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De La Soul is an American hip hop
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
 group formed in 1987 in Amityville, New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap
Jazz rap

Jazz rap is a fusion of alternative hip hop and jazz, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The lyrics are often based on political consciousness, Afrocentricity, and general Political positivism....
 and alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a form of hip hop music that is defined in greatly varying ways. Allmusic defines it as follows:Alternative Rap refers to Hip hop music groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta rap, Miami bass, hardcore hip hop, and party rap....
 subgenres. The members are Kelvin Mercer
Kelvin Mercer

Kelvin Mercer is a rapping, record producer, and one-third of the hip hop trio , De La Soul. He is known more famously by his nickname Posdnuos, or simply Pos....
 (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolicoeur
David Jude Jolicoeur

David Jude Jolicoeur , also known under the stage name Trugoy the Dove, is a rapper, music producer, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop Trio De La Soul....
 (Trugoy the Dove, Dave, Plug Two) and Vincent Mason
Vincent Mason

Vincent Mason , is a rapper, music producer, Disc jockey, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop Trio , De La Soul. He is also known as Mase....
 (P.A. Pasemaster Mase, Maseo, Plug Three). The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
 Paul Huston (Prince Paul
Prince Paul

Paul Huston, better known by the stage name Prince Paul, is an United States disc jockey and Hip hop music record producer....
) with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'
Plug Tunin'

"Plug Tunin" is the debut single by the influential hip hop trio De La Soul released in 1988.Lyrically, the song is idiosyncratic; "Transistors are never more shown with like / When vocal flow brings it all down in ruin / Due to a clue of a naughty noise called Plug Tunin' ", however, musically it laid the foundations for the sound the...
".






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Encyclopedia


De La Soul is an American hip hop
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
 group formed in 1987 in Amityville, New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap
Jazz rap

Jazz rap is a fusion of alternative hip hop and jazz, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The lyrics are often based on political consciousness, Afrocentricity, and general Political positivism....
 and alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a form of hip hop music that is defined in greatly varying ways. Allmusic defines it as follows:Alternative Rap refers to Hip hop music groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta rap, Miami bass, hardcore hip hop, and party rap....
 subgenres. The members are Kelvin Mercer
Kelvin Mercer

Kelvin Mercer is a rapping, record producer, and one-third of the hip hop trio , De La Soul. He is known more famously by his nickname Posdnuos, or simply Pos....
 (Posdnuos, Mercenary, Plug Wonder Why, Plug One), David Jude Jolicoeur
David Jude Jolicoeur

David Jude Jolicoeur , also known under the stage name Trugoy the Dove, is a rapper, music producer, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop Trio De La Soul....
 (Trugoy the Dove, Dave, Plug Two) and Vincent Mason
Vincent Mason

Vincent Mason , is a rapper, music producer, Disc jockey, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop Trio , De La Soul. He is also known as Mase....
 (P.A. Pasemaster Mase, Maseo, Plug Three). The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
 Paul Huston (Prince Paul
Prince Paul

Paul Huston, better known by the stage name Prince Paul, is an United States disc jockey and Hip hop music record producer....
) with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'
Plug Tunin'

"Plug Tunin" is the debut single by the influential hip hop trio De La Soul released in 1988.Lyrically, the song is idiosyncratic; "Transistors are never more shown with like / When vocal flow brings it all down in ruin / Due to a clue of a naughty noise called Plug Tunin' ", however, musically it laid the foundations for the sound the...
". Prince Paul was also sometimes referred to as Plug Four. The "Plug" names are alleged to come from the numbers that each bandmate's microphone was labeled on the soundboard. Posdnuos was always plugged into plug one, Trugoy was plugged into plug two, and so forth.

