3 Feet High and Rising

Not my cup o’ tea, though it’s funny and groovy in spots.

Didn’t like

Faz rap parecer algo extremamente divertido

Absolute classic in hip hop and music. What De La has done with this record is left a profound impact on music for generations. Funky, fun, and inspiring. It never gets old.

Great precursor to 90s hip hop, and it’s easy to see the influence it had on the genre overall. A few tracks are dated, a few others age poorly as simply juvenile (De La Orgee, I’m looking at you), but an overall stellar statement.

A nostalgic feel good classic

Musically so cool, but some lyrics are a little silly, while others are NSFW or kids. Seems like a snapshot of a certain time.

Did enjoy some songs, but in general this is not my kind of music.

I had fun listening to this! I kind of wish they had leaned a little further into the silly, corny side of their sound. This feels a little like some deeply dorky guys who want you to think their cool but are ready to hastily play it off as ironic if you don’t.

This is just fun. 4.5/5

Positive hip hop, vocally very good. I liked it very much when it came out.

I really love this album, it’s fantastic and full of references that keep the project interesting. De La Soul has a unique sound that set them apart from the rest. The intro is a great introduction to what the album will bring as well as a great introduction to the group themselves. This has a star taken off solely for the track “De La Orgee”. The fuck was that. A song would have an incredibly hard time annoying me as much as that one did. Fucking hell I hate that song. Rest of the album was perfection. 4/5

7.5/10

Yeah, so... this is not really my type of music and I didn't really enjoy it, but I am sure there are people out there who listen to that kind of music, so as long as they enjoy it - party time woo

Really like it

I dig it. De La Soul has continued to have an impressive musical career and obviously had much influence on the hip hop revolution of the 80s and 90s.

NICE! De La Soul! kende hun hits wel al, en heb de albums eens geluisterd toen ze eindelijk op Spotify kwamen recent en ik vind dit heel nice. Het is de tegenhangner van de gangsterrap. Dit is poppy, vrolijke hiphop! Het gaat vrijwel alle kanten op qua teksten, maar de echte sterren zijn voor mij de beats. Die zijn vrolijk en laid back. Flowerpower hiphop at its best! Nadeel: De La Orgee, waaaaaaarooooom hebben zoveel old school hiphop albums sex interludes, zelfde met de outro van Buddy. Het is zó onnodig en zorgt er alleen maar voor ongemak. Daarom krijgt het album van mij geen 5 sterren, ook vind ik het net te lang en is niet alles even sterk. Daarbuiten? Dikverdiende 4 sterren, dit album en deze artiest is gewoon pure FUN. FAVO: The Magic Number, Ghetto Thang, Eye Know, Buddy, Me Myself and I

Enjoyed it. The lyrics felt less important than the music itself. I'd listen again

It's not my thing

Classic. Rap without all the play acting. A thick syrup of pure rhythm, melody and rhyme.

Like a late evening of joking with your friends, chatting about life and then making up the most absurd stories you can think off. Really love it, although it's a little long for me. Fav Tracks: Jenifa Taught Me, Ghetto Thang, Eye Know, Me, Myself and I

i don’t have a lot to say about this album - honestly, it’s just different to most albums you’ll hear in in hip hop. its innovative use of samples creates a playful and eclectic sound, transporting you to a different world and is like a breath of fresh air and full of positivity and creativity, and for that it gets an 8/10 for me. full review on ig @musicwithnessa

2/5

Classic forever.

Classic.

Really fun and bright hip hop album. The samples are great. It feels like the soundtrack to a Spike Lee film. It took a bit of a dive after the orgey skit which clashes with the vibe of the rest of the album.

I love old school shit like this!!!!! personal top3 in no order: Ghetto Thang Buddy D.A.I.S.Y. AGE

Manche coole Songs. Ist aber allgemein nicht so mein Geschmack. 4.9/10

The gueto. I Like that one

Un 3 porque Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge) me ha hecho gracia. Si no ...

