Why Gen Z Need Revolutionary Rappers De La Soul

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De La Soul need more love. This iconic rap trio may be familiar to some hip hop historians, noting their pioneering efforts as one of the first rap groups to achieve vast commercial and critical acclaim. Everyone from Nas, Jadakiss, and Stormzy have cited them as influences. However, unlike their Native Tongues counterparts such as A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers, De La often miss out on getting their flowers from younger listeners. It’s time we change that. Gen Z needs their positivity, humour, and intelligence more than ever.

Who are De La Soul?

This multi-talented trio formed in 1988 in Long Island, New York. The members are Posdnuos ‘Pos’, Pasemaster Mase, and the late great Trugoy the Dove whom sadly passed away in  2023. They were part of the ‘Native Tongues’ a late 80s and early 90s rap collective who share an Afrocentric focus. Including rap queens Queen Latifah and Monie Love, they were the positive-minded, intellectual contrast to a scene dominated by gangster rap.

The socially conscious approach of A Tribe Called Quest has resonated with a Gen Z audience, with streaming allowing younger listeners to discover their catalogue. This being said, the equally enlightened De La Soul also deliver some exceptional records that stand the test of time too. Rejecting hip hop’s mainstream bias towards violence and hyper-masculine bravado was a driving force behind their music. This enigmatic threesome were arguably just as creative as Tribe in their creative sampling, avant-guard references and exploring themes of identity, individuality, and community.

‘3 Feet High and Rising’

Their debut album dropped in 1989, and it was a classic case of not knowing you needed something till you have it. Rap fans instantly got on board, and ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ spent an incredible five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip‑Hop Albums chart. This was a landmark moment in music history that cemented what we know today as alternative hip-hop. It’s often considered the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s of hip-hop’, referencing The Beatles seminal album that was groundbreaking in its experimentation.

Furthermore, this album was expertly produced by Prince Paul. Paul, who had created tracks for rap titan MC Lyte, and, later that year, Big Daddy Kane, loved to bring humour and playfulness into the studio. Some of the albums oddest samples are his doing – from TV show clips, cartoon voices, and unexpected sound effects. He was somewhat a voice artist himself, doing character voices for the skits on the record.

The songs you must hear from the record include ‘Me Myself and I‘ which was the group’s breakout single. Perhaps their most recognisable song is ‘The Magic Number‘, sampling songs from Johnny Cash and Run-D.M.C., to name a few. I remember hearing this track for the first time, inspired by its jovial spirit yet mind-twisting lyrics. “Focus is formed by flaunts to the soul.”, Trugoy raps. For listeners that’s either some truly poetic, abstract lyrical brilliance, or just a bunch of words slammed together to sound cool. Whichever camp you reside, it’s a joyful ride regardless.

Other notable works

It feels wrong to bundle in the marvellous ‘De La Soul is Dead‘ album – my favourite from their discography – into a commentary on the remainder of their catalogue. However, I truly believe ‘3 Feet High and Rising‘ is the essential album for new fans to get a flavour of their funk. ‘De La Soul Is Dead‘, as the name may suggest, is a moodier turn for the group.

This sophomore release landed in 1991, and represents their creative confidence. Many rappers would’ve been tempted to replicate their smash debut, but with De La Soul always expect the unexpected. A playful jab at their new-found celebrity, this satirical record is teeming with fan favourites. Press play on ‘Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)’ to hear their jabs at wannabe rappers. Or perhaps ‘A Roller Skating Jam Named “Saturdays”’ to hear them bounce off Tribe legend Q-Tip.

Later works ‘Buhloone Mindstate‘ (1993) and ‘Stakes Is High‘ (1996) furthered their artistic evolution. In 2016 the band made a comeback with a crowdfunded album. Whilst ‘and the Anonymous Nobody…‘ can never compare to their earlier works, it is cherished by fans, not least because of the loss of Trugoy in the time since. Consequently, this album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2017 Grammys, a perfect rebuttal to the streaming giants who claim fans don’t want to pay for music anymore.

Legal Battles

Now onto the big question, why aren’t they as well known as their peers? The answer is frustratingly political, and unfortunately not a rarity in the music business. Their catalogue was unavailable on streaming platforms for years due to contractual issues with their then-label Tommy Boy. This resulted in a decades long wait for their music to be on DSPs, of which only got settled in 2023 shortly before Trugoy passed away. Despite being so angry at the situation, myself and other fans can take solace in knowing he got to see this his works released back into the world.

A wave of rediscovery has began, and I couldn’t be happier. Always positive, colourful, and majorly weird, this group deserves to be loved by the new wave. Furthermore, they turned sampling into an art form. Pulling from French language tapes, Johnny Cash or Hall & Oates — they plucked and remixed whatever worked for their narrative.

Influence

This group mix jazzy sounds, prolific innovation, and socially conscious style that doesn’t sound preachy. In essence, this is truly what makes De La Soul such an outlier. This rap crew aren’t just golden old schoolers — they are essential for anyone interested in hip‑hop’s evolution. I hear their influence in Black Star’s themes and beat selection. Furthermore, Common’s jazz-infused catalogue can find its genesis in ‘3 Feet High and Rising‘.

Likewise, without this group and the wider Native Tongues collective, you wouldn’t have alt-rap as we know it today. Tyler, The Creator, Little Brother, The Pharcyde, and even some of Kendrick Lamar’s finest works can be traced back to the trio. Whilst there may be a generation of people who don’t know their name, they are fighting to keep their legacy alive. However, they’ve been proving doubters wrong for decades. Even within their own circle, many worried their unconventional sound wouldn’t ‘land’ in the late 80s . Pos said, “We were those dudes that said, ‘Nah, we’re gonna go left‘.”. I am so glad they did.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, De La Soul proved playfulness and profundity aren’t mutually exclusive. They were rapping about anxiety, self-worth, art, love and being misunderstood before it was popular to do so in hip hop. They dropped anthems for the outsiders, and gained respect from afar from the grittiest street rap MCs. There’s a humanity in the trio that keeps me listening and enraptured me when I first discovered their music. I believe their deep, odd, funny, and funky songs are just what Gen Z need in tumultuous times.

The group’s upcoming tenth LP, ‘Cabin in the Sky’, will drop in November via Mass Appeal Records. It will be a posthumous record for Trugoy, and according to the remaining members – a record that has his stamp all over it. “There are times where I’m writing rhymes and I’m getting goosebumps ’cause I feel like Dave would be saying, ‘Yo, that’s dope!’” said Pos. The fact that they can return after all this time is proof of their staying power. Maseo put it best: “We’re not old school. We’re timeless.”

De La Soul are on Instagram, Threads, X, and TikTok. You can stream or buy their music following this link. Check out more opinion pieces here.

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