De La Soul

Biography

De La Soul ( DAY lah SOHL) is an American hip-hop group formed in the village of Amityville on Long Island, New York, in 1988. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, eccentric lyrics, and contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip-hop subgenres. Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, and Vincent "Maseo" Mason formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demonstration tape of the song "Plug Tunin' ".
The group's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising×3 Feet High and Rising14 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1Intro1:412The Magic Number3:163Change in Speak2:334Cool Breeze on the Rocks0:485Can U Keep a Secret1:416Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin’s Revenge)3:257Ghetto Thang3:368Transmitting Live From Mars1:129Eye Know4:1310Take It Off1:5311A Little Bit of Soap0:5712Tread Water3:4613Potholes in My Lawn3:5014Say No Go4:2015Do as De La Does2:1216Plug Tunin’ (Last Chance to Comprehend)4:0717De La Orgee1:1418Buddy4:5519Description1:3220Me Myself and I3:5021This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.)3:1022I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)0:4123D.A.I.S.Y. Age4:4324Plug Tunin’ (original 12″ version)3:43 (1989), has been called "a hip-hop masterpiece". It remains their biggest commercial success, though subsequent albums have continued to receive acclaim. De La Soul is the second Native Tongues group after the Jungle Brothers. In 2006, the group won a Grammy for their collaboration with Gorillaz on their single "Feel Good Inc."
The group has released 10 studio albums and one live album between 1989 and 2025. Their catalog was not available on audio streaming services or digital media stores until 2023 due to contractual disputes and copyright clearances for their extensive sampling. Trugoy the Dove died in 2023.

1989–1993: 3 Feet High and Rising and De La Soul Is Dead

De La Soul's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising×3 Feet High and Rising14 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1Intro1:412The Magic Number3:163Change in Speak2:334Cool Breeze on the Rocks0:485Can U Keep a Secret1:416Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin’s Revenge)3:257Ghetto Thang3:368Transmitting Live From Mars1:129Eye Know4:1310Take It Off1:5311A Little Bit of Soap0:5712Tread Water3:4613Potholes in My Lawn3:5014Say No Go4:2015Do as De La Does2:1216Plug Tunin’ (Last Chance to Comprehend)4:0717De La Orgee1:1418Buddy4:5519Description1:3220Me Myself and I3:5021This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.)3:1022I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)0:4123D.A.I.S.Y. Age4:4324Plug Tunin’ (original 12″ version)3:43, released in 1989, was a critical smash hit in the hip-hop genre. They quickly became prominent members of the Native Tongues Posse along with A Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, and the Jungle Brothers, among others. The single "Me Myself and I×Me Myself and I1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Me Myself and I (radio version)3:292Me Myself and I (Richie Rich remix)7:283Ain’t Hip to Be Labeled a Hippie1:564What’s More (From the Soundtrack Hell on 1st Ave)2:115Brain Washed Follower3:01" became a huge hit, further cementing the group's popularity. However, '60s pop group the Turtles sued De La Soul for using a sample from their 1969 hit "You Showed Me" for the interlude track "Transmitting Live from Mars".
Lyrically, much of 3 Feet High and Rising focused on striving for peace and harmony. The album also introduced De La Soul's concept of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" (an acronym standing for "da inner sound, y'all"). As a result, audiences were quick to peg the members of De La Soul as hippies. This stereotype greatly agitated the group's members, as they always envisioned their career as a constantly changing style; this frustration would influence their next recording sessions. In the press kit for 3 Feet High and Rising, the members explained their stage names: Trugoy when reversed spells yogurt, because he liked yogurt, and Posdnuos spelled backwards is "sound sop". The album artwork was designed by radical British artist collective the Grey Organisation.