With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising

3 Feet High and Rising is the influential debut album from American hip hop music trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties....
, has been hailed as a hip-hop masterpiece. It is also the band's biggest commercial success to date, with their subsequent albums selling progressively less, despite receiving high praise from critics. A measure of 3 Feet High and Risings cross-over appeal was the fact that it was voted Album of the Year
NME album of the year

Every December, United Kingdom music magazine NME compiles a list of what it considers the best albums of the year. It was started in 1974. The list is usually published in one of the issues sold before Christmas ? in 2006 it was published in the issue for December the 9th....
 by NME
NME

The New Musical Express is a popular music magazine in the United Kingdom which has been published weekly since March 1952. It was the first British paper to include a singles chart, which first appeared in the 14 November 1952 edition....
 Magazine, a title better known for its taste in guitar-based music. De La Soul has influenced numerous other hip hop artists such as Camp Lo
Camp Lo

Camp Lo is an American hip hop duo, formed in 1995, which hails from The Bronx, New York. The duo consists of Rapping Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede ....
, Black Eyed Peas, and Digable Planets
Digable Planets

Digable Planets is a Grammy Award-winning United States of America alternative hip hop group based in New York City, composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler , Craig "Doodlebug" Irving , and Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira ....
. They were also instrumental in the early stages of rapper/actor Mos Def
Mos Def

Dante Terrell Smith , is an American MC and actor known by the stage name Mos Def. Mos Def started his hip hop music career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul....
's career, and are a core part of the Spitkicker collective. They are the longest standing Native Tongues Posse
Native Tongues Posse

The Native Tongues is a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s Hip hop music artists known for their positive-minded, good-natured Afrocentrism lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and later jazz-influenced beats....
 group, after the Jungle Brothers
Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers are an American hip-hop music group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house music producer....
.

In 2006, the group won a Grammy
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
 for their collaboration with the Gorillaz
Gorillaz

Gorillaz is a virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of alternative rock band Blur , and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl....
 on the single "Feel Good Inc.
Feel Good Inc.

"Feel Good Inc." is a song by Gorillaz, on their album Demon Days, featuring De La Soul. The song was released as the lead Single from the album on May 9 2005 in the United Kingdom ....
".

History


3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising

3 Feet High and Rising is the influential debut album from American hip hop music trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties....
, released in 1989 but available as early as August 1988 in Germany, was a critical smash hit in the hip hop genre. They quickly became prominent members of the Native Tongues Posse
Native Tongues Posse

The Native Tongues is a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s Hip hop music artists known for their positive-minded, good-natured Afrocentrism lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and later jazz-influenced beats....
 along with A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is an United States Hip hop music group, formed in 1988. The group is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad....
, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American Rapping, Singing, CoverGirl and actress. Latifah's work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe Award award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy Award nominat...
, The Jungle Brothers and others.

The single "Me Myself and I
Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)

"Me Myself and I" is a single by De La Soul, released in 1989.It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop with humor and social commentary....
" became a huge hit, further cementing the group's popularity. However, the sixties pop group The Turtles
The Turtles

The Turtles are an United States Pop music and folk rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, who became notable for numerous Top 40 hits beginning with their cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" , and "Happy Together " ....
 sued De La Soul for using a sample
Sampling (music)

In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an musical instrument or a different sound recording of a song....
 from their 1969 hit "You Showed Me" for the track "Transmitting Live from Mars", despite the fact that The Turtles did not actually write the original song.

Lyrically, much of 3 Feet High and Rising focused on striving for peace and harmony — a message that was slowly fading from the rap community in the late 1980s. 3 Feet High and Rising 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 a species of hippie
Hippie

The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world. The word hippie derives from hipster , and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district....
. 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
Press kit

A press kit, often referred to as a media kit in business environments, is a pre-packaged set of promotional materials of a person, company, or organization distributed to members of the Mass media for promotion use....
 for 3 Feet High and Rising, the members explained their stage names
Pseudonym

A pseudonym, , is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name. In some cases, pseudonyms are adopted because it is part of a cultural or organizational tradition, as in the case of Religious names used by members of some religious orders and "cadre names" used by Communist party leaders such as Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin....
: Trugoy when reversed spells yogurt, because he likes yogurt, and Posdnuos spelled backwards is "sounds op".

