DE LA SOUL 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Here's a timely re-issue that reminds us all just how quickly time flies. Already alternative rap OGs by the time this first saw the light of day back in 2004, De La Soul brought together the hip-hop elite to collaborate on their seventh studio album. Featuring cameos and production from the likes of J Dilla, Madlib, 9th Wonder, Supa Dave West, and MF Doom, the LP was met with critical acclaim when released and continues to stand up nearly 20 years later. Nostalgic yet forward-thinking, the well-formed album includes plenty of high points. 'Shopping Bags' offers a cautionary tale flow over dusty beats with a mightily hooky chorus, 'Rock Co.Kane Flow' demonstrates the group's ability to evolve with the changing times, while the feel-good flex of the title track is a standout, hands-in-the-air classic.

Review: The Grind Date is now two years strong so gets a customary Anniversary Edition that invites us to revel in the album's enduring impact on hip-hop. It features the iconic American trio's signature eclectic style which is of course to blend thought-provoking lyrics with laid-back beats. With standout tracks like 'Shopping Bags (She Got from You)' and the title cut, De La Soul's ability to remain relevant while experimenting with fresh sounds is very much laid bare. This edition includes remastered audio but with a sympathetic edge that retains the nicely undercooked sound of the oringal.

Review: This De La Soul's classic is a coveted release among hardcore hip-hop fans. Originally issued in 1994 as a promotional item to top DJs, it's considered the holy grail of their catalogue. The album includes four tracks from Buhloone Mindstate and two exclusive tracks: 'sh.Fe.Mc's' featuring A Tribe Called Quest and 'Stix & Stonz' featuring The Fearless Four, Grandmaster Caz and Prince Whipper Whip. With only 500 copies pressed at the time, this legendary gem is now being reissued in a limited edition that is sure to fly off the shelves.

Review: This long-lost De La Soul gem, originally a promo-only release from 1994, finally sees the light of day. Featuring four tracks from their acclaimed Buhloone Mindstate album, this 12" also boasts two exclusive cuts showcasing De La Soul's collaborative spirit. 'sh.Fe.Mc's' sees them trading verses with fellow Native Tongues posse members A Tribe Called Quest, while 'Stix & Stonz' unites them with hip-hop pioneers Grandmaster Caz, Tito of the Fearless Four and Prince Whipper Whip. The real magic of this release lies in its ability to transport listeners back to the golden age of alternative hip-hop, where Tracks like 'iN tHe WoOds' and 'i aM I bE' showcase the group's signature blend of jazz-infused beats, playful lyricism and socially conscious themes. The presence of Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis adds a layer of soulful funk, further enriching the sonic tapestry. This limited edition release offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in De La Soul's career, where their adventurous spirit and collaborative nature were in full effect.

Review: It was big news this year when hip-hop legends De La Soul finally made all of their music available to stream on digital platforms. That move was backed up by them also dropping a load of reissues of their finest albums and now we have, for Record Store Day/Back Friday, this special coloured vinyl boxset featuring their most iconic LP, 3 Feet High and Rising, on seven individual 7"s, making them perfect for DJ deployment. The box set also includes a funky slipmat making this a perfect Christmas gift for the hip-hop head in your life.

Review: The wealth of De La Soul reissues coming out right now is only good news - as is the fact the iconic US hip-hop outfit's music is finally available on streaming services. Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump was the flower power band's fifth studio album and was packed with iconic guests from Redman to Busta Rhymes, Chaka Khan to Mike D and Ad Rock from Beastie Boys. One of the cuts, 'Oooh' got the group a Source Award nomination while the album itself was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group. It should have won, if you ask us.

Review: AOI: Bionic was De La Soul's six full length album and came back in December 2001. At that point they were already legends in the game who had pioneered their own positive lyrical style and upbeat rhythms and this one kept up their momentum. Lead single 'Baby Phat' paid tribute to larger women, then 'Held Down' had an introspective style that muse don religion and fatherhood. The album is littered with skits from a Reverend Do Good character who tells various tales that adds extra depth to the tunes.

Review: De La Soul have been ever present in the hip-hop scene for some 40-odd years. They redefined the genre early on with their positive messaging and flower power energy, and have always managed to stay fresh ever since without ever jumping on the sonic bandwagon of the day. They pulled that trick off once more with Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump which fuses r&b and pop with their usual hip-hop sounds, all finished with a nice and authentic raw edge. The guest are high-grade, too, with Redman, Xzibit, Busta Rhymes, Mike D and Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys, Freddie Foxxx and Chaka Khan amongst them.

