Editing De La Soul

{{Short description|American hip hop group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = De La Soul
| image             = De La Soul by foto di matti.jpg
| image_upright     = 1.2
| caption           = De La Soul in 2004. L–R: [[David Jolicoeur|Trugoy the Dove]], [[Vincent Mason|Maseo]] and [[Kelvin Mercer|Posdnuos]].
| origin            = [[Amityville, New York]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Alternative hip hop]]<ref>{{cite book|page=76|last=Rausch|first=Andrew J.|year=2011|title=I Am Hip-Hop: Conversations on the Music and Culture|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|isbn=978-0-8108-7792-4}}</ref>|[[progressive rap]]<ref>{{cite book|page=155|last=Tate|first=Greg|authorlink=Greg Tate|chapter=Diatribe|editor-last=Cepeda|editor-first=Raquel|year=2004|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|title=And It Don't Stop: The Best American Hip-Hop Journalism of the Last 25 Years|isbn=978-1-4668-1046-4}}</ref>|[[jazz rap]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Anon.|date=September 1, 2005|url=https://www.npr.org/2005/09/01/4828153/the-hippies-of-hip-hop-de-la-soul|title=The Hippies of Hip-Hop: De La Soul|website=[[NPR Music]]|accessdate=July 19, 2021}}</ref>|[[golden age hip hop]]<ref>{{cite book|page=172|chapter=Break/Flow/Escape/Capture: The Energy and Importence of the Hardcore Continuum|last=Gilbert|first=Jeremy|title=Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945|publisher=Ashgate|editor1-last=Stratton|editor1-first=Jon|editor2-last=Zuberi|editor2-first=Nabeel|isbn=978-1-4094-6913-1|year=2014}}</ref>}}
| discography       = [[De La Soul discography]]
| years_active      = 1988–present<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|author=Greg Tate|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/De-La-Soul|title=De La Soul|publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|date=November 23, 2019|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111161251/https://www.britannica.com/topic/De-La-Soul|archive-date=January 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
| label             = {{hlist|[[Tommy Boy Records|Tommy Boy]]|[[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]]|[[Kobalt Label Services|Kobalt]]|[[Duck Down Music|Duck Down]]|[[PIAS Group|PIAS]]|[[Mass Appeal Records|Mass Appeal]]}}
| website           = {{URL|wearedelasoul.com}}
| current_members   = * [[Kelvin Mercer|Posdnuos]]
* [[Vincent Mason|Maseo]]
* [[David Jolicoeur|Trugoy the Dove]] (deceased)
| past_members      = 
}}
'''De La Soul''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|d|eɪ|_|l|ɑː|_|ˈ|s|oʊ|l}} {{respell|DAY|_|lah|_|SOHL}}) is an American [[hip hop music|hip hop]] group formed in the village of [[Amityville]] on [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]] in 1988.<ref name="Britannica" /> They are best known for their eclectic sampling, eccentric lyrics, and contributions to the evolution of the [[jazz rap]] and [[alternative hip hop]] subgenres. [[Kelvin Mercer|Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer]], [[David Jolicoeur|David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur]], and [[Vincent Mason|Vincent "Maseo" Mason]] formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer [[Prince Paul (producer)|Prince Paul]] with a demo tape of the song "[[Plug Tunin']]{{hairsp}}". 

With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the group's debut album, ''[[3 Feet High and Rising]]'' (1989), has been called "a hip hop masterpiece".<ref>{{cite news|title='3 Feet High and Rising' a hip-hop masterpiece|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/3-feet-high-and-rising-hip-hop-masterpiece|newspaper=[[The Michigan Daily]]|access-date=April 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921063629/http://www.michigandaily.com/content/3-feet-high-and-rising-hip-hop-masterpiece|archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> It remains their biggest commercial success, though subsequent albums have continued to receive acclaim. De La Soul is the second-longest-standing [[Native Tongues]] group, after the [[Jungle Brothers]]. In 2006, the group won a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] for their collaboration with [[Gorillaz]] on their single "[[Feel Good Inc.]]"<ref name="grammywin">{{cite news |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/full-list-of-grammy-award-winners-525647.html |title = Full list of Grammy award winners |access-date = February 6, 2009 |date = February 9, 2006 |newspaper = [[The Independent]] |url-status = dead |archive-url = http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110223233247/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/full-list-of-grammy-award-winners-525647.html |archive-date = February 23, 2011 }}</ref>