De La Soul Is Dead

De La Soul's second album, De La Soul Is Dead
De La Soul Is Dead

De La Soul Is Dead is De La Soul's second full-length album, released in 1991 . The album was produced by Prince Paul, whose work on 3 Feet High and Rising was highly praised by music critics....
 (1991) was a much more mature album. It featured a wealth of material that criticized the violent, careless direction that hip hop was heading in at the time, though it still managed to maintain a light, absurd sense of humor.

The cover of the album features a broken daisy flower pot, 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)

"Ring Ring Ring " is the second single released by De La Soul from their second album De La Soul Is Dead, in 1991. The song is a party jam about overzealous fans who pursue the group with demo tapes in their efforts to obtain an endorsement from the group....
," a story about the people who used De La's recent fame to try and launch their own careers.

De La collaborated with the Black Sheep
Black Sheep (hip hop group)

Black Sheep is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York, New York, composed of Andres "Dres" Titus and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo are native New Yorkers but met as teenagers in North Carolina where both of their families relocated....
 on "Fanatic of the B Word," Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)

Q-Tip , is an American hip hop music artist, singer, and occasional actor from Queens, New York City, perhaps best known as the leader of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest....
 from A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is an United States Hip hop music group, formed in 1988. The group is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad....
 on "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"", and Prince Paul
Prince Paul

Paul Huston, better known by the stage name Prince Paul, is an United States disc jockey and Hip hop music record producer....
 makes an appearance on the mic in "Pass the Plugs" with a verse of his own. The album also more prominently featured Vincent Mason
Vincent Mason

Vincent Mason , is a rapper, music producer, Disc jockey, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop Trio , De La Soul. He is also known as Mase....
 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)
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)

"Ring Ring Ring " is the second single released by De La Soul from their second album De La Soul Is Dead, in 1991. The song is a party jam about overzealous fans who pursue the group with demo tapes in their efforts to obtain an endorsement from the group....
."

Though it received mixed reviews and did not sell as well as 3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising

3 Feet High and Rising is the influential debut album from American hip hop music trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties....
 it eventually became a cult classic and was recognized as being underrated and underappreciated by a increasingly fickle public. "Source" magazine listed the album as one of their top 100 Hip Hop albums of all time, stating that "its true genius is rarely understood". There are several major differences between the CD version of this album and the other formats, as the tracks "Johnny's Dead AKA Vincent Mason," "My Brother's a Basehead," "Kicked Out the House," and "Who Do U Worship?" are only available on the CD. The limited edition double vinyl promotional copies of the album distributed to the media before the official release did not feature these.

In 2002, the song "Oodles of O's" was featured on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4.

Buhloone Mindstate

1993's Buhloone Mindstate
Buhloone Mindstate

Buhloone Mindstate is De La Soul third full-length album. It was the last De La Soul album to be produced with Prince Paul. In 2005, comedian Chris Rock named it as the 10th greatest hip-hop album ever, in a list written for Rolling Stone magazine....
 saw the group evolve a new sound and cemented their position as mainstays of the alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a form of hip hop music that is defined in greatly varying ways. Allmusic defines it as follows:Alternative Rap refers to Hip hop music groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta rap, Miami bass, hardcore hip hop, and party rap....
 movement. There were several moments on the album which proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone playing by the legendary Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker

Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto saxophone, tenor saxophone and baritone saxophones....
. The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La 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 (SDP). The album's first single, "Breakadawn
Breakadawn

"Breakadawn" is a 1993 single by hip hop group De La Soul, released from their third album Buhloone Mindstate. The song marked a slightly different approach from the group, who up until that point were still seen as the hippies of hip hop music and had tried to shake off the image with their second album, De La Soul Is Dead....
," used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" throughout. De La Soul collaborated for the first time with Gang Starr
Gang Starr

Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop group that consisted of Guru and DJ Premier. The group was known mainly for their unique style, which combines elements of New York swing jazz and hip hop music....
's Guru
Guru

A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses these abilities to guide others....
 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 a fun 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 hip-hop albums of all time.

