Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Gang Gang Dance, Kings of Leon, Peanut Butter Wolf

DEL THA FUNKEE HOMOSAPIEN
At the raw age of 17, Del tha Funkee Homosapien was first tossed the mic by his gangster rapping and part-time anaconda-hunting cousin, Ice Cube. However, after nearly two decades of rhyming, Del’s style couldn’t be any more divergent from his blood’s. Instead of spewing abhorrence, Del’s lyrics are amiable. Instead of promoting violence and destruction, Del encourages self and societal progress. And instead of grabbing and smacking a hoe, Del would rather reach for a novel. Unlike most emcees, Del boasts a vocabulary that would make a Harvard student choke on his NASDAQ Special Edition iPod. Though he’s dropped several solo albums and side projects, the bulk of Del’s notoriety was derived from headlining the critically acclaimed rap group Hieroglyphics, as well as co-starring with Gorillaz on their platinum single “Clint Eastwood.” Del is presently tucked away in his home studio working on his next solo album, 11th Hour. (Appearing at Abbey Pub on Oct. 27) –text: Joe Ptak

GANG GANG DANCE
Well known around New York and contiguous boroughs, Gang Gang Dance records unique music. The quartet led by artist Brian DeGraw made their debut in 2004 with Revival of The Shittest. Soon after came a self-titled album and last year’s excellent God’s Money. The band’s sound can sometimes be classified as world music because of their tribal beats and Eastern/African influences, yet the group also experiments with drones while generating trance-inducing vibes that mesmerize the listener. Their music can also be manic at times, with piercing female vocals and schizophrenic shifts in tone. Last year’s God’s Money saw the band being labeled as neo-tribal as they’ve helped revitalize a rather underground genre. The band has toured with eclectic Brooklynites Animal Collective and Black Dice. Gang Gang’s music is quite disparate from typical indie rock fare, making them an acquired taste for some and a fanatical treat for others. (Appearing with Dogme 95 and Andor Destructor at Empty Bottle on Oct. 27) –text: Garin Pirnia–photo: Joshua Wildman

KINGS OF LEON
Kings of Leon might just be the greatest group to fly under most radar. This trio of Southern brothers (a far cry from those “Mmmbop” kids from Oklahoma) and their cousin make the wonderful, but rare kind of music that leaves you in a state of giddy delight — announcing to anyone who will listen something to the effect of “these guys are damn fucking good!” Their sound might best be described as ’80s punk with a country soul and a streak of hipster. Every track hints at another time and genre, and the Kings now find themselves touring with Bob Dylan. When the greatest poet of our time hits up the Sears Centre later this month, perhaps the bonus of a stellar opening act will numb the painful reality that it all takes place within the depressing confines of an enormous venue out in the suburbs. (Appearing with Bob Dylan at the Sears Centre on Oct. 27 & 28) –text: Jen Fischer–photo: Jo McCaughey

PEANUT BUTTER WOLF
Hardly a household name, Peanut Butter Wolf largely worked from behind the scenes as his Stones Throw Records developed into an underground hip hop juggernaut. Home to the likes of Madlib and many of his aliases, the late Jay Dee, MF Doom, MED and Breakestra, the label that Wolf founded has done more than its share to expand the boundaries of hip hop and revive the sounds from which the culture springs. A DJ, producer and facilitator of the works of others, Wolf has played a role in just about every Stones Throw project. Started as an outlet for the then-unreleased classics he did with the late MC Charizma, the label’s impact has grown steadily. Besides releasing the groundbreaking work of the aforementioned artists, Wolf has also used his influence to reissue cuts by some of the little-known pioneers of funk, soul and hip hop that he tends to play when mixing. (Appearing with Madlib at Metro on Oct. 28) –text: Noah Levine–photo: Jeff Henrikson