The group released nine studio albums and one live album between 1989 and 2016. Their catalog was not available on audio streaming services or digital media stores until 2023 due to contractual disputes and copyright clearances for their extensive sampling. Trugoy the Dove died in 2023.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://slate.com/culture/2023/02/de-la-soul-dave-trugoy-dove-dead.html |title=De La Soul's Trugoy Is Dead, and With Him Goes One of Music's Greatest Groups |last=Hamilton |first=Jack |date=February 13, 2023 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=February 14, 2023}}</ref>

== History ==

=== 1989–1993: ''3 Feet High and Rising'' and ''De La Soul Is Dead'' ===
De La Soul's debut album, ''[[3 Feet High and Rising]]'', released in 1989, was a critical smash hit in the hip hop genre. They quickly became prominent members of the [[Native Tongues Posse]] along with [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[Black Sheep (group)|Black Sheep]], [[Queen Latifah]], and the [[Jungle Brothers]] among others. The single "[[Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)|Me Myself and I]]" became a huge hit, further cementing the group's popularity. However, the sixties pop group [[The Turtles]] sued De La Soul for using a [[Sampling (music)|sample]] from their 1969 hit "[[You Showed Me]]" for the interlude track "Transmitting Live from Mars".<ref>{{cite web|title=SAMPLING WARS - Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-23-ca-392-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=July 23, 1989 |access-date=August 19, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316165345/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-23-ca-392-story.html|archive-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>

Lyrically, much of ''3 Feet High and Rising'' focused on striving for peace and harmony. ''3 Feet High and Rising'' also introduced De La Soul's concept of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" (an acronym standing for "da inner sound, y'all"). As a result, audiences were quick to peg the members of De La Soul as [[hippie]]s. This stereotype greatly agitated the group's members, as they always envisioned their career as a constantly changing style; this frustration would influence their next recording sessions. In the [[press kit]] for ''3 Feet High and Rising'', the members explained their [[pseudonym|stage names]]: Trugoy when reversed spells yogurt, because he liked yogurt, and Posdnuos spelled backwards is "sound sop". The album artwork was designed by radical British artist collective the [[Grey Organisation]].<ref>[http://www.complex.com/art-design/2010/09/Hip-Hops-50-Greatest-Album-Covers/de-la-soul-2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927045246/http://www.complex.com/art-design/2010/09/Hip-Hops-50-Greatest-Album-Covers/de-la-soul-2|date=September 27, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Run Run Run (2720461334).jpg|thumb|right|De La Soul performing at the [[Dillon Gymnasium]] in 1991]]
De La Soul's second album, ''[[De La Soul Is Dead]]'' (1991), was a much more mature album. It featured a wealth of material that criticized the violent, careless direction that hip hop was heading in at the time, though it still managed to maintain a light, absurd sense of humor. The cover of the album features a broken daisy flower pot, symbolizing the death of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" and the imagery that went along with it. The album spawned several singles, including the dark "[[Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa/Keepin' the Faith|Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa]]", a tale of a young girl who could no longer take the sexual abuse from her father, and the lead single "[[Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)]]", a story about people using the group's recent fame to try to launch their own careers.

De La Soul collaborated with [[Black Sheep (group)|Black Sheep]] on "Fanatic of the B Word" and [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]] from [[A Tribe Called Quest]] on "[[A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"|A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays']]"; [[Prince Paul (producer)|Prince Paul]] makes an appearance on the mic in "Pass the Plugs" with a verse of his own. The album also more prominently featured [[Vincent Mason|Maseo]] as a rapper, providing verses of his own on "Bitties in the BK Lounge", "Afro Connections at a Hi-5", and "[[Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)]]".

