DE LA SOUL.

De La Soul makes hip hop sound like an open collection of ideas. Samples, humor, playful vocals, and unexpected musical detours form a world where a beat can both dance and tell a story.

Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo find space between the lines for character and rhythmic surprises. Jazz, soul, and funk remain audible beneath the surface. Try following just the bass or a recurring sample; the different rapping styles stand out even more strongly.

A LP by De La Soul is full of musical detours that lead back to the groove. Voices react to each other, samples take on a new role, and humor can stand alongside a serious observation. As a result, the tracks do not tell a story solely through the lyrics. Even a brief transition or an oddly placed sound can add something to the world of the record.

Listen to a full side and let the interludes do their work. What seems like a small fragment in itself can suddenly define the cohesion between two songs. The bass and drums hold the momentum, while the vocals choose their own paths. It is precisely this combination that makes their hip-hop suitable for repeated playing: with every listen, a different detail can emerge.

Discover the releases of De La Soul at SJELF: Cabin In the Sky, The Grind Date and Stakes is High. View the available vinyl edition per record.

The musical background runs through hip-hop and jazz. Explore the genre stories and listen to the different timbres.

Also listen to A Tribe Called Quest and Pharcyde. The records below provide five related listening tips.