In 1993, De La Soul performed together with Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub is an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally between Blake, McGinley and Love....
 for the soundtrack of Judgment Night
Judgment Night (film)

Judgment Night is a 1993 action film thriller film directed by Stephen Hopkins and starring Emilio Est?vez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven and Stephen Dorff as a group of friends on the run from a group of criminals after they witness a murder....
, on a track called "Fallin'".

In 1994, 500 copies of a promotional EP
Extended play

An extended play is a vinyl record, Compact disc, or music download which contains more music than a Single , but is too short to qualify as an LP album....
 called Clear Lake Audiotorium
Clear Lake Audiotorium (EP)

Clear Lake Audiotorium is a six track promo EP by De La Soul given out to A-list DJ's in 1994. It is comprised of four tracks from their album, Buhloone Mindstate, as well as two non-album tracks--"Sh.Fe.Mc's" featuring A Tribe Called Quest, and "Stix & Stonz" featuring The Fearless Four , Grandmaster Caz , and Prince Whipper Whip....
 were released on clear vinyl and CD. The 6 track EP contained edited versions of tracks off of 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.

In 2000, the song "Area" was featured in the movie Boiler Room
Boiler room

* A boiler room is a room where a boiler is kept, it may also refer to:* Boiler room , building's mechanical room* Boiler room , ship's engine room...
.

Stakes Is High


1996's Stakes Is High
Stakes Is High

Stakes Is High is De La Soul fourth full-length album, released during the summer of 1996. The album received mostly strong reviews but little commercial success....
 was the first album not produced by Prince Paul
Prince Paul

Paul Huston, better known by the stage name Prince Paul, is an United States disc jockey and Hip hop music record producer....
, with overall production credits given solely to the trio, and again, was met with mixed results and poor sales. The title track and first single
Stakes Is High (song)

"Stakes Is High" is a single by De La Soul released in 1996 from their album Stakes Is High....
, produced by Jay Dee, was not a hit, but the album's second single, "Itsoweezee (HOT)," with only Dave on vocals, did fare better due to its creative music video. The album spawned a third single "4 More
4 More

"4 More" is the third and final single to be released by De La Soul from their fourth album, Stakes Is High. The song deals with relationships, and features R&B duo, Zhane....
," featuring Zhane
Zhane

Zhan? was an United States R&B/hip hop soul duo, best known for their 1993 hit "Hey, Mr. D.J.", which reached #6 in the U.S. Other popular hits include "Groove Thang" and minor hit "Sending My Love," both released in 1994....
 which peaked at #52 in the UK. The album did provide a launching pad for future star rapper and actor Mos Def
Mos Def

Dante Terrell Smith , is an American MC and actor known by the stage name Mos Def. Mos Def started his hip hop music career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul....
, who appeared on the track "Big Brother Beat." The album also featured collaborations with Common
Common (rapper)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an United States rapper and actor.Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians....
, Truth Enola, and the Jazzyfatnastees
Jazzyfatnastees

Jazzyfatnastees is a vocal duo, Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez . The group started as a vocal quartet in 1993, when they landed a deal with Tommy Boy....
.

Art Official Intelligence

Four years later, De La Soul announced that they would release a triple album series entitled "Art Official Intelligence" (or AOI). All three albums were intended to be released within a year, beginning with the release of Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump

Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump is De La Soul's fifth full-length album, released in 2000....
. This was followed by AOI: Bionix
AOI: Bionix

AOI: Bionix is De La Soul sixth full-length album, released in 2001. The album was the second in a planned three-disc installment, which was originally intended to be a three-disc album....
 in late 2001. After this, however, the public saw no release of the third and final album in the AOI series. For the next two years, the only De La Soul releases were singles or remix compilations. Jolicœur (Dave) stated in an interview that it usually takes about four years for the group to record an album, promote it with advertisements, touring and so on. The group was having trouble finishing the last AOI installment for many reasons, one of which being an ongoing struggle with Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records

Tommy Boy Entertainment is a record label started in 1981 in music by Tom Silverman. The label is widely recognized for significant contribution to the development of hip hop music, dance music, and electronica....
, which had been releasing their albums ever since their debut.

