De La Soul in 2004. L–R: Trugoy the Dove, Maseo and Posdnuos.
Background information
Origin
Amityville, New York, U.S.
Genres
Alternative hip hop[1]
progressive rap[2]
jazz rap[3]
golden age hip hop[4]
Discography
De La Soul discography
Years active
1988–present (1988–present)[5]
Labels
Tommy Boy
Sanctuary
Kobalt
Duck Down Music
PIAS
Members
Posdnuos
Maseo
Past members
Trugoy the Dove
Website
wearedelasoul.com
De La Soul (/ˌdeɪlɑːˈsoʊl/) 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]
^Rausch, Andrew J. (2011). I Am Hip-Hop: Conversations on the Music and Culture. Scarecrow Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8108-7792-4.
^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.
^Anon. (September 1, 2005). "The Hippies of Hip-Hop: De La Soul". NPR Music. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^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.
^ abGreg Tate (November 23, 2019). "De La Soul". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
^"'3 Feet High and Rising' a hip-hop masterpiece". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
^"Full list of Grammy award winners". The Independent. February 9, 2006. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
^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.
^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.
^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.
DeLaSoul (/ˌdeɪ lɑː ˈsoʊl/) is an American hip hop group formed in 1988 in the village of Amityville on Long Island, New York. They are best known for...
DeLaSoul Is Dead is the second studio album by American hip hop group DeLaSoul, released on May 13, 1991. The album was produced by Prince Paul, whose...
This article is a detailed listing of releases by the hip hop group DeLaSoul. They have one platinum and two gold records, and one Grammy Award. The...
The Best of DeLaSoul is a compilation album by American hip hop group DeLaSoul, released in June 2003 through Tommy Boy and Warner Bros. Records. It...
Latifah, Amber, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digital Underground, Coolio, DeLaSoul, House of Pain, Naughty By Nature, and Force MDs. Tommy Boy is also credited...
Beastie Boys, KRS-One, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Eric B. & Rakim, DeLaSoul, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Biz Markie, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Gang Starr...
Check (The Jay-Dee Other Shit Remix)" 16. "Stakes Is High" (produced with DeLaSoul) B1. "Stakes Is High (Remix)" (featuring Mos Def and Truth Enola) (produced...
jazz-influenced beats. Its principal members were the Jungle Brothers, DeLaSoul, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah. The collective was...
High and Rising is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group DeLaSoul, released on February 6, 1989, by Tommy Boy Records. It was the first...
rapper best known as one third of the hip hop group DeLaSoul. Along with the other members of DeLaSoul, Jolicoeur was a member of the collective Native...
Massapequa, New York, best known for his work as one third of the hip hop trio DeLaSoul. Through his work with the group, Mercer is considered to be one of the...
Vol. 1 "No", by Jason Aldean on his album Relentless, 2007 "No", by DeLaSoul on their album The Grind Date, 2004 "No", by Fontaines D.C. on their album...
Buhloone Mindstate is the third studio album by American hip hop group DeLaSoul. It was released on September 21, 1993, through Tommy Boy Records, and...
"Intro", by DC Talk from Supernatural "Intro", by DeLaSoul from 3 Feet High and Rising "Intro", by DeLaSoul from AOI: Bionix "Intro", by DJ Kay Slay featuring...
American rapper, producer and DJ who is one third of the hip hop group DeLaSoul. He is also known as Maseo, P.A. Pasemaster Mase and Plug Three. Mason...
most prominent alternative hip hop acts include A Tribe Called Quest, DeLaSoul, Hieroglyphics, The Pharcyde, Digable Planets and Black Sheep. Originating...
Stakes Is High is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group DeLaSoul. It was released on July 2, 1996, through Tommy Boy Records. The album marked...
wide-ranging influences, such as jazz, rock, and soul. Examples have included the works of DeLaSoul, Fugees, Outkast, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar...
"Say No Go" is a single by DeLaSoul from their influential 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. It reached number 18 in the UK charts. The tune is heavily...