De La Soul
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