300-odd albums in and I think I've finally found hip-hop that I can unequivocally say I like. There's a upbeat style and a jazzy, hippy vibe which makes the record far more feel-good than most of the genre's offerings. Plus I think it helps that in every video these guys look like they've walked off the set of Saved By The Bell Okay, I can do without the skits. And I'm not a fan of all the weird 'half-songs' that are more than a quick bit but also clearly not a full effort (Can U Keep a Secret, Take it Off, De La Orgee etc.) But there's a good half dozen or so solid tracks on this! 3.5/5

I couldn’t have cared less, tbh.

Yeah, ok.

Solid 4 stars.

Nostalgic and fun, upbeat and bright

Obviously a classic, easy 5

Good shit! Som andre old school hiphop album kan de drite i skits, men likte dem godt! ikke hørt før

Not awesome hip hop.

Tread wata

Pues fue una grata sorpresa la verdad, so far is pretty good😌👍🏻

I liked it, I knew "The Magic Number" but nothing else. Spoken word inserts seem to be quite new for this album and inspired other things I like, thinking like the Alt-J or Glass Animals spoken word inserts/transitionals.

meh

The first lets say 3/4 of the album are actually pretty good (never listened to a hip-hop album before), i like the concept of a quiz show. But after "De la orgee" it gets wierd, dont really like the last part but anyway.

It is very Energizing!

The three F’s, fun, funny, and funky. This album has it all. The only problem is that it does drag a little towards the end, but that’s just an issue with albums from the late 80’s in general. I’m not sure whether or not to drop a point for that, because this is some seriously good shit otherwise, like a 4.5. Screw it

Classic.

Classic.

Great fun rap album. Love these unique takes on a genre.

Knew this album before.

First time listening to De La Soul - couldn't imagine how amazing it must have been hearing something so creative come out in 1989.

So many songs! Felt like 6-8 not 24. Fun background party music. Nothing grabbed me.

This is one of the first HipHop albums I remember listening to and really liking when I was young. It's best tracks like The Magic Number, Change in Speak, or Me Myself and I are just really, really strong. There are also some straight up odd tracks like Can U Keep a Secret where it is clearly early days of the genre and they are seeing what sticks and I kinda love that energy. It's also a long album with 23 tracks rolling over an hour of listen time, but some of the tracks just didn't hold up.

Wow... that was unlike any hip hop album I have ever heard. It almost felt conversational at times or as if three dudes were just sitting on a couch and experimenting with harmonising and chanting mantras at one another about the most random, weird shit. Strangely upbeat, full of sounds and samples not often aligned with hip hop in the modern era. Never boring, occasionally bemusing, but consistently entertaining.

Great vibe, fun listen. A little long and while I appreciate the game show theme it will hurt it’s replayability.

HELL YEAH THIS SHI FIRE

Lifted up by standout tracks

Can hear the roots of hip hop.

Not my jam.

Solid

It's rap, so...well, you know. And yet there are some actual melodies worth hearing here. So maybe one more star.

Fun and interesting but not quite my thing.

Not a hip-hop fan. I can see the appeal in this album but it's just not for me.

Pretty funky!

Pretty fun! Don’t think I want to sit through it over and over again. The skits were cool

Love, love, love this album. It's fun, cheerful and extremely intellectual. One of my favorites!!!

I enjoy hip hop in small doses. I like the wit of the lyrics, the clever arrangements of the riffs. Not my goto for listening. But good fun.

Very classic album. Pivotal in the genre and paved the way for so, so many after it. New and rush and dynamic even to this day.

I was so delighted when I saw this one come up. I haven't listened to it in decades. A friend made me a cassette dub back then and I would listen to it traveling around Manhattan. Brought me right back to those days when we would stay up recording our own raps. There's so much joy and playfulness here. I'm diving into the rest of their catalogue after this.

This style of music is not for me but I do understand why it made the list.

Love the 'old school' hip hop.

Something new for me - I liked that the lyrics and beats were a bit silly and that the sound samples were new and original for the time. I probably won’t listen again but am glad I did.

