Popular Hip-hopper Returns To City
Legendary hip-hopper Del the Funky Homosapien is back in London tonight, headlining a bill with plenty of L-town talent.
Emerging from California’s Bay Area as the teenage protege of his cousin of Ice Cube, Del starred with the Hieroglyphics in the 1990s and went on to other projects such as Deltron 3030.
His guest verses with Gorillaz, an all-star project, have helped that outfit’s 2001 hit, Clint Eastwood, and other tracks sell more than five million recordings. His collaborators in Deltron 3030 included Montreal-based turntablist Kid Koala, who also has ties to Gorillaz.
Among the other performers on the Rum Runners Music Hall bill are London hip-hopper Shad, London-based duo OK Cobra and DJ Res, who has the opening slot.
“I’m basically a hip-hop DJ. I’ll be playing a lot of older hip-hop,” says DJ Res. The former Lucas secondary school student is Steve Plomske, 33, off-stage. “He’s very popular here,” DJ Res says of Del. “He usually comes here every two years or so.”
On this tour, Del has been working his way east from B.C. DJ Res says the most recent London gig for Del was at the now-closed Club Phoenix, a few blocks from the Dundas Street club where he’s playing tonight.
“My sound is Del’s own sound, but I got a wide range of influences,” Del says on his myspace.com site. “Nowadays, though, I definitely try to keep it black and funky. Anything after that is fine, but those secret ingredients gotta be present, but I’m all-inclusive, meaning it don’t matter what colour you are or what you may be into.”
Shad plays tonight’s gig, travels to the Guelph-area’s Hillside festival tomorrow and then is on the bill at Toronto’s Wakestock on Sunday.
“Opening for Ice Cube’s illest cousin — big Del ’bout to kill it,” Shad says on his myspace.com blog.
And of the weekend’s Hillside festival, he says, “I’m on at 8 p.m. at the main stage. . . . sick, sick line-up (in my humble opinion) some of the best live acts in Canada: Shout Out Out Out and (London’s) Basia Bulat — whose very talented strings players kindly recorded some parts for my album — the Dears, and too many others.”
IF YOU GO
What: London club show headlined by California hip-hopper Del the Funky Homosapien. Bill includes A-Plus, Bukue One, Zac Hendrix, Shad, OK Cobra and DJ Res.
When: Tonight, doors open at 8 p.m.
Where: Rum Runners Music Hall, 176 Dundas St.
Details: 19-and-up. $20, plus applicable charges in advance. Call 519-488-1012 or 519-432-1107.
London Free Press
July 26th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
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