Review: There is a wealth of De La Soul music swirling about right now - much of it has been added to digital streaming sites for the first time and just as much is being reissued and repressed on vinyl from their full-length albums to some of their standout single. And few tunes the American hip-hop group put out are as great as this one - 'The Magic Number' is their signature hit, a happy mix of flower-power verses, colourful rhythms and captivating hip hop grooves laden with funk. An essential jam to own on this tidy 7", backed with an instrumental.

Review: It's hard to think of any other act whose music being added to digital streaming sites would make as many headlines as De La Soul. It has been followed up with a big reissue project that's brought all their many great albums - they made more than just that one iconic one, you know - back to print. Stakes Is High brought the same high levels of wordplay, great beats and overall narrative as any of the band's albums, and all at a time when hip-hop's initial popularity began to wane. Fact fans, take note - Mos Def guested on one tune 'Big Brother Beat' and Common on 'The Bizness' way before anyone knew who either of them was.

Review: Quickly becoming one of the most revered, game-changing groups in hip-hop, De La Soul's penchant for jazz-infused productions and a playful approach to lyricism granted them an instant place amongst the hip-hop greats. Their classic 1991 album, originally released on Tommy Boy, marked a much-awaited return on UK label Chrysalis. Deftly weaving together spoken-word storytelling, witty skits, and innovative sampling, there's a reason why this album is lauded as a keyplayer in the evolution of jazz rap and alternative hip hop genres. Featuring certified classics from the celebrated De La Soul catalogue such as 'A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays,' 'Ring, Ring, Ring (Ha Ha Hey)' and 'Keepin' the Faith', this is a must have for any fans of the 90s East Coast scene.

Review: Legendary US hip hop outfit De La Soul will always be most well known for their Three Feet High and Rising album but they penned plenty of others that are just as good. De La Soul Is Dead was the follow-up LP to that one and it saw them again work with Prince Paul on production duties. The daisy age themes of their debut remain but with more skilled rhyming flows. The record has plenty of standouts such as 'A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday Night', 'Keepin the Faith' and 'Ring Ring Ring' which set a new standard for the next generation.

Review: De La Soul is never far away from the conversation about great music but as of late, they have been back in the headlines more than ever as their music finally got added to digital streaming sites. Buhloone Mindstate is a lesser-known but just as good album as the most famous Three Feet High and Rising and was a critical success at the time. The lead single has samples of Michael Jackson's 'I Can't Help It' and Smokey Robinson's 'Quiet Storm', there is a collab with Biz Markie on 'Stone Age' and MC Shortie No Mas appears on many tracks including the particularly standout 'In The Woods'.

Review: The debut album from De La Soul (Trugoy, Maseo and Posdunos) gets another reissue here, pretty much ensuring this longstanding Long Island hip-hop trio never stay out of the limelight. Renowned for its uniquely positive spin on hip-hop amid a harsher world of dark, hardball gangster rap, classics such as 'Me, Myself And I' are known the world over, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a soul who doesn't have so much as an inkling as to how it sounds. While they were labelled as 'hippies' at the time, they've since gone on to influence many hip-hop artists internationally.

Review: Chief among the multiple formats of De LA Soul's debut album is this lovely orange cassette edition. Often regarded as the inception of late 80s/early 90s 'alternative rap', the trio incited said era thanks to their declaration of the 'D.A.I.S.Y. Age' (da inner sound, y'all), consciously choosing a flowery, positive hip-hop sound, accessible to everyone. Trugoy, Maseo and Posdunos offer distinct personalities across the project, suggesting alternative ways in which to stay true to one's roots while keeping on the right path.

Review: It's been a long time between drinks for "daisy age" hip-hop pioneers De La Soul. While they've remained a familiar presence on the live circuit, And The Anonymous Nobody - their ninth album - is their first studio set for a decade. Predictably, it's rather good. It's built around warm, sometimes lushly orchestrated grooves created by session musicians, rather than hand-picked samples, and as a result feels loose and groovy, with their trademark raps perfectly fitting the head-nodding, life-affirming backing tracks. It's packed with big name cameos, too, with Jill Scott, David Byrne, Damon Albarn, Snoop Dogg, Estelle, Pete Rock and Usher, amongst others, all doing their bit to lend a hand.