De La Soul's second album, De La Soul Is Dead×De La Soul Is Dead13 May 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 27 tracks1Intro2:142Oodles of O's3:333Talkin' Bout Hey Love2:274Pease Porridge5:025Skit 10:266Johnny's Dead a.k.a. Vincent Mason (live, BK Lounge)1:577A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"4:028WRMS' Dedication to the Bitty0:469Bitties in the BK Lounge5:4010Skit 20:3111My Brother's a Basehead4:2012Let, Let Me In3:2613Afro Connections at a Hi 5 (In the Eye of the Hoodlum)4:0314Rap De Rap Show2:2015Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa4:0916Who Do U Worship2:0017Skit 30:3318Kicked Out the House1:5619Pass the Plugs3:3020Not Over Till the Fat Lady Plays the Demo1:3021Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)5:0622WRMS: Cat's in Control0:3423Skit 40:1224Shwingalokate4:1325Fanatic of the B Word4:0926Keepin' the Faith4:4527Skit 50:33 (1991), was a much more mature album. It featured a wealth of material that criticized the violent, careless direction in which hip-hop was heading at the time, though it still managed to maintain a light, absurd sense of humor. The cover of the album features a broken daisy flowerpot, symbolizing the death of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" and the imagery that went along with it. The album spawned several singles, including the dark "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa", a tale of a young girl who could no longer take the sexual abuse from her father, and the lead single "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)×Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)1991 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (Party Line edit)4:082Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (Party Line mix)6:553Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (extended Decision U.S. mix)5:164Piles and Piles of Demo Tapes Bi-Da Miles (Conley's Decision)3:35", a story about people using the group's recent fame to try to launch their own careers.
De La Soul collaborated with Black Sheep on "Fanatic of the B Word" and Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest on "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays'"; Prince Paul makes an appearance on the microphone in "Pass the Plugs" with a verse of his own. The album also more prominently featured Maseo as a rapper, providing verses of his own on "Bitties in the BK Lounge", "Afro Connections at a Hi-5", and "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)".
Though it received mixed reviews and did not sell as well as 3 Feet High and Rising, it eventually became a cult classic. The Source listed the album as one of their top 100 hip-hop albums of all time. Initially, the tracks "My Brother's a Basehead", "Kicked Out the House", and "Who Do U Worship?" were only available on the CD. Subsequent vinyl reissues have restored the running order as originally intended.

1993–2000: Buhloone Mindstate and Stakes Is High

The group's third studio release, 1993's Buhloone Mindstate, saw the group evolve a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically. Several moments on the album proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure, as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone playing by Maceo Parker. The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La Soul at their most self-referential to date with subject matter about Pos' daughter Ayana Monet, as well as his grandmother. "Long Island Wildin'" was a collaboration with Japanese hip-hop artists Kan Takagi (Major Force) and trio Scha Dara Parr. The album's first single, "Breakadawn×Breakadawn1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Breakadawn (vocal version)4:152Stickabush1:113En Focus (vocal version)3:174The Dawn Brings Smoke2:115Hsubakcits0:156En Focus (instrumental)3:167Breakadawn (instrumental)4:14", used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" and Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm". De La Soul collaborated for the first time with Gang Starr's Guru on "Patti Dooke", female MC Shortie No Mas, a cousin of Posdnuos', was prominent on many tracks on the album, showcased particularly "In the Woods". The album ended with an old-school Biz Markie collaboration called "Stone Age". Missing from vocal duties is Mase, whose voice can only be heard on "Area" in a break near the end of the track. Also rarely featured is his scratching, which was heard often on previous albums, with only "In the Woods" showcasing his talent in that area. The album was a critical success, but it was the biggest commercial failure for the group at the time of its release. Many publications, such as Rolling Stone, have listed this album as one of the best×The Best1992 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Tread Water (Stonebridge’s Pumpin’ mix)6:552Skip 2 My Loop1:083They Don’t Know That the Soul Don’t Go for That (Potholes in My Lawn instrumental)3:264Freedom of Speak3:095Strictly Dan Stuckie (A Home Production)0:266Me Myself and I (Oblapos Mode)3:397Brainwashed Follower3:048Ghetto Thang (Ghetto Ximer)3:559Ain’t Hip to Be Labelled a Hippie1:5510What’s More2:1011Say No Go (Say No Dope mix)6:1512Eye Know4:0013Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)7:1714Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (Party Line mix)6:0515A Roller Skating Jam Named “Saturdays” (Dave’s Home mix)6:2316Keeping the Faith (Just a Touch mix)5:3917Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (Sax mix)5:1318Tread Water (Stonebridge’s Local mix)4:09 hip-hop albums of all time.
In 1994, 500 copies of a promotional EP called Clear Lake Audiotorium×Clear Lake Audiotorium1994 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1In the Woods (edit)4:032I Am I Be (edit)5:063Sh.Fe.MC's (edit)4:354Patti Dooke (edit)5:405I Be Blowin'5:016Stix & Stonz (edit)7:24 were released on clear vinyl and CD. The six-track EP contained edited versions of tracks from Buhloone Mindstate, but also featured the tracks "Sh.Fe.MC's" (Shocking Female MC's), which was a collaboration with A Tribe Called Quest, and "Stix & Stonz", which featured old-school hip-hop artists Grandmaster Caz, Tito of Fearless Four, Whipper Whip, LA Sunshine, and Superstar. The EP was widely bootlegged afterwards.
Stakes Is High (1996) was the first album not produced by Prince Paul, with overall production credits given solely to the trio. Although it was met with poor sales, it has been critically lauded for its music, lyricism, and overall message concerning the artistic decline rap music began to face in the mid-'90s. The title track and first single, produced by J Dilla, was not a hit, but the album's second single, "Itzsoweezee (HOT)×Itzsoweezee (Hot)24 September 1996 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Itzsoweezee (Hot) (album version)4:232Stakes Is High (remix)4:503Itzsoweezee (Hot) (De La Soul remix)4:404Itzsoweezee (Hot) (album instrumental)4:255Stakes Is High (remix instrumental)4:47", with only Dave on vocals, did fare better due to its creative music video. The album spawned a third single, "4 More×4 More1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks14 More (clean version)3:402Baby Baby Baby Baby Ooh Baby (new LP version)3:153Itzsoweezee (Hot) (De La Soul remix)4:374Sweet Dreams (clean version)3:27", featuring Zhane, which peaked at number 52 in the UK. The album did provide a launching pad for future star rapper and actor Mos Def, who appeared on the track "Big Brother Beat". The album also featured collaborations with Common, Truth Enola, and the Jazzyfatnastees.

