De La Soul – Must Be The Music

De La Soul’s third album, Buhloone Mindstate, is a genre-bending classic that features the group’s trademark mix of funk, soul, and hip-hop. The album’s standout track, “Must Be the Music,” is a perfect example of the group’s unique style.

Introduction

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio from Amityville, New York. The group is best known for their innovative and idiosyncratic style, which blended elements of hip hop, alternative rock, jazz, and funk. They released their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989, which is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential hip hop albums of all time. The group went on to release a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including De La Soul Is Dead (1991), Buhloone Mindstate (1993), Stakes Is High (1996), Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000), and The Grind Date (2004).

The Group’s History

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio from Amityville, New York. The group is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the alternative hip hop sub-genre. They were one of the first hip hop groups to use unique samples from jazz, funk, and R&B records. They were also one of the first groups to incorporate elements of skit comedy into their music.

Formation and early years

De La Soul was formed in the late 1980s by three high school friends from Amityville, New York: Posdnuos (born Kelvin Mercer), Dave Jolicoeur, and Maseo (born Vincent Mason). The trio first met while attending Wyandanch Memorial High School. They took the name “De La Soul” because they wanted their music to reflect the diversity of their experiences growing up on Long Island. They began recording demos with Produce X, a local hip hop producer, and recorded their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989.

Mainstream success

After the release of 3 Feet High and Rising, the group became a mainstay on radio throughout the early 1990s with hits like “Me Myself and I”, “The Magic Number”, “Buddy”, and “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)”. De La Soul’s debut album is widely acclaimed as a watershed moment in alternative rap, helping pave the way for artists such as OutKast, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, and Beastie Boys. They also collaborated with Spike Lee on the soundtrack to his film Do The Right Thing.

Later years

Beastie Boys guitarist Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz joined the group on De La Soul is Dead, contributing guitar to “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)”. Released in May 1991, the album was received with mixed reviews and commercially was not as successful as the group’s debut album; however, it did achieve platinum certification. On this album, Plug 1 changed his stage name to “Trugoy the Dove”, while Pos changed his stage name to “Mase”. This is also the first De La Soul album to feature drummer Vincent Mason as a rapper, on the tracks “Kicked Out The House” and “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays'”, which also featured Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes. The track “Afro Connections at a Hi 5 (In The Eyes Of The Hoodlum)” from this album was featured in Malcolm D. Lee’s movie The Best Man Holiday released in 2013.

The group’s third album Buhloone Mindstate was released in September 1993 to critical acclaim; Allmusic gave it five out of five stars. In contrast to De La Soul is Dead, which stressed personal darkness, Buhloone Mindstate gave off a more positive vibe; Rolling Stone wrote that it “[…] delivers an appealing freshness.” Buhloone Mindstate peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart and ultimately achieved platinum certification. Released prior to Buhloone Mindstate was the EP Abstract Thought, Recorded entirely while Posdnuos (“Pos”) was recovering from Bell’s palsy. It features remixes of tracks from Buhloone Mindstate by Scott Storch and J Dilla (under his Jaylib alias), along with two new tracks (“I Be Blowin'” and “’93 ‘Til Infinity Freestyle”).

After a 1994 European tour with A Tribe Called Quest and Company Flow, De La Soul took an extended break before releasing its fourth album Stakes Is High in 1996. Stakes Is High marked a return to the group’s earlier style of cryptic lyrics delivered over jazz-influenced beats; some critics praised the return while others found it unoriginal. Stakes Is High debuted at number 18 on Billboard 200 chart and ultimately achieved gold certification.

The Group’s Music

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio from Amityville, New York. The group is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the alternative hip hop sub-genre. They were one of the first hip hop groups to use the techniques of Rock and Jazz-Fusion in their music.

De La Soul is Dead

In 1991, the group De La Soul released their second album, De La Soul is Dead. The album was a radical change from their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising, which was fun and optimistic. De La Soul is Dead was dark, angry, and cynical, with songs that addressed society’s ills. The album was not as commercially successful as 3 Feet High and Rising, but it did receive critical acclaim.

Buhloone Mindstate

Buhloone Mindstate is the third studio album by American hip hop group De La Soul, released on September 21, 1993 by Tommy Boy Records. The album received universal acclaim from music critics upon its release and is widely considered the group’s best work.

Stakes Is High

“Stakes Is High” is a 1996 song by American hip hop group De La Soul. It was the lead single from their fourth studio album, Stakes Is High, and was produced by group member Prince Paul. The song is based on the chemistry between De La Soul and the Native Tongues, as well as the current state of hip hop at the time. The song’s title refers to the high stakes that rappers face in terms of their careers, and how their music can be a source of inspiration for people.

The Group’s Legacy

Influence on hip hop

Formed in Amityville, New York in 1987, De La Soul is comprised of three members: Posdonus, Dave and Maseo. The group is widely considered to be one of the most influential hip hop groups of all time, with their unique style and positive messages paving the way for a new generation of rappers.

De La Soul’s impact can be heard in the music of contemporary artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper and J Cole, who have all cited the group as an influence. De La Soul’s positive messages and innovative spirit continue to inspire hip hop fans around the world.

Critical reception

Most music critics gave De La Soul’s debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, high praise. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the album “established [the group] as imaginative, innovative trendsetters in the hip-hop world.” Village Voice critic Robert Christgau was less impressed, giving the album a “neither” (neither good nor bad) rating and writing that its sampled hooks give it “an episodic pleasure that repays multiple listenings but falls short of the classicism De La aspires to.” In a contemporary review for The New York Times, Jon Pareles praised the album’s use of samples and called it “a desegregationist Jolly Roger, defiantly waving two fingers at formal definitions of pop music.”

Conclusion

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