In the summer of 2002 the De La Soul toured with Cake
Cake (band)

Cake is an United States alternative rock band from Sacramento, California, California which has had several hits throughout the 1990s and 2000s from six albums....
, Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in the Seattle suburb of Issaquah, Washington by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock , drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy....
, The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips is an United States Rock music band.The band is known for their lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, space rock lyrics and bizarre song and album titles ....
, Kinky
Kinky

Kinky may refer to:*Kinky , a five-member band from Monterrey, Mexico**Kinky , their self-titled album*Kink , unconventional sexual practices...
 and the Hackensaw Boys during the Unlimited Sunshine Tour. The band was briefly featured in the video game PaRappa the Rapper 2
PaRappa the Rapper 2

PaRappa the Rapper 2 is a PlayStation 2 Music video game#Rhythm games and the sequel to PaRappa the Rapper. Though the game boasts a number of new gameplay elements, it was not as well-received critically and failed to garner similar sales as its predecessor....
 with the song "Say "I Gotta Believe!"", featuring Double, and also appeared on the soundtrack to the game.

The Grind Date

In 2004, De La Soul released a new full album: The Grind Date
The Grind Date

The Grind Date is the critically-acclaimed seventh album from Hip hop music group De La Soul, released on October 5, 2004. The album was originally intended to be the final album of the Art Official Intelligence trilogy, but as the album quickly changed focus, the group decided to put AOI III on hold and finish The Grind Date...
 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
Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group is the third-largest of the big four music industry, the others being Sony Music Entertainment, EMI, and Universal Music Group....
 labels. The band thought about having its contract absorbed by Elektra Records
Elektra Records

Elektra Records is a now-dormant United States record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group....
, 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
Ghostface Killah

Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapping and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the early- to mid-1990s, each member went on to pursue a solo career....
, Butta Verses and Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav

William Jonathan Drayton Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an United States rapper, television star, and member of the politically and socially conscious rap group Public Enemy ....
, with production from Jake One, Boomfy!!, Madlib
Madlib

Madlib is a California-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapping, and record producer. Known under a plethora of pseudonyms, he is one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed hip hop production of the 2000s and has collaborated with a myriad of hip hop artists, including The Alkaholiks, Mos Def, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli...
 and more. The lead single "Shopping Bags (She Got from You)
Shopping Bags (She Got From You)

"Shopping Bags " is the first official single to be released by De La Soul, from their seventh studio album, The Grind Date. The song was a diatribe about gold-digger, and was produced by California-based producer, Madlib....
" did not fare very well and set the tone for disappointing commercial acceptance.

Beyond 2004

In 2005, De La Soul collaborated with Gorillaz
Gorillaz

Gorillaz is a virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of alternative rock band Blur , and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl....
 on the hit single "Feel Good Inc.
Feel Good Inc.

"Feel Good Inc." is a song by Gorillaz, on their album Demon Days, featuring De La Soul. The song was released as the lead Single from the album on May 9 2005 in the United Kingdom ....
", which won a Grammy
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
 for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration
Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals has been awarded since 1995. In its first year, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration....
 after being nominated for a total of three Grammys. De La Soul also appeared on on the LA Symphony
LA Symphony

LA Symphony is a Christian hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California. Current members of L.A. Symphony are FLYNN , UNO Mas, CookBook, Joey the Jerk, and Sharlok Poems....
 single "Universal." Posdnuos also collaborated with the Portuguese MC Boss AC
Boss AC

Boss AC is a Portugal rapper originally from Cape Verde. His albums include "Ritmo, Amor e Palavras" , "Rimar contra a Mar?" and "TPC".His most popular songs include: "Dinero", "Baza Baza", and "Doa a Quem Doer"....
 on a track called "Yo (Não Brinques Com Esta Merda)" (which translates to "Don't Play with This Shit").

In 2006, De La released a mixtape of new and old songs, entitled The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1
The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1

The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1 is an album of unreleased material by De La Soul. It contains material recorded over a period of years , and was made available through the group's imprint AOI Records....
, on its AOI Records label. De La Soul collaborated with the athletic sneaker giant, Nike, to produce two versions of the Nike Dunk under their skateboarding division, Nike SB. The sneakers were an instant hit, and sold out at most retail stores that stocked them.