Though it received mixed reviews and did not sell as well as ''[[3 Feet High and Rising]]'' it eventually became a cult classic. ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' magazine listed the album as one of their top 100 hip hop albums of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line --> |title=100 Best Albums: The Top Hip-Hop LP's of All Time|magazine=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|location=New York|page=25|date=January 1998|issue=100|issn=1063-2085}}</ref> There were initially major differences between the CD version and the other formats, as the tracks "My Brother's a Basehead", "Kicked Out the House", and "Who Do U Worship?" were only available on the CD. Subsequent vinyl reissues have restored the running order as originally intended.

=== 1993–2000: ''Buhloone Mindstate'' and ''Stakes Is High'' ===
The group's third studio release, 1993's ''[[Buhloone Mindstate]]'', saw the group evolve a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically. There were several moments on the album which proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone playing by [[Maceo Parker]]. The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La Soul at their most self-referential to date with subject matter about Pos' daughter Ayana Monet as well as his grandmother. "Long Island Wildin'" was a collaboration with Japanese hip hop artists Kan Takagi (Major Force) and trio Scha Dara Parr (SDP). The album's first single, "[[Breakadawn]]", used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" and Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm". De La Soul collaborated for the first time with [[Gang Starr]]'s [[Guru (rapper)|Guru]] on "Patti Dooke", female MC [[Shortie No Mas]], a cousin of Posdnuos, was prominent on many tracks on the album, showcased particularly "In The Woods". The album ended with an old school [[Biz Markie]] collaboration called "Stone Age". Missing from vocal duties is Mase, whose voice can only be heard on "Area" in a break near the end of the track. Also rarely featured is his scratching which was heard often on previous albums, with only "In the Woods" showcasing his talent in that area. The album was a critical success, but it was the biggest commercial failure for the group at the time of its release. Many publications, such as ''Rolling Stone'', have listed this album as one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

In 1994, 500 copies of a promotional [[Extended play|EP]] called ''[[Clear Lake Audiotorium (EP)|Clear Lake Audiotorium]]'' were released on clear vinyl and CD. The 6 track EP contained edited versions of tracks off of ''Buhloone Mindstate'' but also featured the tracks "Sh.Fe.MC's" (Shocking Female MC's) which was a collaboration with A Tribe Called Quest, and "Stix & Stonz" which featured old-school hip hop artists Grandmaster Caz, Tito of Fearless Four, Whipper Whip, LA Sunshine and Superstar. The EP was widely bootlegged afterwards.

''[[Stakes Is High]]'' (1996) was the first album not produced by [[Prince Paul (producer)|Prince Paul]], with overall production credits given solely to the trio. Although it was met with poor sales, it has been critically lauded for its music, lyricism, and its overall message concerning the artistic decline rap music began to face in the mid-90s. The [[Stakes Is High (song)|title track and first single]], produced by [[J Dilla]], was not a hit, but the album's second single, "[[Itzsoweezee (HOT)]]", with only Dave on vocals, did fare better due to its creative music video. The album spawned a third single "[[4 More]]", featuring [[Zhane]] which peaked at #52 in the UK. The album did provide a launching pad for future star rapper and actor [[Mos Def]], who appeared on the track "Big Brother Beat". The album also featured collaborations with [[Common (rapper)|Common]], Truth Enola, and the [[Jazzyfatnastees]].

