On this date in 1993, De La Soul dropped their third full-length studio album, Buhloone Mindstate.
The legendary Long Island Hip Hop trio known as De La Soul showed and proved that the third time was the charm when they released their Buhloone Mindstate album two years after their oxymoronic De La Soul Is Dead LP. Marketed and promoted by Tommy Boy Records for DSL’s third time around, Buhloone Mindstate flew pretty much under the radar but still managed to make 10th on comedian Chris Rock’s Top 25 hip-hop albums of all time as published by Rolling Stone magazine.
The most familiar single would be “Breakadawn,” which features the unforgettable samples from Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It” and Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm.” Even the late great Guru from Gangstarr appeared on “Patti Dooke,” making this project one of the most well-rounded LPs from the three Plugs.
Salute to Trugoy, Mace, and Posdnous for this classic project!
Today, legendary hip-hop pioneers De La Soul mark a significant milestone, commemorating the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Buhloone Mindstate with a Digital Deluxe edition. Originally released on September 21, 1993, this seminal work has left an indelible mark on the music industry and continues to inspire artists and fans worldwide.
Available everywhere today, the Digital Deluxe edition of Buhloone Mindstate features three exclusive bonus tracks: “Lovely How I Let My Mind Float,” “My Mindstate,” and “Sh.Fe.MCs.” Additionally, a mesmerizing lyric video for “Lovely How I Let My Mind Float” is now live, offering fans a unique visual experience alongside the captivating music. Watch the video here.
Exclusive merchandise will also be available for purchase on the official De La Soul website, wearedelasoul.com. To mark the anniversary celebration, the first 30 customers to visit the website at 9:21 AM EST on September 21st will have the opportunity to acquire select merchandise for just $0.30.
Today also marks the birthday of Dave, the beloved member of De La Soul who passed away in February. Though bittersweet, this special release reflects his enduring legacy and the ongoing impact of De La Soul’s music, which continues to resonate with fans across generations around the world.
Just months before Hip-hop’s 50th commemoration, De La Soul shared that their entire catalog would finally be available on streaming platforms for the first time. As one of rap music’s most impactful trios, fans jump for joy knowing that their years-long battle with former label Tommy Boy Records had finally ended. Unfortunately, beloved member Trugoy died before it could happen.
Now that their critically acclaimed bodies of work are available for all to enjoy, Maseo and Posdnuos addressed their fight to gain control of their catalog. The group discussed their lengthy legal pursuit in the teaser clip for their upcoming appearance on People’s Party with Talib Kweli.
“I’m going to be very candid and very real; it was like freeing the slaves but adding vagrancy laws,” said Maseo. Vagrancy laws were enacted to essentially make it a crime for an individual to loiter. For decades, vagrancy laws have been criticized as an attack on unhoused people.
With his statement, Maseo seemingly touches on the rumors that the group almost were given their rights to the past works but were told they wouldn’t be allowed to monetize it any further. This was at the root of online speculation after negotiations between parties were shut down in 2019.
Maseo continued, “[The deal] was almost like giving me a house that I couldn’t do nothing with… the wordplay in the contracts. I have a house I can live in, but I can’t sell it. I can’t control nothing [in it], but I can live inside of it. That just wasn’t going to work for me or my crew. It was another form of slavery, in my opinion.”
Maseo’s wife, Tina, played a critical role in his desire to push forward. “The more we continued to talk about it [I realized] we were talking about a new deal over old music and [look at] the age we’re at, at the same time… What future opportunity are we really talking about?.. The more I assessed this thing, we’re in a business where we are worth more dead than alive. So, it was really about negotiating that deal based on death and life. Knowing the realities of the business that we are in,” proclaimed Maseo.
He closed by saying, “It was a tough decision to make, but God was on our side. My wife was on my side, and it worked out for the best. It wasn’t even Tommy Boy that made it right. It was the new owners of the catalog that did. Tommy Boy… Tom Silverman would’ve never made it right.”
De La Soul is thrilled to announce the release of the highly anticipated physical albums Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump and AOI: Bionix, accompanied by additional exclusive merchandise available today on the band’s website.