In 2008, the group joined A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is an United States Hip hop music group, formed in 1988. The group is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad....
, Nas
Nas

Nasir Jones, , , better known by his stage name Nas, , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapping and actor. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, he was born and raised in the Queensbridge, Queens housing projects in New York City....
, The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde is an alternative hip hop group from the West coast of the United States. The group was formed in South Central Los Angeles , where the group's members grew up....
 and others on the annual Rock The Bells
Rock The Bells

Rock The Bells is an annual hip hop festival that orginally took place in Southern California only, but has since toured throughout the world....
 tour.

The band is currently working on their third Art Official Intelligence disc, AOI III.

De La Soul were honorees at the 5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Vh1 Hip Hop Honors

Vh1 Hip Hop Honors is an annual event that airs on VH1. The television special honors old-school hip-hop and golden age hip hop rappers and contributors....
 on October 6, 2008.

In late 2008 they collaborated with Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip

dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip are a band originally hailing from Stanford-le-Hope in Essex. The duo are signed to Rob da Bank?s Sunday Best Records in the UK/Europe and Sage Francis?s Strange Famous Recordings in the USA....
 and re-recorded their debut single "Thou Shalt Always Kill
Thou Shalt Always Kill

"Thou Shalt Always Kill" is a 2007 song by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip.The song comprises a simple electronic dance beat with the vocals taking the form of a satirical rant at aspects of British modern culture....
"

In an interview with HipHopDX.com, Posdnuos revealed that the group will be releasing a new album in 2009 entitled You're Welcome to coincide with the 20th anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising.

Discography

  • 3 Feet High and Rising
    3 Feet High and Rising

    3 Feet High and Rising is the influential debut album from American hip hop music trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties....
     (1989)
  • De La Soul is Dead
    De La Soul Is Dead

    De La Soul Is Dead is De La Soul's second full-length album, released in 1991 . The album was produced by Prince Paul, whose work on 3 Feet High and Rising was highly praised by music critics....
     (1991)
  • Buhloone Mindstate
    Buhloone Mindstate

    Buhloone Mindstate is De La Soul third full-length album. It was the last De La Soul album to be produced with Prince Paul. In 2005, comedian Chris Rock named it as the 10th greatest hip-hop album ever, in a list written for Rolling Stone magazine....
     (1993)
  • Stakes Is High
    Stakes Is High

    Stakes Is High is De La Soul fourth full-length album, released during the summer of 1996. The album received mostly strong reviews but little commercial success....
     (1996)
  • Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
    Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump

    Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump is De La Soul's fifth full-length album, released in 2000....
     (2000)
  • AOI: Bionix
    AOI: Bionix

    AOI: Bionix is De La Soul sixth full-length album, released in 2001. The album was the second in a planned three-disc installment, which was originally intended to be a three-disc album....
     (2001)
  • De La Mix Tape: Remixes, Rarities and Classics
    De La Mix Tape: Remixes, Rarities and Classics

    De La Mix Tape: Remixes, Rarities and Classics is a 2004 De La Soul compilation album from Rhino Entertainment....
     (2004)
  • The Grind Date
    The Grind Date

    The Grind Date is the critically-acclaimed seventh album from Hip hop music group De La Soul, released on October 5, 2004. The album was originally intended to be the final album of the Art Official Intelligence trilogy, but as the album quickly changed focus, the group decided to put AOI III on hold and finish The Grind Date...
     (2004)
  • The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1
    The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1

    The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1 is an album of unreleased material by De La Soul. It contains material recorded over a period of years , and was made available through the group's imprint AOI Records....
     (2006)
  • You're Welcome (2009)


See also

  • List of number-one dance hits (United States)
    List of number-one dance hits (United States)

    This is a list of number-one dance hits as recorded by Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart — a weekly national survey of popular songs in United States dance clubs....
  • List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
  • Rock the Bells IV


External links