=== 2000–2005: ''Art Official Intelligence'' and ''The Grind Date'' ===
[[File:DeLa Soul-mika.jpg|thumb|De La Soul in 2002]]
In 2000, De La Soul launched the [[Spitkicker Tour]], a U.S.-wide tour first hosted by De La Soul, Common, Biz Markie, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrington |first=Richard |date=2000-07-21 |title=SPOTLIGHT |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/07/21/spotlight/6d7c759e-0a93-4fb2-a25a-63ce471ec9ed/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828191417/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/07/21/spotlight/6d7c759e-0a93-4fb2-a25a-63ce471ec9ed/ |archive-date=2017-08-28 |access-date=2024-12-26 |work=The Wall Street Post}}</ref> That same year, they established the [[Spitkicker]] collective, which grew to include progressive hip-hop artists, comedian [[Dave Chappelle]], chef [[Marcus Samuelsson]], and others.<ref>{{Cite news |last=John-Sandy II |first=Rene |date=October 2006 |title=Spit Happens |url=http://www.spitkicker.com/spit_5_1/spit_5_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723095713/http://www.spitkicker.com/spit_5_1/spit_5_1.pdf |archive-date=July 23, 2007 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Spit |pages=18–19 |volume=5 |issue=1}}</ref> De La Soul also announced that they would release a triple album series entitled "Art Official Intelligence" (or AOI). All three albums were intended to be released within a year, beginning with the release of ''[[Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump]]''. This was followed by ''[[AOI: Bionix]]'' in late 2001. After this, however, the third and final album in the AOI series was never released. For the next two years, the only De La Soul releases were singles or remix compilations. David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur stated in an interview that it usually takes about four years for the group to record an album, promote it with advertisements, touring and so on. The group was having trouble finishing the last AOI installment for many reasons, one of which being an ongoing struggle with [[Tommy Boy Records]],{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} which had been releasing its albums ever since its debut.

In the summer of 2002, De La Soul toured with [[Cake (band)|Cake]], [[Modest Mouse]], [[The Flaming Lips]], [[Kinky (band)|Kinky]], and the [[Hackensaw Boys]] during the Unlimited Sunshine Tour. The band was briefly featured in the video game ''[[PaRappa the Rapper 2]]'' with the song "[[Say 'I Gotta Believe!']]", featuring [[Double (singer)|Double]], and also appeared on the soundtrack of the game.

In 2004, De La Soul released a new full album: ''[[The Grind Date]]'' on Sanctuary/BMG Records because the venture between Tommy Boy and Warner Bros. Records was shut down and the group's contract was shopped to the other [[Warner Music Group|WEA]] labels. The band thought about having its contract absorbed by [[Elektra Records]], but it decided to leave WEA altogether. Although it was not the third AOI album fans had been expecting, the album was released to some critical acclaim and was well received by most fans. The album features guests [[MF Doom]], [[Ghostface Killah]], Butta Verses and [[Flavor Flav]], with production from [[9th Wonder]], [[Jake One]], [[Madlib]] and more. The lead single "[[Shopping Bags (She Got from You)]]" did not fare very well and set the tone for disappointing commercial acceptance. In conjunction with the album's release, the group also offered up the track "Come on Down" featuring Flavor Flav for remixing on Sony's Acid Planet website. The winning remix was "Come On Down (KY Raised NY Glazed)" by Interlude Jones who said he tried to "take the influential sound of old New York hip hop and marry it back to its roots."

=== 2005–present: Features, ''And the Anonymous Nobody...'' and the death of Trugoy the Dove ===
In 2005, De La Soul collaborated with [[Gorillaz]] on the hit single "[[Feel Good Inc.]]", which won a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals|Best Pop Vocal Collaboration]] (the first Grammy win in the group's career) after being nominated for a total of three Grammys.<ref name="grammywin" /><ref name="threenoms">{{cite web|url=http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2005/Press35.htm |title=EMI Music earns 54 Grammy nominations |access-date=February 6, 2009 |date=December 8, 2005 |publisher=[[EMI]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114093014/http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2005/Press35.htm |archive-date=November 14, 2008 }}</ref> De La Soul also appeared on the [[LA Symphony]] single "Universal" and Posdnuos collaborated with the Portuguese MC [[Boss AC]] on a track called "''Yo (Não Brinques Com Esta Merda)''". The following year they released mixtapes ''Hip-Hop Mixtape'', a [[covermount]] with British dance magazine ''[[Mixmag]]'', and ''[[The Impossible: Mission TV Series – Pt. 1]]'', a release on the group's own AOI Records label.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_11_impossibletv.html |title=De La Soul :: Impossible Mission TV Series Pt. 1 |publisher=Rapreviews.com |date=November 7, 2006 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316200223/http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_11_impossibletv.html |archive-date=March 16, 2012 }}</ref> De La Soul collaborated with the athletic sneaker company [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] to produce two versions of the [[Nike Dunk]] under their skateboarding division, [[Nike SB]]. [[File:De La Soul at Marsatac 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Posdnuos performing at the Marsatac Festival in 2008]]
In 2008, the group joined [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[Nas]], [[Tech N9ne]], [[The Pharcyde]] and others on the annual [[Rock the Bells]] tour<ref>[http://www.musicpix.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1029 ": Rock The Bells 2008 Line-Up Announced – Tour Schedule"], musicpix.net</ref> and were honored at the 5th Annual [[VH1 Hip Hop Honors]]. Later in the year they collaborated with [[dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip]] on a re-recording of the British group's debut single "[[Thou Shalt Always Kill]]".