The albums of the “Art Official Intelligence” or AOI series were landmark releases in De La Soul’s musical journey, garnering acclaim for their experimental compositions and thought-provoking lyrics. With the unveiling of the final two albums from this illustrious series, De La Soul once again proves why they remain one of the most influential and enduring forces in hip-hop.
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump, originally released on August 8, 2000, features an impressive lineup of guests, including Redman, Tash, J-Ro of Tha Liks, Xzibit, Busta Rhymes, Mike D and Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys, Busy Bee, Freddie Foxxx, and Chaka Khan. The album marked De La Soul’s triumphant return to the charts with hit singles “Oooh” and “All Good?”. “Oooh” received a nomination for a Source Award, as well as a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
AOI: Bionix, De La Soul’s sixth full-length album, which was originally released on December 4, 2001, features a dynamic mix of collaborations, including “Baby Phat” with Yummy Bingham and Devin the Dude, and “Held Down” with Cee-Lo, where Posdnuos delves into introspective themes like fatherhood, religion, and fame. Notably, the album also includes “What We Do (For Love)” featuring Slick Rick, a humorous song about puberty and sexual discovery. The album’s songs are also interspersed with skits with Reverend Do Good that provide additional social commentary and act as intros and outros. Notably, the final Reverend Do Good skit features an intriguing reference to Ghost Weed, tying back to De La Soul’s previous album, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump. The song “Peer Pressure,” with a captivating intro and outro by J Dilla, celebrates the marijuana-themed track produced by the legendary artist.
De La Soul recently released the fan favorite “Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)” remix on all streaming platforms. Originally released as a 12” remix in 1989, was produced by Prince Paul and features A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and Jungle Brothers to all streaming partners.
Diamond D is celebrating life as well as hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in his new video for “Flying High,” which boasts a guest feature from De La Soul’s Posdnuos and cameos from a slew of hip-hop legends.
The video is directed by Tommy Nova, iRossta, Adrian Ferguson and Diamond D, who also produced the soulful instrumental for the track. The visuals center on the upbeat, triumphant vibes of “Flying High,” which the rapper/producer says “the song is about rising above negativity while enjoying life to the fullest.” Diamond D embraces that message here by cruising around in the 7, enjoying some fine dining with Scram Jones, Buckwild and Statik Selektah to popping bottles and good vibes with rap royalty like Pos, Maseo. N.O.R.E., DJ EFN and Stacy Epps.
But “Flying High” is more than just an example of how to get your mind right. Diamond D and Pos both rap their asses off, too, and deliver a string of slick quotables as Diamond D spits “Shootin dice on the beechcraft, Meticulous over each draft / Everything is symmetric, The pen? The beats? Dyslexic / Gigahertz flow all electric, 28 grams on the metric.”
Check out the visuals and head over to support The Rear View, available now on Dymond Mine Records / EMPIRE Distribution. In addition to Posdnuos, the 14-track LP includes guest appearances by Chris Rock, Fat Joe, Westside Gunn, DJ Cash Money, Stacy Epps, Ashtin Martin and more, with production supplied by himself along with Nottz, Focus, D.R.U.G.S. Beats, Mr.Brady and Len Funk.
During a recent interview with Audible, Yasiin Bey discussed his early career. The interview was part of a series of interviews in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop. Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, revealed that he struggled to find other artists that were doing what he was looking to do at the time. He shares that he was able to connect his own art to De La Soul’s, which he explained wasn’t common. The artist is currently making his way around the United States with Erykah Baduon her “Unfollow Me” tour.
“Watching the world just be on fire, you know,” Yasiin Bey explains, “Or at least, my community, with the crime and the drugs.” He continues, “And there was a very indifferent attitude towards what was happening to us, too — there was no telethons for crack babies. So I was like, this popular cultural narrative isn’t working for anybody, you know?”
“So much got lost getting the game that it wasn’t working. So I started writing, just about what I was seeing, and about what I felt. And my brother, God bless him […] we used to watch TV. Video Music Box,” Yasiin Bey continues, “And Common‘s ‘Easy’ came on from Can I Borrow A Dollar? And my brother was like, ‘We can do this!’ So he just started making connects with local talent shows. And a year or two later, lo and behold, I got the deal.”
