De La Soul

De La Soul
De La Soul in 2004. L–R: Trugoy the Dove, Maseo and Posdnuos.
De La Soul in 2004. L–R: Trugoy the Dove, Maseo and Posdnuos.
Background information
OriginAmityville, New York, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyDe La Soul discography
Years active1988–present (1988–present)[5]
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitewearedelasoul.com

De La Soul (/ˌdeɪ lɑː ˈsoʊl/ DAY lah SOHL) is an American hip hop group formed in 1988 in the village of Amityville on Long Island, New York.[5] 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 demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'".

With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the group's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989), has been called "a hip hop masterpiece".[6] It remains their biggest commercial success, though subsequent albums have continued to receive acclaim. De La Soul is the second-longest-standing 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."[7]

The group released a Kickstarter-funded album, And the Anonymous Nobody..., in 2016. The album features guest appearances from artists such as Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, David Byrne, 2 Chainz, and Snoop Dogg.[8][9] Trugoy the Dove died in 2023.[10]

  1. ^ Rausch, Andrew J. (2011). I Am Hip-Hop: Conversations on the Music and Culture. Scarecrow Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8108-7792-4.
  2. ^ Tate, Greg (2004). "Diatribe". In Cepeda, Raquel (ed.). And It Don't Stop: The Best American Hip-Hop Journalism of the Last 25 Years. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-4668-1046-4.
  3. ^ Anon. (September 1, 2005). "The Hippies of Hip-Hop: De La Soul". NPR Music. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Gilbert, Jeremy (2014). "Break/Flow/Escape/Capture: The Energy and Importence of the Hardcore Continuum". In Stratton, Jon; Zuberi, Nabeel (eds.). Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945. Ashgate. p. 172. ISBN 978-1-4094-6913-1.
  5. ^ a b Greg Tate (November 23, 2019). "De La Soul". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "'3 Feet High and Rising' a hip-hop masterpiece". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  7. ^ "Full list of Grammy award winners". The Independent. February 9, 2006. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  8. ^ Lanz, Michelle. "De La Soul previews their new Kickstarter-funded album 'And the Anonymous Nobody'". SCPR. The Frame. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Tardio, Andres. "De La Soul Said Their Next Album Will Be Funded Through Kickstarter And Their Fans Went Crazy". MTV. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  10. ^ Hamilton, Jack (February 13, 2023). "De La Soul's Trugoy Is Dead, and With Him Goes One of Music's Greatest Groups". Slate. Retrieved February 14, 2023.