Deltron 3030 Tracklist
Rap supergroup Deltron 3030’s eponymous debut album was released via 75 Ark Records on October 17th 2000. “Time Keeps On Slipping”, “Virus” and “Positive Contact” were all released as promotional singles. It is one of the few examples of rap opera album.
The LP is a science fiction concept album from the perspective of mech soldier Deltron Zero in the year 3030. Isolated in an intergalactic dystopia*, he challenges the New World Order oligarchy by competing in the Galactic Rhyme Federation Championship.
Upon winning, Deltron embarks on a trip to Earth. However, upon departure he is intercepted by his rivals his memory is erased, right back to square one.
Deltron 3030 also explores themes of racism and colonialism within the context of a futuristic sci-fi landscape, albeit in a more oblique way. In a 2020 article, Del briefly explained the reason behind his more subtle lyrical approach:
There’s always consequences for any actions we take. I was pretty aware of what could happen. I was mischievous though, I just learned to slip and slide. There’s a way you can say things that give you different effects.”
*The group have stated that George Orwell’s 1984 was a significant inspiration for the album.
Del The Funky Homosapien retrospectively discussed Deltron 3030’s background in a Clash interview:
The first album, that was more meant to be a stylistic type of thing. But you’ve always got to have something to say, you can’t just freestyle. Some people picked up on the fact that, okay, I wasn’t really saying an awful lot – some critics just called it techno-babbling. But for a lot of it was just freestyling, but it did have meaning in it, too.
On the contrary to this, the project was highly acclaimed by critics. NME called it, “the most purely enjoyable hip-hop album of 2000”, while publications such as Pitchfork, Complex and The AV Club have also hailed the album. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart.