De La Soul returned as a guest on the third [[Gorillaz]] studio album, ''[[Plastic Beach]]'' alongside [[Super Furry Animals]] frontman [[Gruff Rhys]] on the song "[[Superfast Jellyfish]]". Two other collaborations were recorded, but did not make the final cut for the album. They were supposed to appear on a track entitled "Sloped Tropics", though this song did not make the final cut. The group remixed indie rockers [[Yo La Tengo]]'s single, ''"Here To Fall for the Here To Fall"'' remixes EP which included remixes by [[RJD2]] and [[Pete Rock]], and were featured on a remix of [[Matt & Kim]]'s single "Daylight" by DJ Troublemaker.

In 2011, the group earned Top 5 rankings on both [[NPR]] and [[Soul Train]]'s year end "Best of" lists with the [[Amerigo Gazaway]] produced De La Soul/Fela Kuti mashup, ''Fela Soul''. De La Soul and [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] released ''[[Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run]]'', which was the group's first original material since ''[[The Impossible: Mission TV Series – Pt. 1]]''. The album features [[Raheem DeVaughn]] as well as production from the Chicago-based duo Flosstradamus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hypebeast.com/2009/04/nike-and-de-la-soul-present-are-you-in-original-run-album/ |title=Nike & De La Soul present ARE YOU IN? Original Run Album |publisher=Hypebeast |date=April 28, 2009 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501141133/http://hypebeast.com/2009/04/nike-and-de-la-soul-present-are-you-in-original-run-album/ |archive-date=May 1, 2009 }}</ref> The recording is a single-track recording at 44 minutes, 17 seconds, part of a continuing series of releases through the "Nike+ Sport Music" section of the online store.

The group released ''[[Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve|De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 presents... First Serve]]'' in April 2012, an album that did not feature any contributions from Maseo. With little promotion, the album was released to positive reviews. This was followed by releasing one track a month during 2013.

In March 2015, De La Soul created a [[Kickstarter]] to help fund their upcoming album. It surpassed the original goal of $110,000 in under ten hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1519102394/de-la-souls-new-album|title=De La Soul's NEW ALBUM|publisher=[[Kickstarter]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134806/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1519102394/de-la-souls-new-album|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> The resulting album, ''[[And the Anonymous Nobody...]]'', was released in August 2016. Originally planned for an April release,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/de-la-soul-sets-new-release-date-for-upcoming-album-news.18785.html |title=De La Soul Sets New Release Date For Upcoming Album |publisher=hotnewhiphop.com |author=Walker, Angus |date=November 21, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075226/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/de-la-soul-sets-new-release-date-for-upcoming-album-news.18785.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> but delayed due to rights issues,<ref name="Album Pushback">{{cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2016/04/de-la-soul-for-your-pain-suffering-ep/ |title=De La Soul announced that their Kickstarter-funded album would be delayed |last=Simmons |first=Ted |date=April 29, 2016 |website=XXLMag.com |access-date=April 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503202000/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2016/04/de-la-soul-for-your-pain-suffering-ep/ |archive-date=May 3, 2016 }}</ref>  the album was preceded by a four track EP ''For Your Pain & Suffering'' and the single "Pain", featuring [[Snoop Dogg]]. The album was nominated at the [[59th Grammy Awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]].