2000–2005: Art Official Intelligence and The Grind Date

In 2000, De La Soul launched the Spitkicker Tour, a U.S.-wide tour first hosted by De La Soul, Common, Biz Markie, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch. That same year, they established the Spitkicker collective, which grew to include progressive hip-hop artists, comedian Dave Chappelle, chef Marcus Samuelsson, and others. De La Soul also announced that they would release a triple album series entitled Art Official Intelligence (AOI). All three albums were intended to be released within a year, beginning with the release of Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump. This was followed by AOI: Bionix in late 2001. After this, however, the third and final album in the AOI series was never released. For the next two years, the only De La Soul releases were singles or remix compilations. David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur stated in an interview thatabout four years usually were needed for the group to record an album, promote it with advertisements, tour, and so on. The group was having trouble finishing the last AOI installment for many reasons, one of which was an ongoing struggle with Tommy Boy Records, which had been releasing its albums ever since its debut.
In the summer of 2002, De La Soul toured with Cake, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Kinky, and the Hackensaw Boys during the Unlimited Sunshine Tour. The band was briefly featured in the video game PaRappa the Rapper 2 with the song "Say 'I Gotta Believe!'", featuring Double, and also appeared on the soundtrack of the game.
In 2004, De La Soul released a new full album: The Grind Date×The Grind Date4 October 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Future3:502Verbal Clap3:173Much More4:054Shopping Bags (She Got From You)3:585The Grind Date3:236Church5:337It’s Like That4:378He Comes3:449Days of Our Lives3:5210Come On Down5:0211No4:3512Rock Co.Kane Flow3:0613Shoomp3:41 on Sanctuary/BMG Records because the venture between Tommy Boy and Warner Bros. Records was shut down and the group's contract was shopped to the other WEA labels. The band thought about having its contract absorbed by Elektra Records, but it decided to leave WEA altogether. Although it was not the third AOI album fans had been expecting, the album was released to some critical acclaim and was well received by most fans. The album features guests MF Doom, Ghostface Killah, Butta Verses, and Flavor Flav, with production from 9th Wonder, Jake One, Madlib, and more. The lead single "Shopping Bags (She Got from You)×Shopping Bags (She Got From You)11 October 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Shopping Bags (She Got From You) (album version)4:012The Grind Date (dirty version)3:263The Grind Date (dirty a cappella)3:224The Grind Date (instrumental)3:23" did not fare very well and set the tone for disappointing commercial acceptance. In conjunction with the album's release, the group also offered up the track "Come on Down" featuring Flavor Flav for remixing on Sony's Acid Planet website. The winning remix was "Come on Down (KY Raised NY Glazed)" by Interlude Jones, who said he tried to "take the influential sound of old New York hip hop and marry it back to its roots."

