Jacob Rosenberg, director and longtime collaborator of the site, has debuted a new short-form documentary called “Making Deltron 3030” celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Dive into the making of the classic hip-hop record Deltron 3030, with the artists who brought it to life.
Featuring Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien, Kid Koala with appearances by Randall Park, Zane Lowe, and Damian “Domino” Siguenza, you’ll hear a first-person account of creating this one-of-a-kind record.
An allegory for the French Revolution? A sci-fi cornucopia of 20th century influences? Or just some talented people with diverse reference points and deep intuition?
All of the above? Peep it.
We Came Back…We Were Always Coming Back
Twenty-five years ago, in October 2000, we released a preview of the album on Hieroglyphics Dot Com. Now feels like the ideal moment to revisit it, refresh it, and share it once again.
Written by Stinke
Originally published on Hieroglyphics.com, October 9, 2000
Adapted for Hieroglyphics.org, December 2025
Deltron 3030
Deltopia
It’s the year 3030…and here at The Corporate Institutional Bank of Time, we find ourselves reflecting…finding out that, in fact, we came back…we were always coming back.
And thus begins the intergalactic journey of Deltron Zero (Del the Funky Homosapien), the cantankerous Captain Aptos (Dan the Automator), and Skiznod the Boy Wonder (Kid Koala) as they set out to reclaim Earth’s music.
Spanning 21 tracks — including 9 concise interludes that advance the story — and just over 60 minutes of music, the trio deserves praise for sustaining a cohesive vision and structure throughout the entire record.
The album is extensively produced, not only in the sense of beat composition, in which Automator has done an excellent job, but also in how everything is presented: the story integrated and maintained, the mixing of sounds so carefully placed.
The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza
Evoking a sense of wonder, Deltron 3030 presents an imaginative tale meant to be played from beginning to end. Wondrously layered, it explores topics such as infectious viruses, social unrest, and apocalyptic visions of the world, down to mass confusion that gives rise to cautionary tales of induced madness.
The album is steeped in a dark, desolate mood, a world where everyone aspires to be an emcee and old Canadian beer commercials pass as artistic masterpieces.
Ensemble, Assemble!
Collaborating on 3030 is an ensemble of guest artists such as Damon Albarn, lead singer of Blur, as well as Prince Paul, who lends his creative talents to two of the interludes. Mr. Lif kicks it right quick on “St. Catherine St.”, and Peanut Butter Wolf makes a brief appearance on that same track.
Beastie Boys producer and DJ Money Mark appears on the “New Coke” interlude, and Paul Barman is introduced as Cleofis Randolph the Patriarch on a song all to himself. Sean Lennon delivers extremely potent vocals on “Memory Loss,” and fans of Björk’s solo material will be pleased to know that longtime friend and producer Mark Bell produced six of the interludes on Deltron 3030.
Automated
A meticulously crafted album, Deltron 3030 is thoughtfully conceived and expertly executed, boasting outstanding production value. Pairing Del with such a diverse array of talent recalls his collaboration with Dinosaur Jr. on the Judgment Night soundtrack — an unlikely team-up that yielded exceptional results. Automator deserves credit for taking such a bold creative step.
Dan’s beats range from irresistibly funky (“Time Keeps On Slipping”) to futuristic techno-funk (“Positive Contact”), and even venture into a hybrid, Orwellian–Beach Boys territory on “3030.”
A playful, at times goofy, vibe runs throughout the album’s interludes, yet it only amplifies the chaos in Del’s lyrics and the (excuse the pun) “madness” of the story. This is a world where music has gone amok, and the insanity of such a universe is conveyed with remarkably vivid imagery.
Scratch Mechanics
Kid Koala excels at weaving scratches and vocal samples into every track, even going so far as to scratch many of Del’s own older records. It’s a thrill to hear a line from No Need for Alarm recontextualized in a futuristic setting.
New Coke
Deltron 3030 is a wonderful album — an instant classic that seamlessly blends innovative storytelling and musicality into an ensemble-driven concept album. I recommend listening to it from beginning to end.
Enjoy, and pick up the album when it is released on 75 Ark Records on October 17, 2000.
– Stinke