Rap halt… aber gut. Me, myself and I

I don’t normally listen to hip hop/rap. I listened to the whole album while I was working out and working on a DIY project. It wasn’t bad. I liked some of the songs and the beat. Clever lyrics. Not what I expected.

Not my style, not bad not good

Thank goodness De La Soul's catalogue is finally available on streaming so more people can listen, and listen in higher fidelity than whatever YouTube does to audio. I love the Otis Redding flip on "Eye Know", the "Transmitting Live from Mars" interlude, the screaming about Coca Cola on "Do as De La Does", and how this album is a little over an hour and doesn't overstay its welcome.

5/10

Some modern songs some very old school however all generally pleasant and fun. 3.5/5

You know, I’m not usually a big fan of hip hop but this was really good. Like, really good. The flow and the lyricism were impeccable. While I did get fatigued with the album eventually, it was still phenomenal. The beat was solid (if a bit repetitive) throughout the album. Very little negative to say. If I liked hip hop more this may be a 5

What a fun and experimental album. You can really feel the energy of some friends just messing around and seeing where the energy took them. It did drag on a little bit and I think the total run time would benefited if there was a little more diversity in the beats, but for a solid progenitor of hip hop I can't help but enjoy it.

Great record, still holds up. Production amazing, way ahead of its time sonically and lyrically

Three is the magic number.

3 is a magic number but outside of that didnt like it as much as Id hoped

nicht für mich :(

3.5

I really liked Plug Tunin

This is definitely a great album, and a significant watermark in Hip hop. Great sampling, lyrics and flows. It's definitely very influential also. However, it looses points for me due to the skits, particularly the orgy one. They don't add much of anything to the album experience, and the ones that are a bit funny don't stay funny after the first few listens.

nicht mein Stil

This is tough album to rate, imo. But one thing for sure, De La Soul could have used a De la Rocha, as in Zach. Opening track is the best song off the album and a great opener. Took my son to realize this is from Schoolhouse Rock. Thought the music and sound was reasonably enjoying, but after a while, thought a lot of it started to run together. I rememeber Me Myself and I from my college days and is another solid song, but really, there is no oher song I could recall that stood out. Except the very cringeworthy, hope your coworkers don't hear, De La Orgee. What the hell? So different than every other sound and just terrible. Kinda felt a little like listening to the opening of the Fresh Price of Bel Air. Just too many times, though. Like I said, I struggled with this and thought pretty decent at times. At least it wasn't gangsta shit..... Conclusion, it was OK. Just OK. Nothing I would download or revisit. But nothing too bad either. 3

4 Smooth, creative hip hop that’s as catchy as it is fun. It really seems like these guys were having a blast making this album, and that comes through in the listening - there isn’t a dull moment anywhere to be had between the constant stylistic changes and goofy skits. The whole game show setup in particular was something I thought was a really fun idea, though I’m a little disappointed we never heard any of the answers. I mean, how many times DID the Batmobile catch a flat? The songs here are obviously great as well, with The Magic Number probably being far and away my favorite - shoutout to the new Spider-Man movie for including it and Schoolhouse Rock! for inspiring it. I also found myself really enjoying Change In Speak, Jenifa Taught Me, and the Otis Redding-sampling Eye Know, though I do feel like the songs grow to become just a little less interesting (or maybe a touch tiring) the further the album goes on. I can’t help but feel like there’s some fluff in here that they could have cut which would have helped both the overall flow and runtime. If nothing else, it really could have done without the orgy skit. Regardless, though it’s not perfect, I still thought this was a really fun record and one I see myself listening to again in the future. Even though I didn’t love every track, the good vibes are strong, and there were so many crafted little touches here and there that I couldn’t help but appreciate, like the sound of vinyl crackle across the album or any of the amusing, random breakdowns (​​”Hey, look at little Derwin! Look at him go!”). Definitely a standout album from the genre.

Cool concept...

