De la soul
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0De La Soul is an influential American hip-hop trio formed in 1988 on Long Island, NY, by Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, and Vincent "Maseo" Mason. Famed for pioneering alternative hip-hop and jazz rap with eccentric, playful lyrics and innovative, eclectic sampling, they are best known for their 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising.
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Watch De La Soul reflect on their musical legacy in this video:
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Apple Music
YouTube? 03 Mar 2023
Key Details About De La Soul:
Origin: Formed in Amityville, Long Island, in 1988, they caught producer Prince Paul’s attention with their demo of "Plug Tunin'".
Musical Style & Legacy: They broke from traditional 1980s hip-hop with a "Daisy Age" (Inner Soul Y’all) theme, focusing on melody and positive vibes, often earning them the label of "hip-hop hippies," though they favored a more complex, eclectic reputation.
Key Albums:
3 Feet High and Rising (1989): A masterpiece of sampling, featuring hits like "Me Myself and I.".
De La Soul Is Dead (1991): A darker follow-up aimed to shed their "hippy" image.
Stakes Is High (1996): A landmark album that critiqued the commercialization of hip-hop.
The Anonymous Nobody... (2016): Their first album in 12 years, funded by Kickstarter and Grammy-nominated.
Impact: They are integral to the Native Tongues collective, influencing groups like A Tribe Called Quest and shaping the alternative hip-hop scene.
Recent Developments: Founding member Trugoy the Dove (David Jolicoeur) passed away in 2023. Following the sale of Tommy Boy Records to Reservoir Media, the group's classic catalog finally hit streaming services in 2023.
a Soul’s work continues to be celebrated for its creative, anti-mainstream approach to hip-hop production.
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