De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead

classic de la soul

i had this on cassette years ago and just recently ordered it from amazon. i forgot how much fun this album was. my favorite track is Bitties in the BK Lounge. the skits are a cute touch as well. July 30, 2008

Buy this album...

This album is De La Soul's "White Album" to the "Sgt. Pepper's" vibe of 3 Feet High and Rising. This album is like the hangover from the party that was first album. One of the most rewarding rap listens out there. Smart, funky, and all over the place. They do everything from speaking out about child abuse to making biting fun of house music. It's a wild ride- sometimes making you think and sometimes making you laugh. A hidden gem that deserves a few listens to grow on you. December 8, 2007

More De La Fun For 1991 (Rating: 10 out of 10- -5.0 stars)

I guess talking about this album would be like beating on a dead horse, but I'm going to do it anyway. Anyway, De La Soul has been one of the most consistant rap groups of all time. Comming off one of their strong albums 3 Feet High and Rising back in 1989, the hit us witht their sophomore album De La Soul Is Dead, which was one of the best back in 91, and received 5 mics in The Source Magazine (they were smashed records back then instead of mics), as well as high ratings from many other magazines.

As the obvious on this LP, their intention was to kill the preception everyone has that they are hippies. And they do a damn good job as well, but at the same time, having fun making great songs. One of my favorites is "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays", as it reminded me of how I used to go roller skating back in the early 90's as a child (the video for the song is awesome as well). The album is very funny and entertaining as well, like the track "Talkin' 'Bout Hey Love" (Posdenous is a fool, lol), and "Bitties In The BK Lounge" (hilarious).

As for the songs themselves, they're amazing. "Pease Porridge" is very creative sonunding. "Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa" is also great. Love the hook to "Ring, Ring, Ring (Ha Ha Hey)". All of the songs are easy to vibe to, so there are no complaints for me. And the skits are funny too (played by Maceo, Mista Lawnge, and D.J. Aub) Although it's 27 tracks, some of them are not long in length.

De La Soul Is Dead is a great album. If you don't own this, I recommend you pick it up right away. Albums like this is why I miss the 90's so much. Full of creativity and origonality, it is very hard to go wrong on this album. Humorous indeed, and highly enjoyable. Highly Recommended!

Lyrics: A+
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A+
Musical Vibes: A+

Top 5 Tracks:
1. A Rollerskating Jam Named 'Saturdays' (featuring Q-Tip and Vinia Mojica) (personal favorite)
2. Bitties In The BK Lounge
3. Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
4. Pease Porridge
5. Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa

Honorable Mention:
1. Oodles Of O's
2. Talkin' 'Bout Hey Love
3. Fantic Of The B Word (featuring Dres) September 18, 2007

Hip Hops Only Schizophrenic Self-Diss Concept Album

Back in 1989, a new tidal wave of music was cascading along the shores. The sounds of the Native Tongues were staking their claim as alternative rap pioneers. The world of hip hop would never be the same after "3 Feet High and Rising" which is considered by many as the greatest hip hop album to ever drop. However, being taunted by people as the hippies of hip hop, De La did something artisticly bold. Plagued by labels, due to their visual of flowers on "3 Feet High's" cover art, De La Soul killed their 'pyschadelic image' by illustrating a pot of dead daisies on their sophomore effort. Suddenly, "De La Soul Is Dead" showed a edgier dark side that flew over heads of the buying public and disallowed critics to really put a finger on it.

"De La Soul Is Dead" was a record attacking ignorance and gangsta posturing. The record starts off with a pack of goons who roughs up a young kid with a copy of the De La Soul tape and then they pop the tape in and harshly criticize each song at certain intervals. At the end of the record they throw the tape in the garbage stating, "no guns, no cursing; that's what rap music is all about...RIGHT". Although the album contains little profanity the message is loud and clear on the hardcore parody of "Afro Connections At The Hi 5". This is an underappreciated gem. De La calls in to question of all the acts who changed their sound to be grittier claiming they, "fell the FU-- OFF". Posdunous mockingly says, "now I hold my crotch because I'm top notch".

The album is not nearly enjoyable without the man behind the boards. Prince Paul is the mad scientist of hip hop, orchestrating a collage of samples that has yet to be duplicated. The albums first song "Oodles of O's" (a highlight on a classic album) has a dischordant loop that is endlessly catchy. The loopy bassline is like the hook and your attention is the bait and you can't help but get hooked and nod your head to this. "Peas Porridge" ranks amongst Prince Pauls best beats as De La Soul talks in witty double speak. Again, the song is broken up by people who trash De La Souls reputation. Maseo claims, "why do people think just because we speak peace we can't blow no joints" (I-I-I Don't Know). The most lighthearted jam has to be the single "Roller Skating Jam Called Saturday" which had a friend of mine mezmerized recently (especially with the 'Greece' sample thrown in the middle of the song)! "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" was actually an unlikely choice for the lead single. The upbeat production seemed cheery enough but the groups frustration with being burdened around third-rate demos was harsh to say the least. It is an incredibly playful song which got the group in copyright troubles. "Pass The Plugs" had many people flocking to YouTube to check out the hype around the Posdunous line, "Arsenio dissed us but the crowd kept clappin' when Arsenio dissed them before their performance on the show.

Prince Pauls beats and the lyrics from "De La Soul Is Dead" have been sampled over and over again. You will be amazed at all of the fragments and ideas that came from this. On top of that, the record contains the greatest album liner note ever. Maseo states, "To the Amittyville community: you are the ones who say when people like us get successful we never come back to contribute to our community. Well we came to you on so many occasions and, in so many words, you said 'f--- De La Soul" and now I'm saying "f--- you"! Fitting with the albums theme it is a statement on people who pigeon hole rap as stagnated music failing to realize that it evolves from the same epicenter of other genres. "De La Soul Is Dead" is a testament to silence all those critics who say rap is not music. Honestly, if rap artists today took half the risks that De La took then hip hop would be a much better place. April 1, 2007

Love this album, twenty years later

I bought this album thinking it was Soul To Soul, and was totally glad I had made that mistake. I played this cassette over and over- I loved so much of it that I couldn't even tell you what my favorite was, although Bitties In The BK Lounge is in it, certainly.
And long after it disintegrated, I would find myself humming or singing a snatch of something from this album.

So, for my 39th birthday last week, I bought it again. This time on CD, but I have no doubt that I'll feel exactly the same way I felt the first time I heard it.

January 30, 2007

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