Hip hop trio. Belle découverte. Plus funky que thug comme hip to the hop. Good vibes chill. 4 pour la découverte

creative hip hop

Cool album, definitely to be part of the 1001 even though not my favorite genre.

Rap progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.

Probably would have enjoyed when I was younger but no longer my thing

Not my favorite

Made me dance

I’m trying my best to embrace hip hop more. My brain is so geared to enjoy melody that when music prioritizes rhythm I tend to become bored very quickly. There’s still some fun to be had here. This comes across as a goofy concept album complete with samples from Liberace and random French speakers. I liked some of the tracks. But overall I thought this was just ok. 3/5

At first I thought it wasn’t good but it also wasn’t bad. Then, about half way through the album I started getting pretty annoyed that I was still listening to it. It’s just the same stuff over and over. There’s no substance.

Expected it to be better to be honest

Eine Nummer war gut: Eye Know Sonst zu viel Hip Hop :-)

Cool beans

I was obsessed with this in 1989. In 2023, I think all of the bona fide songs still sound timeless, but all the skits and interstitial stuff have lost their charm and seem like filler. They contribute to the album's personality, but it's too much.

- The album is fresh and fun throughout. - A bit too long. - It's my first De La Soul album. Cool find!

Classic Old School Hip hop with Samples GALORE!!!!

A ton of fun to listen to and oozing with creativity. Glad I listened to this!

I recognise De La Soul from their various contributions towards Gorillaz tracks. I’d argue that the rap is the best part of Feel Good Inc, so I go into this album feeling quite optimistic. Songs I already knew: The Magic Number Favourites: The Magic Number I quite enjoyed this, but I doubt it’s enough to have me coming back for more. The lyrics tended to be a little tongue in cheek and humorous at times, and the flow was great. It’s the funky style of old school rap that I tend to enjoy most, so I can’t fault that. I’m not sure why this didn’t knock my socks off like few other rap albums have, because I don’t feel I can fault much. It just felt fine.

An undeniably impactful on the history and development of hip hop, but not a particularly enjoyable listen. The spoken word style isn't my favorite and falls flat when combined with the often nonsensical lyricism. Also felt the game show framing device had a lot of unrealized potential. Favorite track: This is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime ERA

Good, not great.

It's entertaining. Not something I'll likely come back to, but it's likable.

It was ok

Some super creative stuff on here that makes it well worth listening again. I don't love the skits but I get that they're a product of that era.

Good ole fashioned rap.

Good beats, but the skits were kind of weird and the album was way too long

Det här är ganska skönt. Kommer nog lyssna igen på en del låtar. Dock med tidig rap så tycker jag att den ibland tenderar att vara lite väl basic (gäller även nwa)

Det är ju kul och bra. Sen har man "levlat up" och mognat. Man lyssnar på annan hiphop, och detta blir lite barnsligt i jämförelse. Men många låtar är ändå rätt catchy.

Inte bra

Är man en äkta hiphopskalle är det här ju ett album man "ska" älska. För mig själv som fastnade för hiphop under den gyllene eran på 90-talet så har det dock alltid varit svårt att omfamna 80-talets hiphop (gudarna ska veta att jag har försökt), eftersom den objektivt inte är lika bra. Utvecklingen var verkligen exponentiell under den här tiden och det är stor skillnad på produktioner och beats, men framförallt på texter, flow och "rhyme skills" överlag. Ger albumet en trea för att det ändå är välproducerat och för sin tid var banrytande med mycket bra samplingar som tog steg mot den riktigt bra hip-hopen, men det finns mycket "nytt" som är så mycket bättre. De enda spåren jag verkligen gillar från den här skivan är Eye Know (där för övrigt Steely Dan är samplade) och Buddy.

This was a very funky listen and obviously a pretty influential album. I do like old school hip hop. I'm ashamed to say that this is the first time I have listened to this record and my fav track is Eye Know, but they are all awesome!