De La Soul was featured on the track "Momentz" on [[Gorillaz]]’ 2017 album ''[[Humanz]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usstore.gorillaz.com/humanz-cd.html |title=Gorillaz Album, "Humanz" |date=May 4, 2017 |website=Gorillaz.com |access-date=May 4, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504032554/http://usstore.gorillaz.com/humanz-cd.html |archive-date=May 4, 2017 }}</ref> on ''Leap of Faith'' by Mr. Jukes, alongside [[Horace Andy]], and on [[Tom Misch]]'s 2018 single "It Runs Through Me". A tenth studio album, featuring production contributions from [[Pete Rock]] and [[DJ Premier]], will reportedly be released by [[Mass Appeal Records]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lamarre |first1=Carl |title=De La Soul on Tommy Boy Postponing Digital Release, Wanting Jay-Z to Bring Their Catalog to TIDAL: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8500624/de-la-soul-interview-tommy-boy-jay-z-tidal |website=billboard.com |publisher=Prometheus Globsl Media, LLC |access-date=March 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303112035/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8500624/de-la-soul-interview-tommy-boy-jay-z-tidal |archive-date=March 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[65th Annual Grammy Awards|65th Grammy Awards]] on February 5, 2023, Posdnuos performed a segment of "Buddy" as part of the ceremony’s tribute to fifty years of [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]].<ref>Chakrabarty, Arunava. “[https://meaww.com/how-did-trugoy-the-dove-die-de-la-soul-member-54-missed-groups-hip-hop-tribute-at-grammys-2023 How did Trugoy the Dove die? De La Soul member, 54, missed group's hip-hop tribute at Grammys 2023“]. ''MEAWW.'' Published February 12, 2023. Accessed March 13, 2023.</ref> Days later, Trugoy the Dove died on February 12, 2023, at the age of 54. He had been suffering from congestive [[heart failure]] since 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/de-la-soul-trugoy-dead|title=De La Soul's Trugoy Dead at 54|website=Complex|author=Eric Diep|date=February 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/trugoy-the-dove-obit-1.6746080 |title=Trugoy the Dove, co-founder of hip-hop trio De La Soul, dead at 54 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[CBC.ca]] |date=February 12, 2023}}</ref> His death came only weeks before the release of De La Soul's music on [[Music streaming service|streaming platforms]] following their long-fought catalogue disputes. The remaining members of De La Soul and other artists including [[Nas]], [[Chuck D]], and [[LL Cool J]] came together for "The DA.I.S.Y Experience",<ref>Elbert, Mark. “De La Soul Announce Trugoy the Dove Tribute Concert”. ''Hip Hip DX.'' Published February 28, 2023. Accessed March 13, 2023.</ref> a tribute concert to Trugoy, on March 2, the day before De La Soul's music was released digitally. The re-release of their music led to the group charting in the United Kingdom for the first time since 1990.<ref>Brandon, Lars. [https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/de-la-soul-lathums-slowthai-uk-midweek-albums-chart-1235280906/ “De La Soul Charging to U.K. Chart High After Streaming Debut”.] ''Billboard.'' Published March 7, 2023. Accessed March 13, 2023.</ref> On February 27, 2023, [[Gorillaz]] released the deluxe edition of their album ''[[Cracker Island]]'', featuring De La Soul on the song "Crocadillaz", being Trugoy’s final recording credit with De La Soul.

