Del the Funky Homosapien
A cerebral rap pioneer from Oakland who bent the genre into new, abstract shapes with dense wordplay and sci-fi concepts.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American rapper·Birthday: August 12·Generation X
Biography
Teren Delvon Jones, who emerged as Del the Funky Homosapien, carved a distinct lane in hip-hop far from the mainstream. Hailing from Oakland and cousin to Ice Cube, Del’s 1991 debut introduced a sharp, observational style, but it was his 1990s work with the Hieroglyphics crew and his groundbreaking Deltron 3030 project that cemented his legacy. On that 2000 concept album, he became Deltron Zero, a futuristic battler rapper, weaving complex narratives over Dan the Automator's production. His influence is a quiet undercurrent, heard in the adventurous spirits of later artists like Gorillaz, whom he collaborated with early on. Del remained an MC's MC, prioritizing lyrical density and conceptual ambition over commercial fame, building a devoted following that reveres his technical skill and imaginative world-building.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Del was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Del Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Del's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the acclaimed alternative hip-hop concept album 'Deltron 3030', a sci-fi opus co-created with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala.
- Founded the influential independent hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, which fostered a distinct Bay Area sound and business model.
- Provided the original voice for and co-wrote the Gorillaz hit 'Clint Eastwood', helping launch the virtual band's success.
- His debut solo album, 'I Wish My Brother George Was Here', produced by Ice Cube, introduced his unique style to the West Coast scene.
Did You Know?
He is the younger cousin of rapper and N.W.A member Ice Cube.
He originally performed under the name "Del the Funky Homosapien" because his cousin Ice Cube thought "Teren" sounded too soft.
He voiced the character of Russell in the video game "Bully".
He has a strong interest in anime and Japanese culture, which has influenced his music and visuals.
“I'm on a mission, got ammunition, got the vision of a prism, split into a million fragments.”