This was such a fun album - I really enjoyed it! I enjoy hiphop the most when the artist isn't taking themselves too seriously! Fave track: Buddy

m'eh

It's good but it's not a favorite of mine. In the old school hip hop department I'd rather listen to stuff like A Tribe Called Quest or Pharcyde, which are both more engaging for my taste.

Meh. Uneventful east coast rap.

I can't tell how this formation made its way being surrounded by NWA, Run DMC, Public Enemy and Eric B. & Rakim... Maybe I just don't get it? It's not bad, just not something iconic for me as the others I just named.

What a great fun easy going happy vibe. Faves: The Magic Number and Eye Know

Seemingly effortlessly cool, and all the more astonishing for being their debut! Gotta give them props for making the skits not interrupt the flow of things too badly, too. Fave track - I mean, "The Magic Number", obviously. "Eye Know" is great too...

Ultra fun rap music from a time where creativity in hip-hop was just beginning to flourish

meh, couldn't click with it

Esse álbum faz rap parecer uma coisa muito divertida, literalmente me peguei dançando pela casa e rindo ouvindo esse álbum. Longe da vibe badass que a maioria dos rappers tentam passar.

All the skits makes it a little bloated but it’s such a fun listen

Not as strong overall as I remembered.

Stellar start of the album but the end was a little let down.

very groovy indeed. not high up on my favourite albums but a really fun listen to have in the background

One of my favourite albums. So great. So fun.

Fun, classic, hip hop album. 5/5

Finally! A decent hip-hop album that isn't loaded with the same cringeworthy sexism and tiresome self-promotion common to this genre. Most of the raps on "3 Feet High and Rising" are good, except for one track, "De La Orgee", which may unwittingly speak to De La Soul's lack of stamina ... the song lasts for just over a minute. ;-)

interesting to listen to some founding hip hop

This was pretty good

Loved it - really groovy

Groovy baby

So fun

This was a lovely surprise. I'm not a fan of the genre, but these were GREAT. Thank you again for challenging my musical tastes

thank god for de la getting their masters back. genuine masterpiece of sampling. drums are so crisp, samples are fantastic & the energy is amazing. not to mention the lyrical chops. literally only downside is the skits but they're still kinda funny which is the best you can hope for. best tracks: the magic number, plug tunin, buddy

Joyous music 4.4

One of my favourite albums. It's everything I want from a hip hop record. Great beats, great samples, distinctive flows - most of all it is fun! Hip hop often takes itself waaaaay to seriously. 3ft is the absolute antithesis of all the gangster stuff that was literally getting people killed. It still sounds phenomenal as it approaches it's 35th anniversary. It's feels very organic and analogue which keeps it timeless. It's just such a positive force and I adore it.

Highlights: The Magic Number, Eye Know, Tread Water, Say No Go, In a nutshell: old school sampling meets late 80’s hip hop, but not as you know it. I don’t think anyone had heard anything like this album (maybe Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation…?) at the time. It’s not my thing. I definitely appreciate this album’s importance to music history and I do like the fusion of rap, jazz and sampling. Also, damn you De La Soul for popularising the hip hop skit! (shakes fist at sky) Overall: 6/10

It’s cool

It was pretty fun to listen to. Also live the magic number

very funky and swaggy, not sure about songs 17 and 18 tho haha

Classic

Early 90's hip hop at it's best. I will listen to the album in it's entirety until I die

I knew this album back in the day strictly because of Me, Myself and I. This is the first time I've listened to it all the way through. I enjoyed it. There is a weird fixation with the term "doo doo" .

nice

Generally good fun, not quite as good as I’d hoped when I saw it pop up but yep.

Love. Gentle rap in the early days.

So close to a masterpiece

That orgy track was weird wasn't it

3.5

Really cool album that kept a red thread throughout it. 'My Myself and I' and 'Eye Know' were probably the best songs, and overall it was just a very good session where I felt like all tracks gelled together but still stood out enough at the same time. I am fairly sure Gorillaz (which I am a big fan of) has taken quite a lot of influence from this, as it reminded me of them in the sense that it is quite playful and a bit weird at times, but still rockin. They could have skipped the whole Jeopardy!-like meta they had going as it didn't really seem to end up anywhere. Apart from that, really cool album that I've never heard before, really glad I did! Strong 4!

