One major way that hip-hop is different from all other types of music is that a single verse can turn a track from good to “holy shit”. Case in point: Ghostface Killah’s absolutely bonkers verse on De La Soul’s 2004 album cut “He Comes”. Trugoy and Pos are great rappers; by 2004 they’d come a… Read More “He Comes” by De La Soul feat. Ghostface Killah (2004)
Sure, we can blame the soundtrack of the forgettable film Judgment Night for spawning the rap/rock movement that gave us Korn and Limp Bizkit. We can also laud it for commendably bridging what were thought of as two disparate musical worlds (save for the Beastie Boys, who defy all logic); alternative rock and hardcore hip-hop.… Read More “Fallin'” by De La Soul & Teenage Fanclub (1993)
“Eye Know” is not your average hip-hop love song. It’s a warm fuzzy, but it’s not corny. I’ve mentioned in previous entries how awkward love raps can sound, especially as you go back in time to the ’80s and early ’90s. “Eye Know” isn’t awkward, even though De La Soul’s slang is so dense it… Read More “Eye Know” by De La Soul (1989)
De La Soul’s “Buddy” arrived mere months before A Tribe Called Quest changed the hip-hop love song paradigm with “Bonita Applebum”. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that Q-Tip and co. were inspired to make “Bonita” because of “Buddy”. After all, Tip and Phife Dawg (marking his first appearance on record) are both featured… Read More “Buddy (Native Tongues Decision)” by De La Soul (feat. The Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, Queen Latifah & Prince Paul) (1989)
Even though 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead was supposed to be a break away from Pos, Trugoy and Maseo’s hippie image, it was still chock full of jokes. Hell, the album was wrapped around a skit that prominently featured the term “cock snot”. Other than the stunningly tragic “Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa”,… Read More “Breakadawn” by De La Soul (1993)
“Bitties In The BK Lounge” is less a song than a song-length skit that has three distinct movements. Whatever. It’s awesome. In the first portion of the song, Dave/Dove/Trugoy finds himself heading to a Burger King and being treated rudely by the person taking his order. Deciding to play the celebrity card, Dave takes off… Read More “Bitties In The BK Lounge” by De La Soul (1991)
Five Star Jamz 