DEL THA FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN

At 6 p.m. Friday, May 6

Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. $10

 At 10 p.m. Friday, May 6

 The Jinx, 127 W. Congress St. $10

  Outside of hip hop circles, iconic Bay-area MC Del the Funky Homosapien might be best known for his cameo on the Gorillaz’ single “Clint Eastwood,” off the supergroup’s eponymous debut in 2001. But that trip into the realm of pop chart success was just a brief moment in the career of a man who helped define the West Coast’s underground sound for two decades.

   While many West Coast rappers were emulating the success of Ice-T or N.W.A. in the early ‘90s, Del and members of the Hieroglyphics crew blazed a different trail – one that was equal parts California sunshine, Oakland street culture and reminders about the importance of good personal hygiene.

   In 2000, his album Deltron 3030 – a collaboration with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala – raised the bar for concept albums in hip hop, telling the tale of a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world of rap battles, space travel and alien technology.

   The last three years have seen Del at his most artistically prolific, including a handful of internet-only releases, culminating with last month’s Golden Era, which he is on tour promoting now.

  Although he regularly graces large stages like Austin City Limits, Del is scheduled for two smaller venues this Friday, an all-ages show at The Sentient Bean, followed by a 21+ set at the Jinx.(Patrick Rodgers)

MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT

With 16 Volt, Prognosis

At 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 4

Wormhole Bar, 2307 Bull St. Tickets $15; $20 for a pair (advance only)

Pioneers of hard-edged, industrial dance rock, Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann put the TKK together in Chicago nearly 25 years ago. It's a funk band, it's a disco band, it's a thrash band - it's even been a lounge-jazz band - but the reliable constant has always been that the songs are dark and dirty. And dance-able. Violence is engaged, Satanic images raise their rotting heads. There's a lot of black leather.

Although the catchy, B-52's-like "Sex on Wheelz" was very nearly a hit (no small thanks to its inclusion in Ralph Bakshi's film Cool World), the Kult seared itself into the sleaze rock history books with "The Devil Does Drugs," "Wasted Time," "Strippers Only" and "Blondes With Lobotomy Eyes." And, perhaps the greatest album title of all time: The Filthiest Show in Town. See mylifewiththethrillkilkult.com