De La Soul
De La Soul is a conscious hip-hop group from Amityville, Long Island, New York.
Long Island trio whose playful debut 3 Feet High and Rising changed what a hip-hop album could sound like.
Who are De La Soul?
De La Soul is a trio from Amityville, Long Island: Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove (who died in 2023) and Maseo. Together with A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers they formed the Native Tongues collective.
Known for
Their debut 3 Feet High and Rising (1989), produced by Prince Paul, with "Me Myself and I" and "Eye Know". Later came De La Soul Is Dead (1991), Stakes Is High (1996) and the Grammy-winning "Feel Good Inc." with Gorillaz. In 2023 their classic albums finally appeared on streaming services.
Style
Playful, surreal and full of humor, with samples from every genre imaginable and skits between the songs. Later records became darker and more serious.
Impact
De La Soul offered an alternative to the tough-guy image in rap and pioneered the concept album and creative sampling. Their legal troubles over samples also changed how the industry deals with sample clearance.
Influences
- Prince Paul (their producer)
- The Jungle Brothers and the Native Tongues
De La Soul: quick answers
What genre is De La Soul?
De La Soul’s music falls under Conscious Hip-Hop. De La Soul is part of East Coast hip-hop, with the most important work in the 1990s.
Where do De La Soul come from?
De La Soul comes from Amityville, Long Island, New York.
When did De La Soul start?
De La Soul has been active since 1987.
Which group is De La Soul part of?
De La Soul is a member of Native Tongues.
Who did De La Soul influence?
De La Soul influenced A Tribe Called Quest and Black Star.
Which artists are similar to De La Soul?
If you like De La Soul, listen to A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders of the New School.