The samples are really the star of the show on this album. I liked how you could hear the start of some jazzrap in these beats. The rapping while not the most advanced flows is adequate with some fun stories and jokes thrown in. I find it interesting that this was released around the same time as "Straight Outta Compton" which really shows the difference in styles and subject matter in rap at the time. Some of my favourites samples include "Potholes in my lawn", "Jenifa Taught me" and "Eye Know" (where even Otis Redding) which I feel is the best song on the album. Main negative is that it is slightly too long.

Prefacing these notes with my choice to listen with headphones while vacuuming. Noise pollution aside, De La Soul made a truly unique album here. Unique is over used, as is sampling in this De La Soul's album; nevertheless, considering the release date for this album, their skilled mixing balances out any notion(s) of overuse. Although I did not enjoy every track or the progression through members of the tracks individual perspectives, I cannot deny this is one of a kind.

this was so good. so fun. so funny.

I've tried to really get into certain hip hop but there's always something not quite there for me. Standout is Eye Know, obviously these guys are legendary but a lot of it just doesn't quite click for me.

Not a big fan of hardcore rap

C'est okay, ça me plaît, mais ça casse pas 3 pattes a un canard

très chouette hip hop à l'ancienne, je suis pas un fan du style en général mais chouette

It's fun, but feels pretty mild today. The humour isn't particularly funny but it's enjoyable hearing how much fun they had whilst making the album. It doesn't take itself too seriously.

Very disappointed in this one. I thought it was going to be a "smarter" rap album, but the lyrics are pretty crap and amateur. I think he rapped about poo-poo in his pocket and another song had poo-poo in his hand. Screaming about soda flavors (COCA-COLAAAAAAA, SPRIIIIIIIIITE). It was all a slightly edgier Young MC or Fresh Prince. Some of the music is good, but is any of the good stuff original? I heard Schoolhouse Rock, Steely Dan, Otis Redding, Ben E. King, Funkadelic, and those are just the ones I recognized.

This album should come with a hearing damage warning. That cheering at the start near burst my eardrums. Great album

An amazing debut album. Bringing fresh air to a style often too limited. Funny, emotional, exciting. The hip hop album to recommend to someone who don't like hip hop.

Like Tribe caled Quest and run DMC had a baby

De La was always fun

Eh, I’m still digesting it. I liked me myself and I, buddy, eye know, a little bit of soap. Need more time with it.

I had only really ever heard Me Myself and I. While I still think it is the best song on the album the rest is a super eclectic and interesting hip hop mix. Really cool sampling. Skits are weird but I know they became a rap staple. Really enjoyed it and then being prompted to read about its influence on the genre.

9/10 highkey a hiphop fan when i happen to listen to it. Was funny and i love that in music

One of my favourite albums. Awesome

Old school hip hop. Would listen again

Ultra-creative and fresh. Still sounds great.

It was the 90s: every rap album needed an embarrassing “skit” where the artists had loud sex with like four women at once.

This was fucking awesome. Great lyrics and beats and first hip hop album like this I have ever heard. Very cool stuff. 4/5

3-stars are the magic number I'm afraid. I've never been a big fan of De La Soul. This album was okay I guess, but the big hits are just pop songs and there's not really any depth to any of it. The skits have aged particularly badly. I know this was supposed to be ground breaking at the time, but there's other bands who did this better, much better. I did appreciate locating some samples that I knew had been used in hip-hop but I had never quite managed to place before though.

Greetings, girl, and welcome to my world of phrase I'm right up to bat It's a Daisy Age, and you're about to walk top-stage So wipe your Lottos on the mat Hip-hop love this is and don't mind when I quiz your involvements before the sun But clear your court cause this is a one-man sport And who's better for this than Plug One Now you don't have to worry about me squashin' other deals 'Cause they've already been squooshed Freeze a frame about moods the same which we can continue right behind the bush You'll stay with me Eye know this but not because of all my Earthly treasures Or regardless to the fact that I'm Posdnuos But because eye know I love you better My favorite movie is blood sucking freaks just like your mama. 5/5

It had some bops, but I don't think I'll listen to it again.