“As a teenager, though, it was a lot for me,” the artist goes on, “Because at the time I was listening to just as much Miles Davis as I was Rakim and De La Soul. I was even interested in Jimi Hendrix, and Bad Brains, and all that shit. […] But thank God for De La Soul. Because, apart from them […] I just had a different expression, something different that I wanted to see that I wasn’t seeing.”
Marking its 32nd anniversary, De La Soul is Dead, the sophomore album by the legendary Hip Hop act De La Soul, remains as innovative as when it first dropped in 1991. Comprised of members Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo, De La Soul emerged from Amityville, Long Island, swiftly establishing themselves as a creative force in the burgeoning Hip Hop scene.
De La Soul is Dead diverged from the psychedelic optimism of their debut 3 Feet High and Rising. Instead, it presented a darker, more introspective view of the culture. Motivated by a desire to challenge their ‘Hip Hop hippie’ image, the group also aimed to showcase their depth. The album’s title further declared their determination to break free from expectations. The project is filled with skits, clever rhymes, and an eclectic mix of samples, proving De La Soul’s originality. Their experimentation with Jazz, Soul, and Rock, alongside their thought-provoking lyrics, set them apart in a genre increasingly dominated by Gangsta Rap.
Critical Reception
One standout track, “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey),” humorously addresses the pressure from unknown artists seeking record deals. The song reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, testifying to the album’s international appeal. De La Soul is Dead didn’t match its predecessor’s chart-topping success, but it peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Gold certification. Moreover, it cemented De La Soul’s reputation as creative trailblazers unafraid to challenge norms and expectations.
Additionally, throughout their career, De La received numerous accolades. In 2006, they won a Grammy for collaborating with Gorillaz on “Feel Good Inc.” They were also nominated for a Grammy in 2016 for their crowd-funded album, And the Anonymous Nobody.
Impact On The Culture
Further, De La Soul’s impact on music culture extends beyond their unique sound. They were also instrumental in forming the Native Tongues Posse, a collective of like-minded Hip Hop artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, and Jungle Brothers, who shared an interest in Afrocentric lyrics and eclectic sampling. Critics and the public have also often lauded De La Soul is Dead for its inventive approach to Hip Hop. The album’s dark humor, innovative sampling, and lyricism were seen as a welcome departure from mainstream Rap.
The loss of David Jude Jolicoeur, better known as Trugoy the Dove, was a profound blow. His untimely death in February 2023 left fans and fellow artists mourning the passing of a creative force and influential figure. He is remembered for his iconic contributions to Hip Hop, and tributes continue to pour in.
Overall, De La Soul is Dead is a testament to De La Soul’s impact on music and culture. Looking back, it’s clear that the album’s influence reaches far beyond its time, much like the group itself. Despite trials and tribulations, De La Soul remains vital to Hip Hop history. They embody a spirit of creativity and originality that continues to resonate.
De La Soul announces the release of their critically acclaimed album, Buhloone Mindstate, today on vinyl, CD, and cassette formats.
Originally released in 1993, Buhloone Mindstate features some of De La Soul’s most popular tracks, including “Breakadawn,” “Ego Trippin’ (Part Two),” and “I Am I Be.” The fan-favorite album saw the band evolve into a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically, while still staying true to their witty lyrics and innovative use of sampling.
The physical release of Buhloone Mindstate comes on the heels of De La Soul’s back catalog finally available on all streaming platforms and digital retailers on March 3. The group’s extensive catalog includes some of the most influential and groundbreaking albums in hip-hop history.
Following their appearance with The Gorillaz at Coachella, De La Soul will also be hitting the road on select dates for LL Cool J’s F.O.R.C.E. tour this summer, plus performing at the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa on July 28, Rock The Bells in New York on August 5, and select European festivals. The group will also be joining the NY State of Mind Tour with Wu-Tang Clan and Nas throughout the fall.
Fans of De La Soul can get their hands on the physical formats of Buhloone Mindstate at www.wearedelasoul.com, select record stores, and online retailers.
