Hearing the sad news that David Jolicoeur (the fantastic De La Soul MC known as both Trugoy the Dove & Plug 2) had passed, I got caught up in reflecting on the group’s incredible 1991 album De La Soul Is Dead.
Like a ton of suburban kids bred on rock radio and going through their teenage years in the ‘80s, there was so much that was strikingly attractive about hip-hop. I found myself instantly hooked by the groundbreaking albums of RUN-DMC, the ferocious militant stance of Public Enemy, the streetwise hustle of Ice-T & NWA, and the comic joy of Beastie Boys.
As I consumed everything I could get my hands on and became more deeply connected, I took real pride in knowing these bands and artists as well as I did the rock, punk & alternative music that I also loved. Additionally, the samples used in rap totally served as the gateway drug to a whole new level of exploration of funk & soul artists that I had only known of in a fringe way previously. I absolutely credit the love I feel for the music of artists like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, George Clinton, & Curtis Mayfield with those rap albums I was devouring.
Along with this deeper discovery came the ability to more fully dissect what I was listening to. Not all hip-hop albums were created equally. And when considering this, I began to especially appreciate those collections that stood above the crowd. One such album was De La Soul’s sophomore effort, De La Soul Is Dead.
The chemistry of the group is undeniable, but there is so much more at work here than just winning charisma and a well-presented package. The loose umbrella concept, the humor, the great sound, and the inventiveness of how it all came together was just something to behold.
I had equally been just previously won-over by the Beastie Boys’ masterpiece collage Paul’s Boutique - but to be honest, that album took a bit longer to grow on me in earning the incredibly high ranking it now holds in my mind. De La Soul Is Dead was an immediate reaction. From the first listen I was absolutely transfixed and, best of all, like Paul’s Boutique, repeat listens only improved the experience.
There is just so much to unravel.
The ‘read-along-next-slide’ beep that connected the skits instantly connected to any kid who was in elementary school in the 70s. And the skits themselves?? They were the perfect glue to really make the collection feel like a complete collection - and funny as well (I still call a few friends ‘hamster penis’ every now & then). The inclusion of the skits can’t be overstated as a conceptual milestone in rap. De La wasn’t the first to feature something on an album more than just tracks, but the through-line created on this album would be picked-up and used as almost a regular inclusion on rap albums moving forward. Hard to imagine The Chronic, Doggystyle or pretty much every Eminem album without them.
But the real bullseye are the tracks. “Oodles of O’s” starts things so strongly that there really is no turning back. The fact is, despite how intimate I am so with this album, it would be hard for me to criticize a single inclusion. Everything works and the high points are many. “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday”, “My Brother’s A Basehead”, “Let, Let Me In”, “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)”, & “Keepin’ The Faith” are, simply put, some of the finest constructed rap tracks ever assembled.
Another similarity to Paul’s Boutique is the mile-a-minute use of perfectly fitted samples - another piece that spoke to me as the band folded-in plenty of rock and pop (everything from Aerosmith to the Grease soundtrack) along with classic funk & soul records. The collection is a true tapestry and getting to know the layers makes repeated listens worth it even many times over.
CONCLUSION: De La Soul Is Dead is a masterpiece. And not just within the genre of hip-hop, but a true must-listen for any music fan that doesn’t want to live in a silo. This album gets a huge Thumbs Up from me and easily earns a Grade of an extremely high A.
NOTE: The good news is that De La Soul’s catalog - long held-up because of sampling rights & lawsuits - is finally being released to all major streaming services. Their fantastic debut, 3 Feet High & Rising, is already out and De La Soul Is Dead will follow soon. If you don’t already own it, do yourself a big favor and make sure to check it out as soon as it does.
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