De La Soul: Listeners Guide
After years of their battle with Tommy Boy Records, De La Soul’s catalog is finally on streaming. For those who need a refresher or are brand new, let me guide through this legendary hip-hop groups catalog.
3 FEET HIGH AND RISING - The groups debut and one of their most important albums. Making peace and love and individuality one of their big focal points, the group bands together for one of their most popular commercial efforts with the monumental single ‘’Me, Myself and I.’’ This album is what started the cementing of their legacy. Also, with their pioneering of skits on albums, and the method of sampling on here as well.
DE LA SOUL IS DEAD - Although, De La Soul understood what came with fame, they did not want to be put in a box musically and in terms of image. De La Soul is dead takes a darker turn than their last album.
BUHLOONE MINDSTATE - This album reinforces the notion of the last one and points a mark in De La Soul’s career where they are more solidified in their genre than they’ve ever been.
STAKES IS HIGH - The mangum opus. The climax for their career. Stakes is High marked a new sound for the group and the apex of their career musically. With the title track being a perfect blend of accessible, thought provoking and excellent production from Dilla, it added another marking in their legacy.
ART OF OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: MOSAIC THUMP - After setting the bar so high with Stakes is High, De La Soul comes back with a album that takes their strengths as a group and blends some electronic influence for a entire new effort.
ART OF INTELLIGENCE: BIONIX - A follow up to the above album. But, dipping even more into the robotic/electronic sound.
THE GRIND DATE - A personal favorite. Pushing the message of longevity in hip-hop instead of being a flash in the pan. Also, in my opinion one of their better produced albums.
AND THE ANONYMOUS NOBODY - The groups latest album and marking their return to hip-hop. This was a crowdfunded album by the fans of De La Soul. With the difficulties of their record deal, people came together to support the legends for this album.
And that concludes the listenters guide. Appreciate you all so much for taking a look.