2005–present: Features, And the Anonymous Nobody..., the death of Trugoy the Dove, and Cabin in the Sky

In 2005, De La Soul collaborated with Gorillaz on the hit single "Feel Good Inc.", which won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration (the first Grammy win in the group's career) after being nominated for three other Grammys. De La Soul also appeared on the LA Symphony single "Universal" and Posdnuos collaborated with the Portuguese MC Boss AC on a track called "Yo (Não Brinques Com Esta Merda)". The following year, they released mixtapes Hip-Hop Mixtape, a covermount with British dance magazine Mixmag, and The Impossible: Mission TV Series – Pt. 1, a release on the group's own AOI Records label. De La Soul collaborated with the athletic sneaker company Nike to produce two versions of the Nike Dunk under their skateboarding division, Nike SB.
In 2008, the group joined A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Tech N9ne, the Pharcyde, and others on the annual Rock the Bells tour and were honored at the 5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors. Later in the year, they collaborated with dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip on a re-recording of the British group's debut single "Thou Shalt Always Kill".
De La Soul returned as a guest on the third Gorillaz studio album, Plastic Beach alongside Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys on the song "Superfast Jellyfish". Two other collaborations were recorded, but did not make the final cut for the album. They were supposed to appear on a track entitled "Sloped Tropics", though this song did not make the final cut. The group remixed indie rockers Yo La Tengo's single, "Here to Fall for the Here to Fall" remixes EP, which included remixes×Remixes1 November 1991 · Album · RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Skip 2 My Loop1:082Strictly Dan Stuckie0:413Plug Tunin' (Something's Wrong Here)4:174The Magic Number (Too Mad Mix)4:555Me Myself And I / Say No Go (The Unity Mix)4:166Say No Go (House Of Love Mix)5:547Eye Know (The Kiss Mix)4:488Brain Washed Follower3:009Ain't Hip To Be Labelled A Hippie1:5410Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (Party Line Mix - Edit)4:0811Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) / Piles And Piles Of Demo Tapes Bi-Da Miles (Conley's Decision)4:0612A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays" (Disco Fever Mix)6:5413A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays" (6:00 AM Mix)6:08 by RJD2 and Pete Rock, and were featured on a remix of Matt & Kim's single "Daylight" by DJ Troublemaker.
In 2011, the group earned top-five rankings on both NPR and Soul Train's year-end "Best of" lists with the Amerigo Gazaway-produced De La Soul/Fela Kuti mashup, Fela Soul. De La Soul and Nike released Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run, which was the group's first original material since The Impossible: Mission TV Series – Pt. 1. The album features Raheem DeVaughn, as well as production from the Chicago-based duo Flosstradamus. The recording is a single-track recording at 44 minutes, 17 seconds, part of a continuing series of releases through the Nike+ Sport Music section of the online store.
The group released De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 presents... First Serve in April 2012, an album that did not feature any contributions from Maseo. With little promotion, the album was released to positive reviews. This was followed by releasing one track a month during 2013.
In March 2015, De La Soul created a Kickstarter to help fund their upcoming album. It surpassed the original goal of $110,000 in under 10 hours. The resulting album, And the Anonymous Nobody..., was released in August 2016. Originally planned for an April release, but delayed due to rights issues, the album was preceded by a four-track EP For Your Pain & Suffering×For Your Pain & Suffering29 April 2016 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1The Devil Likes Candy2:072TrainWreck3:173Beautiful Night3:134Schoolyard Studios4:12 and the single "Pain", featuring Snoop Dogg. The album was nominated at the 59th Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album.
De La Soul was featured on the track "Momentz" on Gorillaz’ 2017 album Humanz, on Leap of Faith by Mr. Jukes, alongside Horace Andy, and on Tom Misch's 2018 single "It Runs Through Me×It Runs Through Me1 March 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1It Runs Through Me4:22". A 10th studio album, featuring production contributions from Pete Rock and DJ Premier, was reportedly to be released by Mass Appeal Records.
At the 65th Grammy Awards on February 5, 2023, Posdnuos performed a segment of "Buddy×Buddy17 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Buddy - Single Mix4:32" as part of the ceremony’s tribute to 50 years of hip-hop music. A week later, Trugoy the Dove died at the age of 54. He had been suffering from congestive heart failure since 2017. His death came only weeks before the release of De La Soul's music on streaming platforms following their long-fought catalogue disputes. The remaining members of De La Soul and other artists including Nas, Chuck D, and LL Cool J came together for "The DA.I.S.Y Experience", a tribute concert to Trugoy, on March 2, the day before De La Soul's music was released digitally. The re-release of their music led to the group charting in the United Kingdom for the first time since 1990. On February 27, 2023, Gorillaz released the deluxe edition of their album Cracker Island, featuring De La Soul on the song "Crocadillaz".
In September and October of 2023, De La Soul opened for Wu-Tang Clan and Nas during the North American stretch of their New York State of Mind Tour. In 2025, it was announced that Cabin in the Sky would be released on November 21 as part of Mass Appeal Records' 2025 album slate (Legend Has It... chronology), featuring production from DJ Premier, Prince Paul and Pete Rock and guest appearances from Killer Mike, Black Thought, Common and Nas. According to Metacritic, a review aggregator, Cabin in the Sky received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Catalog dispute

