Del released Del's Leak Pack #1 (download) & #2 (download) via his MySpace page. In April of 2009 he released his 6th solo album, Funk Man (The Stimulus Package). The album was released online and can be downloaded for free here. He also released a second new solo album, Automatic Statik, via his BandCamp site in September of 2009. October of 2009 saw the release of Del's collaboration with Tame One, entitled Parallel Uni-verses. In January of 2014, he dropped a free album titled Iller Than Most online. On April 20th 2018, Del and producer AMPLIVE collaborated for the entirety of their newest project, GATE 13
Prélude
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gluttius maximus
Dreadlocks
There are eight billion stories in the sunny meadowz
This is just one of them
The lyrics of Del Tha Funkee Homosapien's "Prelude" are intriguing and thought-provoking. The opening line ("Funk") is a nod to the genre of music that Del is known for, which is funk and hip-hop. The next line, "Gluttius maximus," refers to the largest muscle in the human body, the gluteus maximus. This can be interpreted as Del's way of emphasizing the importance of strength and power in the human body.
The following line, "Dreadlocks," refers to the hairstyle popular among people of African descent. This could symbolize a connection to his cultural roots, or it could be a nod to the Rastafarian movement and its emphasis on spiritual and social liberation. The final line, "There are eight billion stories in the sunny meadowz / This is just one of them," is a poetic way of acknowledging that everyone has a unique story to tell, and this song is just one glimpse into Del's personal narrative.
Overall, these lyrics are a testament to Del's creativity and lyrical ability. He is able to convey multiple layers of meaning with just a few words, leaving the listener with much to ponder.
Line by Line Meaning
Funk
The unique and catchy style of music known for its groovy rhythm and soulful melodies.
Gluttius maximus
A reference to the gluteus maximus muscle, humorously highlighting the physical effects of dancing and enjoying funk music.
Dreadlocks
A hairstyle commonly associated with Rastafarian culture, but also embraced by many people as a symbol of individuality and cultural expression.
There are eight billion stories in the sunny meadowz
Acknowledging the vastness and complexity of the world and the multitude of unique experiences that exist. The 'sunny meadowz' may represent a place of peace and harmony amidst the chaos of life.
This is just one of them
Emphasizing that this song is just a small part of the greater picture, and that there are countless other stories waiting to be told and heard.
Contributed by Christopher R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.