In September and October of 2023, De La Soul opened for [[Wu-Tang Clan]] and [[Nas]] during the North American stretch of their New York State of Mind Tour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-14 |title=De La Soul Joins Wu-Tang Clan and Nas for "NY State of Mind Tour" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/4/de-la-soul-wu-tang-clan-nas-ny-state-of-mind-tour-dates-announcement |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Hypebeast}}</ref>

== Catalog dispute ==
De La Soul's back catalog was not released on [[audio streaming]] services or [[digital media]] stores until 2023. Until 2017, it was owned by [[Warner Music Group]], which, according to Posdnuos, had been reluctant to clear samples and renegotiate contracts. The samples used in De La Soul's music were only cleared for physical media distribution; the wording of their contracts is not vague enough to enable them to distribute the music digitally on unforeseen technologies.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Jason |title=Download De La Soul's Entire Catalog for Free |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/de-la-soul-to-make-entire-catalog-available-for-free-70568/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=February 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Three Feet High and Missing: Why De La Soul's albums aren't available online |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37020559 |website=BBC News |date=August 13, 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, De La Soul's catalog was purchased by [[Tommy Boy Records]].<ref name="slatedigital">{{cite web |last1=Pahwa |first1=Nitish |title=De La Soul's Long, Still-Incomplete Journey to the Digital Era |url=https://slate.com/culture/2019/03/de-la-soul-3-feet-high-and-rising-streaming-spotify-tidal.html |website=Slate Magazine |language=en |date=March 8, 2019}}</ref> In February 2019, De La Soul announced that their catalog would soon be available on digital services. However, as they were unhappy receiving 10% of the revenue, with the rest for Tommy Boy, the release was postponed pending further negotiations.<ref name="slatedigital" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Serota |first1=Maggie |title=De La Soul's Catalog Withheld From Streaming Platforms Amid Dispute With Tommy Boy |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/03/de-la-soul-tommy-boy-streaming-dispute/ |website=Spin |date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> Hip hop artists including [[Nas]], [[Pete Rock]], and [[Questlove]] called for a boycott of Tommy Boy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Espinoza |first1=Joshua |title=Nas, Questlove, and More Call for Tommy Boy Boycott Following De La Soul Controversy (UPDATE) |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/02/nas-leads-tommy-boy-records-boycott-following-de-la-soul-controversy |website=Complex |language=en |date=February 27, 2019}}</ref> In August, De La Soul announced they had been unable to settle the dispute with Tommy Boy and ended negotiations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arcand |first1=Rob |title=De La Soul Cut Ties With Tommy Boy Amid Streaming Catalog Dispute |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/de-la-soul-cut-ties-with-tommy-boy-amid-streaming-catalog-dispute/ |website=Spin |date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> In February 2020, Posdnuos said that Tommy Boy "sort of came back to the table, we are looking to sort of get it going".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Powers |first1=Stephanie |date=February 28, 2020 |title=De La Soul's Posdnuos talks streaming woes, new fans, ahead of Tampa show at Gasparilla Music Festival |url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/interviews/article/21119165/de-la-souls-posdnuos-talks-streaming-woes-new-fans-ahead-of-tampa-show-at-gasparilla-music-festival |website=Creative Loafing: Tampa Bay |language=en}}</ref> In April, Benjy Grinberg, the head of [[Rostrum Records]], said he was attempting to buy Tommy Boy to return the master recordings to De La Soul.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eustice |first1=Kyle |date=April 27, 2020 |title=Rostrum's Benjy Grinberg Joins De La Soul In Fight To Get Masters Back From Tommy Boy |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.55615/title.rostrums-benjy-grinberg-joins-de-la-soul-in-fight-to-get-masters-back-from-tommy-boy |website=HipHopDX}}</ref>

