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
The Wacky World of Rapid Transit
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was plannin' to persue another quest for the bus
I had to go to San Fran, it's something that I can't stand
It's beggin' for a ride with ma dukes makes a fuss
I don't like fussin' so I ask my older cousin
Could he maybe find time to give the D-E-L a lift
He said it is impossible because he has a roster full of plans for the
day
To many it may seem that the public transportation really isn't keen
And I agree with the theory
Because it's 3:30 and the bus was due at 2:35
I wear my Girbauds so I can wait with pride
I waited at the bus stop feeling kinda high
From a spliff that I smoked
I riffed and provoked
A liitle scene when the bus arrived late like a joke
With a corny punchline
And it was only lunchtime
The bus should've been here, the driver had much time
To get is act together
No matter what the weather
Now I'm sittin' at the bus stop waitin' like forever
[SKIT #1]
When oh when is the bus gonna come
I'm getting sick and tired of the wait
When oh when is the bus gonna come
Well here comes a pack of about 14
Lookin' real mean with hoodies and jeans
And bad attitudes and I wasn't in the mood
For no head on collision with the hoods
Try to use my transfer but it's no good
Would these rough lookin' kids get busy with the youngsta
Amongst the many who must catch rapid transit to get through the city
I'm not certain
But if I go sit in the back it's curtains
Kids wanna ride the back
What kinda shit is that?
Nowadays niggas can't wait to hit the back
Let me stand in the front with the elderly
So those other cats won't raise hell with me
[SKIT #2]
Oh golly gee, not another day on the 46A
I should've caught the 46B
'Cause dukes takes the mass scene and group through the trees
And shoots the breeze with the ladies
Look at that around the way girl
Yeah, I see her
(whistle) More crack than a drug dealer
A kid sits by me with a gang of afro sheen on
I'm not Joe Clark and I would hate for him to lean on
My shoulder and try to hold a conversation
'Cause I don't have the patience
When oh when is the bus gonna reach its destination
Question over space and time
Wastin' time
Word up, I can't take this line of nitwits
I'm about to have a fit quick
'Cause this trip here is making me car sick
Check out the brother with the loaded .38
Braggin' to his buddies about the money that he makes
Sellin' crack viles like pancakes
To baseheads just like the one
That's sittin by the window starvin' for a fix
He spent his last 80 cents on fare
He raises up and lets me get in his chair
Then I sit and take a snooze
But I still lose
'Cause I cruise right past my stop
Had to get off and walk 15 blocks...
In "The Wacky World of Rapid Transit," Del Tha Funkee Homosapien paints a vivid picture of the frustrations and challenges of using public transportation. The song begins with Del at a bus stop, waiting for a ride to San Francisco. He recounts how he asked his cousin for a ride, but was turned down. He then describes how he had to sift through pennies in his jeans to pay for the ride.
As the song progresses, Del encounters a group of 14 rough-looking kids at the bus stop. Del worries that they might cause trouble, and decides to avoid confrontation by sitting in the front of the bus with the elderly. He also encounters a person carrying a loaded .38 and boasting about making money selling crack. Del eventually falls asleep on the bus, only to wake up and realize he's missed his stop, forcing him to walk 15 blocks.
Line by Line Meaning
Fresh from the meadow with a mellow attitude
I'm in a good mood and ready to face the day
I was plannin' to persue another quest for the bus
I'm trying to catch a bus to go to San Francisco
I had to go to San Fran, it's something that I can't stand
I don't like having to go to San Francisco, but I have to
It's beggin' for a ride with ma dukes makes a fuss
Asking my mom for a ride is a hassle
I don't like fussin' so I ask my older cousin
I don't want to argue with my mom so I ask my cousin for a ride
Could he maybe find time to give the D-E-L a lift
I'm asking my cousin to give me a ride
He said it is impossible because he has a roster full of plans for the day
My cousin is busy and can't give me a ride
I had to go and sift through pennies in my jeans
I don't have enough money for a taxi so I'm searching for change
To many it may seem that the public transportation really isn't keen
Some people think public transportation isn't reliable
And I agree with the theory
I also believe that public transportation is unreliable
Because it's 3:30 and the bus was due at 2:35
The bus is over an hour late
I wear my Girbauds so I can wait with pride
I'm wearing my best clothes to feel good while waiting for the bus
I waited at the bus stop feeling kinda high
I'm a little high from smoking marijuana
From a spliff that I smoked I riffed and provoked
I smoked a joint and started making jokes
A liitle scene when the bus arrived late like a joke
We all laughed when the bus finally arrived because it was so late
With a corny punchline And it was only lunchtime
The joke wasn't that funny and it was still early in the day
The bus should've been here, the driver had much time
The bus driver had plenty of time to get here but is still late
Now I'm sittin' at the bus stop waitin' like forever
I'm still waiting for the bus and it feels like it's taking forever
Lookin' real mean with hoodies and jeans
A group of kids with hoodies and jeans look angry
And bad attitudes and I wasn't in the mood
Their bad attitude is making me uncomfortable
For no head on collision with the hoods
I don't want to get into a fight with these kids
Try to use my transfer but it's no good
I can't use my bus transfer for this ride
Would these rough lookin' kids get busy with the youngsta
Might these kids start a problem with me?
Amongst the many who must catch rapid transit to get through the city
There are many people who rely on public transportation in the city
I'm not certain But if I go sit in the back it's curtains
I'm not sure what to do, but I don't want to sit in the back because it might cause trouble
Kids wanna ride the back What kinda shit is that?
Why do these kids want to sit in the back of the bus and cause trouble?
Nowadays niggas can't wait to hit the back
These days, people love causing trouble in the back of the bus
Let me stand in the front with the elderly
I'll stand in the front of the bus with the old people to avoid trouble
So those other cats won't raise hell with me
I don't want those other guys to start a problem with me
Oh golly gee, not another day on the 46A
I'm really not looking forward to taking the 46A bus again
I should've caught the 46B
I should have taken a different bus
'Cause dukes takes the mass scene and group through the trees
Other people are taking other buses to go through the city
And shoots the breeze with the ladies
They're socializing with other people on the bus
Look at that around the way girl Yeah, I see her
I'm checking out a cute girl on the bus
(whistle) More crack than a drug dealer
She's wearing a lot of makeup
A kid sits by me with a gang of afro sheen on
A kid with a lot of hair product is sitting next to me
I'm not Joe Clark and I would hate for him to lean on
I'm not a strict authority figure and I don't want him to bother me
My shoulder and try to hold a conversation 'Cause I don't have the patience
I don't want to talk to him because I'm not in the mood
When oh when is the bus gonna reach its destination
I'm wondering when the bus will finally arrive at its destination
Question over space and time Wastin' time
I'm wasting time and questioning the point of this trip
Word up, I can't take this line of nitwits I'm about to have a fit quick
I'm annoyed with the people on the bus and about to have a breakdown
'Cause this trip here is making me car sick
This trip is making me feel unwell
Check out the brother with the loaded .38
I see a guy carrying a gun
Braggin' to his buddies about the money that he makes
He's boasting about how much money he earns
Sellin' crack viles like pancakes
He's selling drugs to addicts
To baseheads just like the one That's sittin by the window starvin' for a fix
He's dealing with addicts who are desperate for drugs
He spent his last 80 cents on fare He raises up and lets me get in his chair
An addict gives me his seat after spending his last money on bus fare
Then I sit and take a snooze But I still lose 'Cause I cruise right past my stop
I fall asleep on the bus and miss my stop
Had to get off and walk 15 blocks...
I had to walk a long way back to where I needed to be
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.