De La Soul's back catalog was not released on audio streaming services or digital media stores until 2023. Until 2017, it was owned by Warner Music Group, which according to Posdnuos, had been reluctant to clear samples and renegotiate contracts. The samples used in De La Soul's music were only cleared for physical media distribution; the wording of their contracts is not vague enough to enable them to distribute the music digitally on unforeseen technologies.
In 2017, De La Soul's catalog was purchased by Tommy Boy Records. In February 2019, De La Soul announced that their catalog would soon be available on digital services. However, as they were unhappy receiving 10% of the revenue, with the rest for Tommy Boy, the release was postponed pending further negotiations. Hip-hop artists including Nas, Pete Rock, and Questlove called for a boycott of Tommy Boy. In August, De La Soul announced they had been unable to settle the dispute with Tommy Boy and ended negotiations. In February 2020, Posdnuos said that Tommy Boy "sort of came back to the table, we are looking to sort of get it going". In April, Benjy Grinberg, the head of Rostrum Records, said he was attempting to buy Tommy Boy to return the master recordings to De La Soul.
Tommy Boy enlisted the music-licensing company DMG Clearances to secure clearance for the samples, but talks failed with many of the copyright holders, as they were reticent to become involved with the conflicts between De La Soul and Tommy Boy. On June 4, 2021, Reservoir Media acquired Tommy Boy for US$100 million. On August 8, Talib Kweli announced that De La Soul had gained ownership of their music. In January 2022, DMG Clearances restarted talks with sample copyright owners. It took around a year to license most of the samples; De La Soul interpolated or replayed samples that could not be cleared.
De La Soul's first six albums were released on audio streaming services on March 3, 2023, the 34th anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising. All their Tommy Boy releases are now owned by De La Soul's company A.O.I., LLC, and are licensed to Chrysalis Records, which, like Tommy Boy, is also owned by Reservoir.

Soundtrack appearances

De La Soul's music has been featured prominently in numerous major motion pictures, including Mr. Holland's Opus ("Ego Trippin' Part Two"), Boiler Room ("Area" and "Keepin' the Faith×Keepin' the Faith11 November 1991 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Keepin the Faith (Just a Touch edit)4:022Keepin the Faith (Just a Touch mix)5:423Keepin the Faith (instrumental)4:094Keepin the Faith (Fly and Funky mix)3:50"), Never Been Kissed ("Me, Myself and I×Me, Myself and I2009 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Afro Connections at a Hi 5 (In the Eyes of the Hoodlum)1:222Bitties in the BK Lounge0:423Eye Know2:154Me, Myself and I3:545Ego Trippin’, Part Two3:496Oodles of O's2:297I Am, I Be3:588Pony Ride4:349Sunshine3:0610Flash Light1:4011Ring, Ring, Ring (Ha, Ha, Hey)4:1412Stakes Is High2:4313The Bizness3:2114Eye Patch1:4715Itzsoweezee (Hot)2:0716Breakadawn3:11"), High Fidelity ("Tread Water"), Spider-Man: No Way Home ("The Magic Number×The Magic Number13 January 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1The Magic Number3:16"), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem ("Eye Know×Eye KnowOctober 1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1Eye Know (The Know It All mix)B1Eye Know (The Kiss mix)B2The Mack Daddy on the Left"), among others. The group also appeared on videogame soundtracks, including "Action" for Angry Birds and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, including its remake.