By Zac Clark Contributor
Image provided by Young Heavy Souls
Del the Funky Homosapien, known for his Golden Era rap style and collaborations with groups like Hieroglyphics, Deltron 3030 and the Gorillaz, is scheduled to perform on Oct. 27 in Shakespeare Pub’s lower level.
Two artists are expected to open for Del next Saturday. They are inspired by the musician and his era of rap.
“I am super amped. I have– we’ve–been listening to Del forever. Between the two of us we’ve been listening to him for 20 years,” said rapper Jeffrey Bouley. He and another opening artist, Matt Black, are members of the rap-electronic music collaborative Young Heavy Souls, which was founded in Kalamazoo.
“Del is probably my favorite of all-time,” said Black. “He has influenced my style more than any other artist.” According to Black, Del’s rap genre originated during “hip-hop’s renaissance ” or the “Golden Era” of rap music. In the early-to-mid 90’s, Del was joined by artists like De La Soul, The Chronic, A Tribe Called Quest, and Wu-Tang Clan in redefining hop-hop. These artists started to create music characterized by a wide variety of grumbling basses and smokey rhythms.
Black said he likes to think of these sounds as creative, adaptive, and funky.
“It is when hip-hop started becoming culturally relevant,” said Black.
Shakespeare’s lower level manager and booking agent Sean Micklin is excited about the prospects of the upcoming show.“It’s the biggest show we’ve gotten so far,” Micklin said. “It is also one of the more expensive shows we have put on.”
According to Micklin, Shakespeare’s staff hopes the show will sell out, as it may benefit the whole Kalamazoo music community.
Micklin said his goal is to bring “more national level acts of that caliber.” If he can find an audience with the same enthusiasm that Black and Friendly show for Del, the State might not be the only venue attracting nation-wide acts, he said.
Golden-era good vibes are $10 pre-sale at Shakespeare’s and online at http://delthefunkyhomosapien.bpt.me/. Tickets will also be available at the door for $15. Doors open at 9 p.m. to audiences 21 and older.
