De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

Still Rises High After Almost Two Decades

"3 Feet High and Rising", the debut album by underground legends De La Soul, is a monument of creativity and brilliance in old school hip-hop. First off, Prince Paul produced the whole album with a style that's friendly to the ears of those who prefer alternative and/or jazz. It was really refreshing and set up a conscious mood to fit along with the lyrics.

The lyrics are another reason why this album is a landmark. De La Soul don't care for stereotypes, and the lyrics deliver a positive message about certain things in life, whether it would be based on love ("Eye Know") or appearance ("Can U Keep A Secret" and "Take It Off"). Even in their conscious message, De La Soul aren't afraid to lighten things up with a bit of humor. "Ghetto Thang" is the only track that's no so uplifting, being based on poverty and social issues, but it is still given in a way that only De La would give it (they even use limericks). There is even a game show that is "played" throughout this album, which is played by Posdnous, Trugoy, Maseo, and Prince Paul (the first three being members of the group) and while it may sound a bit dated, it's something that represents the group's style. Let me also tell you that in the song "Buddy", you get a guest appearance with some other Native Tongues style rap members, the Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, so you get another taste of the first group mentioned and an insight of what ATCQ would be the year following this CD.

This CD is fun, it lays off the vulgarity in the majority of the songs, and it was something else back in 1989. Make sure to give this a good listen, because there is nothing like it. April 23, 2008

Dawn of the Daisy Age!

BOTTOM LINE:

Had the CASSETTE when it first dropped back in 1988! (I'm 33 ya'll)
Ad-libs? Cryptic metaphors? Obscure samples? Intros? Skits? 20+ trax? conceptual?
THIS ALBUM STARTED ALL OF THAT. Welcome to the Native Tongues. Oh, and 'wipe your Lottos on the mat'.

A+. A hip-hop Essential. February 8, 2008

Tread Water with the De La Soul

De La Soul was 3 feet high and rising with 3 Feet High and Rising. Alternative Hip Hop? You bet.

Not only was nobody doing this during that time, nobody is doing this now. Nobody made refreshing, get up and dance, and really trippy music like this back then, and nobody is making this now. It's kick arse hip hop with creativity, and most of all, remains in my cd rotation for being great music alone (not for influence, not for it's time, not for any of the smoke machines that covers up Elvis Presley). Just try seeing a pink cover on an NWA cover.

Backed by grooving, funky, infectious rhythms and the coolest, sounds good sampling, straight from Mase and Prince Paul, Trugoy and Posdnuos are carefree, seemingly loose, but flow with ease. They go as slow as they want, as fast as they want. Rapping about drugs (Say No Go), the ghetto (Ghetto Thang), and the current state of being only you (Me, Myself, and I), Love (Eye Know), and treading "water", by talking to monkeys! (Tread Water). Quirky, a bit surrealistic, I feel like I'm smothered in flowers! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

And I got a bonus disc! The best value ever? Well I think The Complete Studio Recordings has something to say about that. But it's close.

And Soulja Boy passes for rap? No matter, we'll see through it. Classic. Worthy of the lame "Amazon.com Essential Recording" (Along with 311 and Grassroots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

10/10 February 3, 2008

Easily one of my top ten albums of all time

I'm serious, I can count on ONE hand the number of songs that immediately changed my world like "The Magic Number" did the first time I heard it. I truly had no idea it was possible to make music like that. I was flipping through stations on a road trip and came across it about halfway through. My jaw literally dropped open, I made everyone else in the car shut up, and I stared at the radio and waited for them to tell me what I had just heard. I then spent an entire day going to every record store in NYC's Greenwich Village trying to find it (distribution was tiny).

I've probably listened to this album 500 times over the years, and it just never ever gets old. De La Soul is Dead is also excellent, and Buhloone Mind State is very very good, and they kind of lost me after that, but I truly believe everybody I know should own this one. October 8, 2007

If It Sounds Good It Probably Is

Duke Ellington said that. 'Three Feet High and Rising' is an important work in a sea of rubbish. This was the first record that convinced me that sampling can be music. And remember -these guys did not have the same level of sampling gear that we have today. Sampling, back in 1988, involved a lot of analogue tape loops as digital sampling gear was severely limited and expensive.

This is an IMPORTANT pop record that any serious music lover or musician of any ilk should own. It is also charming and a wonderful record to give a youngster who is serious about music.

Hell, I am a country musician and this LP blew my mind (I originally had it on vinyl). What's weird is that so few kids into rap know anything about this seminal work. It was out of print for a long time, but I wager that in 50 years it will still be in print. That is the ultimate statement on quality.

Ironically, I caught De La Soul live in Saint Louis in early June of 1989. Weird, but they were dreadful. Live, they performed as a typical angry rap act where the lyrics could not be understood and the drum machine was deafening. I was told Prince Paul was not part of the touring group, and I suspect that any quality De La Soul's recorded work is due to the efforts of Prince Paul.

But then again, I caught The Police, U2 and the Pretenders in small clubs, and they were also horrid. U2 is still awful, but that is a mystery far beyond my meager literary talents.

Anyway, Prince Paul is one clever, witty and tasteful writer. A serious record for serious musicans.
August 8, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...