Biography

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. The band is known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. The members are Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, and Vincent "Maseo" Mason. The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'".

Formation and Early Career

The trio's members, Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer), Trugoy the Dove (David Jude Jolicoeur), and Maseo (Vincent Mason), met in high school and decided to form a group. Their stage names derived from inside jokes: Posdnuos was an inversion of Mercer's DJ name, Sound-Sop, and Trugoy was an inversion of Jolicoeur's favorite food, yogurt. With a demo tape of their song "Plug Tunin'," they caught the attention of producer Prince Paul of Stetsasonic, who helped them secure a record deal with Tommy Boy Records.

3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul's debut album, "3 Feet High and Rising," was released in 1989 and became a critical and commercial success. Hailed as a hip hop masterpiece, the album was celebrated for its colorful, neo-psychedelic collage of samples and styles, coupled with the trio's clever and humorous rhymes. It presented a gentler, more eclectic alternative to the hardcore and gangsta rap that was popular at the time, sampling from artists as diverse as Johnny Cash, The Monkees, and Steely Dan. The album introduced the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" concept (an acronym for "da inner sound, y'all"), which, along with their positive lyrics, led many to label them as a "hippie" group, a characterization the band themselves disputed. The single "Me Myself and I" became a massive hit. However, the group was sued by the 1960s pop group The Turtles for an uncleared sample, which set a significant legal precedent for sampling in hip hop.

Later Career and Musical Evolution

De La Soul's second album, "De La Soul Is Dead" (1991), featured a more mature and critical tone, satirizing the violent direction hip hop was taking. The album's cover, depicting a broken daisy pot, symbolized the death of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" image. They continued to evolve their sound with subsequent albums like "Buhloone Mindstate" (1993), which further solidified their position in experimental hip hop, and "Stakes Is High" (1996), which featured a more serious tone and social commentary.

Throughout the 2000s, they released "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" (2000) and "AOI: Bionix" (2001). After a hiatus, they returned in 2016 with the Grammy-nominated "and the Anonymous Nobody...," which was crowdfunded. In 2006, the group won a Grammy for their collaboration with Gorillaz on the hit single "Feel Good Inc.".

Struggles with Digital Distribution

For many years, a significant portion of De La Soul's classic catalog was unavailable on digital streaming platforms. This was due to long-standing and complex legal issues with their former label, Tommy Boy Records, regarding sample clearances and contractual disputes over streaming revenue. After Reservoir Media acquired Tommy Boy's catalog in 2021, a deal was reached. On March 3, 2023, the 34th anniversary of their debut, their first six albums were finally released on streaming services.

Legacy and Influence

De La Soul is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential groups in hip-hop history. They were pioneers of alternative hip-hop and jazz rap, expanding the genre's lyrical and sonic boundaries. They were core members of the Native Tongues collective, a group of like-minded artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, and the Jungle Brothers, who promoted positivity and Afrocentric themes. Their innovative use of samples, skits, and their quirky, positive, and intelligent lyrical approach distinguished them from their peers and influenced generations of artists.

Passing of Trugoy the Dove

In February 2023, just before the group's music became widely available on streaming platforms, David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur passed away at the age of 54. He had been battling congestive heart failure in recent years. His death was a significant loss to the hip-hop community, and his fellow group members expressed their profound grief.

Most Frequently Used Words by De La Soul

ooh one two like better make ine ain pain say three myself get know breakadawn cause plug soul think let good don people number see less time feel truth magic got goin love look man give thangs tell need put hear sure high saying yeah mirror style life without things