*couldn’t listen to this one*

One or two decent songs but overall not my thing. It is a cohesive album though

Some bangers, some mid

Jackson Pollock: Listened to this before, but not much so this will be relatively fresh. Magic number is so bouncy and joyful. I don't like jennifer. De La Orgy was uncomfortable at work. What was with these things in the 90s. Oh, just realised this was 1989. I'm instantly more impressed, inspired biggies interlude.. Favs: Least Favs: Jennifer De La Orgy Overall: Still cannot really get into it, though 1989 changed my perspective a little bit. Clearly ahead of time and highly influential. I still just don't love it

:/

pretty fun album 3 is the magic number

This was a ride. Really fun. The Magic Number, Eye Know, and Treading Water are favorite tracks, but unlikely to revisit the album as a whole.

Fun and funny to listen to. Rhymes were also lit !

If there were any time to get yourself familiarized with De La Soul and their discography, it would be now, considering that for the first time ever, their music is fully on streaming. And their debut record proves just how ahead of the curve and eclectic they have always been. This album is one of the first true jazz rap records. And considering it came out in 1989, 90's rap would take many notes from this album. But I have to be completely honest. The beats are consistently solid and well made. That is for sure. But I know the highs that this genre can reach. And to me, this isn't 100% it. I don't think this group would really reach the peak of their blend of abstract and jazz hip-hop instrumentals until the albums that came out after this. My biggest complaint for this would honestly have to be the skits. Now usually I don't mind skits at all. MF DOOM puts a skit in damn near every song, and I love most of them. And De La Soul were some of the first to do skits. But if you cut all of them out, it takes almost half of the album away. This is only 23 tracks long because of those. It sounds like they were having fun while making them, and that's great, but does De La Orgee really need to exist? Reminds me of the "blowjob" song from Ready to Die. Really, the biggest appeal this record has is just how much fun it is. Every song is lively and full of energy. There really isn't a dull moment to be had. One of the best mood boosters, and an album that will have you feeling great about life. Rating: 7/10

Goofy, light, fun, and catchy. Innovative samples, entertaining skits, funky beats, several infective hits... it has a lot to offer. Stark contrast to harder forms of rap at the same time. A little long, and weaker and a bit tiring in the second half, but every track offers new creative ideas. Besides, we got a Q-Tip cameo.

This was sick minus the orgy

Quite nice, cool songs but nothing I would hear everytime

Quality.

This is top class in patches, but it definitely outstays its welcome. It's gentle, witty hip hop, doesn't quite have the bite of some of the other stuff that was around at that sort of time, but it mostly avoids the misogynistic stuff and glorification of violence that most of the that stuff does, so it's aged better. Eye Know and Me Myself and I are classics, The Magic Number would be as well had I not heard it too many times. Plenty of fun ideas, quick wit, and good sampling, but loses its way a bit too often. Could've been a 5/5 35-45 minute album, but the bloat drops it down to a 4.

Some decent beats in here, but some embarrassing rapping. I understand why some people hate on this generation of rap now. Utterly astounded this came out the year after Straight Outta Compton.

not a huge fan of soul

Slaps hard, interesting move to call it an album I have to listen to before I die though

Normally I love Jazz Rap, but I dont know, its not really grabbing me. To me a lot of the songs pretty much just sound the exact same.

I couldn’t help but smile as I was listening to this. Every track has great sampling and some of the better rapping I’ve heard on a Golden Age hip-hop album. The only thing holding it back are the skits (especially THAT one).

Cool album. OG jazz rap. Very scuffed but a cool record underneath. The De La Soul on this album is pretty different to the De La Soul on Feel Good Inc that defined a section of my youth. Still respect the fuck outta this album.