Tommy Boy enlisted the music licensing company [[DMG Clearances]] to secure clearance for the samples, but talks failed with many of the copyright holders, as they were reticent to become involved with the conflicts between De La Soul and Tommy Boy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Setaro |first=Shawn |date=February 9, 2023 |title=Here's How De La Soul Cleared The Samples For Their Classic Catalog's Streaming Debut |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/de-la-soul-samples-deborah-mannis-gardner-interview.html |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=OkayPlayer |language=en-US}}</ref> On June 4, 2021, [[Reservoir Media]] acquired Tommy Boy for USD$100 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=June 4, 2021 |title=Reservoir Acquires Iconic Tommy Boy Music, Groundbreaking Hip-Hop Label, for $100 Million |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/reservoir-acquires-tommy-boy-1234988666/ |access-date=June 4, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=June 4, 2021 |title=New De La Soul Catalog Owners Say They'll Work With Band to Bring Albums to Streaming Services |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/new-de-la-soul-catalog-owners-say-theyll-work-with-band-to-bring-albums-to-streaming-services/ |access-date=June 4, 2021 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> On August 8, [[Talib Kweli]] announced that De La Soul had gained ownership of their music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Callas |first=Brad |title=Talib Kweli Confirms De La Soul Finally Owns the Rights to Their Masters |url=https://www.complex.com/music/talib-kweli-de-la-soul-own-rights-music |website=Complex}}</ref> In January 2022, DMG Clearances restarted talks with sample copyright owners. It took around a year to license most of the samples; De La Soul [[Interpolation (popular music)|interpolated]] or replayed samples that could not be cleared.<ref name=":0" />

De La Soul's first six albums were released on audio streaming services on March 3, 2023, the 34th anniversary of ''3 Feet High and Rising''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 3, 2023 |title=De La Soul: Classic back catalogue finally available for streaming |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64152051 |access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref> All their Tommy Boy releases are now owned by De La Soul's company A.O.I., LLC, and are licensed to [[Chrysalis Records]], which, like Tommy Boy, is also owned by Reservoir.{{Cn|date=March 2023}}

== Filmography ==
* ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'' as themselves
* ''[[Teen Titans Go!]]'' as themselves

== Discography ==
{{Main|De La Soul discography}}
* ''[[3 Feet High and Rising]]'' (1989)
* ''[[De La Soul Is Dead]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Buhloone Mindstate]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Stakes Is High]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump]]'' (2000)
* ''[[AOI: Bionix]]'' (2001)
* ''[[The Grind Date]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve]]'' [without Maseo] (2012)
* ''[[And the Anonymous Nobody...]]'' (2016)

== Awards and nominations ==
=== Grammy Awards ===
{{awards table}}
!Ref.
|-
| [[32nd Annual Grammy Awards|1990]]
| "[[Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)|Me Myself and I]]"
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance|Best Rap Performance]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|title=De La Soul|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/de-la-soul/7793|website=[[Grammy Awards]]|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[43rd Annual Grammy Awards|2001]]
| "[[Oooh.]]" <small>(featuring [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|title=43rd Annual GRAMMY Awards|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/43rd-annual-grammy-awards|website=[[Grammy Awards]]|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[48th Annual Grammy Awards|2006]]
| rowspan="3"|"[[Feel Good Inc.]]" <small>(with [[Gorillaz]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalhit.com/grammy/48/nominees.shtml|title=48th Annual Grammy® Awards (2006 Grammys) Nominations Coverage|website=DigitalHit|access-date=May 2, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017023736/http://www.digitalhit.com/grammy/48/nominees.shtml|archive-date=October 17, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals|Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Short Form Music Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[59th Annual Grammy Awards|2017]]
|''[[And the Anonymous Nobody...]]''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite magazine|access-date=January 6, 2017|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7597556/grammys-nominees-complete-list-2017|title=Complete List of Nominees for the 2017 Grammys|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206151125/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7597556/grammys-nominees-complete-list-2017|archive-date=December 6, 2016}}</ref>
{{end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite magazine|title=De La Soul|magazine=Music Technology|page=64|date=March 1992|volume=6|issue=4|issn=0957-6606|oclc=24835173}}
*''De La Soul'' by Dave Heaton. J-Card Press. {{ISBN|979-8-9891947-2-8}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|De La Soul}}
* {{Official|wearedelasoul.com}}
* {{Discogs artist}}

{{De La Soul}}
{{Gorillaz}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|United States}}
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[[Category:Tommy Boy Records artists]]
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[[Category:Musical groups from Long Island]]
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