5 even though Iāve only heard the first 3 albums. Those are ace.
Canāt remember now if De La or Public Enemy were my introduction to Hip Hop but either way remain a special band for me and just always a joy to listen to.
Brilliant. Always been good. A truly seminal group - love their music, also love all the rappers who cite them as an influence. From MF DOOM to Roc Marciano. Hard to pick a favourite album, went for Stakes Is High but it changes.
Good listen on their run from De La is Dead to Stakes is Highā¦
Similar but De La or Tribe. Even when the serious āwhite boys with guitars onlyā phase hit my narrowminded musical outlook, I kept a special place in my heart for De La Soul. The day they dropped their entire back-catalogue to download for free was a joyous day, as Iād only really paid any attention to 3 Feet High and Is Dead at that stage. Finally got to see them live at the Roundhouse on the Anonymous Nobody tour and it was just a full-on party.
I enjoy old school hip hop less than I should. Appreciate the huge influence on so much stuff I listen to, but a lot of it sounds basic to ears trained on more modern productions. Not to diminish them in anyway, but I think it may be a 3 for āappreciate but donāt actively seek to listen toā.
Started subconsciously tapping out Me, Myself & I and an auditor popped into the room and started singing Me, Myself & I - which really freaked me out.
Late 80ās I had a bit of a Zappa phase and loved Only In It For The Money LP and my mates younger brother kept asking me if Iād heard De La Soul, which I hadnāt. He described them as the Zappa of Hip Hop, which I could not even begin to imagine.
Youāve got to say the first album is a Classic and its song lengths, skits, samples, humour, tangents are reminiscent of Only In It For The Money, very much so.
That really was a halcyon time for Hip Hop, NWA tearing up any rule books that were left, Public Enemy in untouchable form, Beastie Boys dropping Paulās Boutique, which was so good most people didnāt really get a handle on it for a good few years.
Albums 2 & 3 are very good also, the rest, like many probably, I havenāt heard. Although there are some outstanding jams on 2 & 3, 3 Feet High & Rising is for me comfortably their best offering.
Iād like to score them higher but feel a 4 is right for me and they mark such a golden time in Hip Hop and music in general with that first album, which isnāt on Spotify I think.
Is there a legal way to listen to their albums online these days (paid or otherwise)? Donāt know their work well enough to vote and would like to remedy that without having to go down the piracy route.
No, but they gave it all away for free a few years back so I personally wouldnāt feel too bad about downloading a few albums that are out of print. DM me if you canāt find something youāre after.
Iām completely different - Iāve found it hard to really enjoy hop hop from the mid-90s gangsta period onwards. For me, itās the rawness of the productions - big drum-loops, cheeky samples - and the positivity of the lyrics - D.A.I.S.Y / Native Tongues era especially - that I like. I also like the clarity and timeliness of the rap - canāt stand mumbling or where some rappers seem to be intentionally off-beat.
Even though De La Soul have evolved with the times, theyāre still usually on great form. Try this one from 2018 - brilliant.
With you on mumbling and most faster stuff, btw. When I say āmodernā what I really mean is āalternative hip hop from the last 20 years or soā - huge Aesop Rock fan as an example.
Incidentally, Mr @anon19035908 - is Aesop on the list, or would it just be me hitting 5 and posting videos to an empty thread?
