Hailing from Amityville, Long Island, De La Soul is one of the most acclaimed and influential hip-hop acts to ever do it. Composed of high school friends Posdnuos, Maseo and the late great Trugoy the Dove, De La Soul burst onto the scene in the late 1980s with a series of pop-appealing singles accompanying their debut album, “3 Feet High and Rising.” Over the next decade, they would become a cornerstone of the Native Tongues collective, alongside other legends such as Queen Latifah, The Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as pioneers of alternative hip-hop’s jazzy, upbeat nature.
While De La Soul’s early releases are universally acclaimed, they have also become notoriously hard to track down and listen to. Due to long-standing disputes between the group and various labels (notably Warner Records and Tommy Boy Records), combined with difficulty clearing expensive samples, De La’s discography was absent from streaming services. Thanks to Reservoir Media’s acquisition of Tommy Boy and petitioning by fans and artists alike, their classic albums are finally available on Apple Music, Spotify and more. In celebration of De La Soul’s music reaching streaming services and in memory of Trugoy the Dove, these are the group’s top five albums:
5. “And the Anonymous Nobody…”
While it’s De La’s top four albums that are often considered a cut above the rest and receive unanimous praise as classics, their 2016 comeback album, “And the Anonymous Nobody…,” is great in its own right. Overshadowed by A Tribe Called Quest’s “We Got it From Here,” “And the Anonymous Nobody…” features a more eclectic style as De La draws from wider influences than their typical jazz samples. The album even has guest verses from big, unexpected names such as Snoop Dogg, Usher, Roc Marciano and even 2 Chainz. While “And the Anonymous Nobody…” has some stiff competition in the De La Soul catalog, it is an enjoyable record and an impressive late-career effort.
4. “De La Soul is Dead”
The greatest strength of De La’s 1991 sophomore effort is how it ironically subverts expectations. Putting to rest the flowery hippie image of their debut album, “De La Soul is Dead” is as notable for its ridiculous ongoing skits as the songs themselves. As Prince Paul tested the waters for his own album “A Prince Among Thieves,” this concept of the group’s album being literally thrown in the trash and passed amongst various characters works beautifully. It adds a whole new layer to De La’s positivity raps, painting a picture of their roots and cleverly critiquing the music industry. While it isn’t a major departure from “3 Feet High and Rising” sonically, Paul’s production is varied and unpredictable without losing cohesion, proving him as one of the best of his time.
3. “Buhloone Mindstate”
With “Buhloone Mindstate,” De La began to modernize their sound and move away from the more straightforward approach of their early work. Ditching the extensive skits and diving into a more overtly jazzy, denser atmosphere, it’s clear how “Buhloone Mindstate” was a progenitor of acts such as Slum Village and Hieroglyphics. This isn’t to say the Plugs were suddenly all business; they maintained a sense of humor and traditional rock-the-crowd style, but their ambitions were becoming clearer. While De La would expand on the sound later on, this album was a clear turning point in their discography and marked both artistic and personal growth.
2. “3 Feet High and Rising”
De La Soul’s debut album remains arguably their best even 30 years later. Produced entirely by the legendary Prince Paul, “3 Feet High and Rising” is one of hip-hop’s most iconic and influential albums. Not only is it credited with popularizing skits, but their jazz samples and lightheartedness paved the way for alternative hip-hop as a whole. Since the trio was so young at its release, “3 Feet High” comes across as their most playful and fun album, with so many lyrics focused on simple high school crushes, inside jokes and wistful trash talk. This album also contains many of their greatest hits, such as “Eye Know,” “The Magic Number and “Me Myself and I.” “3 Feet High and Rising” is undoubtedly one of the best hip-hop albums of the 1980s and is treasured by fans to this day.
1. “Stakes is High”
On 1996’s “Stakes is High,” De La Soul took everything great about their previous work and elevated it to new, mature heights. While the trio remained as upbeat as ever, there was a more outward depth and intent to their messages. Just as Black Star would tackle on their debut (Mos Def fittingly makes a breakout feature on “Stakes is High”), De La subverts the expectations and stereotypes of people who don’t understand hip-hop culture by bringing thoughtful, positive themes. With gangsta rap dominating and the Bling Era on the horizon, “Stakes is High” played a major role in keeping the focus on social issues and community. One of the album’s greatest impacts remains J Dilla’s placement on its title track, kickstarting the career of what many believe is the greatest producer of all time.
With De La Soul’s catalog finally reaching streaming services, these seminal albums will be available for a new generation to discover and for faithful fans to cherish once again; their legacy, Trugoy included, will shine stronger than ever.