Чуваки читают о доброй дружбе, вкусной еде и твоей маме 6/10

8/10. This was a really good album. I was a bit worried when I saw it was an hour, because I had a couple long slogs to get through this week, but I was sad when this one ended.

Definitely a little disappointed that I didn't like this album more. I've heard a lot of good things about it but nothing really stuck other than the song that sampled Peg and an overall sense of it being decent. 7/10

Fun listen. Song about washing your ass is great.

It’s a 3.5 for me personally but that’s not an option so it gets 4 stars A) for how much I enjoy “The Magic Number” and B) because I can see how influential this album would’ve been

Really liked it because of the mixture of the beats and melodies. Interesting combinations and flow. Thoughtful lyrics mixed with some silliness. Right up my ally.

The Magic Number // Eye Know // Plug Tunin’ // Me, Myself and I

It’s fine mid 90s hip hop none of the tracks are super great,i dont think im Eber going to revisit this album.

Very good - repetitive. Can see how it influenced 90s rap

This album is just funky fun. What an absolute joy.

I can see why this album is on this list. It was very imaginative, humorous and makes up a core part of the classic 90s American hip-hop sound. I do not want to take away from what is clearly an excellent and interesting piece of art. However, I did not personally enjoy this, which did surprise me as I generally regard myself as a fan of the genre and time period. Therefore, it is being rated low according to my personal taste and enjoyment only. Favourite: Buddy Least Favourite: D.A.I.S.Y Age

I hated it and loved it at the same time. Solid 3

I just don't get Hip-Hop. The only track that I recognised was the annoying "The Magic Number".

Reminds me of my youth.

Own it

decent album but not really my taste? felt like rating this a 75 on aoty.org but the average score made me rethink it. i’ll have to relisten to this album, while reading all the lyrics next time. it’s annoying to have to keep genius open in a different tab for that. desperately need spotify to start showing lyrics again!

Not a fan of the sex sounds. Appreciate the randomness but it wasn’t unique enough to me

Quirky and kind of fun. Listenable, but not standout.

I would have never listened to it but it’s so fun :)

4.5

1989. I was a freshman in high school. I don’t remember this album, and as an almost 50 year old, one definitely has to be in the mood for it. I like it, but I’d like it better if I had time to listen in a better setting.

fun, funky, love the interludes

Loved this! Fantastic, funny, clever, entertaining. I can’t believe I hadn’t got round to listening to this before. Fave track: Three is the magic number

Tread Water was awesome. Very fun album overall.

Classic early american rap

wtf are these guys saying

Rap progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.

Un 3 porque Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge) me ha hecho gracia. Si no ...

Fun, interesting exploration of early mixing.

6.5/10 Clever, creative, dry Highlights: - Transmitting Live from Mars - Eye Know - Tread Water - This is a recording

I really like the hip hop beats - derry girls style. Less of a fan of the nonsense rapping - its a vibe but maybe not for an hour straight. I also really like the frame device of the gameshow, but the noises at the end of the orgy track - well lets just say im infinetely glad for headphones

Refreshing throwback to hip hop’s golden age. Fun, witty, crafty, and creative. The interludes didn’t really stand the test of time but not many classic hip hop albums can claim that theirs do.

I wasn’t feeling it at the time. I’ll have to give it another chance.

Have this on vinyl also

Great album, one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time!

Awesome album for it's time, but I can't imagine listening to this again.

This album is a blast. Early hip hop at its best. Quirky sampling, fun lyrics. I loved everything about it.

Solid front to back. Great album.

7/10 fave: me myself and I

Amazing and hilarious

Wish I could give this 3.5, I love this style and era. Really fun album. I’ll give it some more solid time.

Tää on ihan megakova! Jotenkin ei ihan liian pitkä ja pelkkää rautaa! Saakelin väkevää tekstiä ja positiivinen asenne. Biititkään ei oo hullummat. Älykköräppiä! 5/5

Jee onneksi viimein striimattavana tämä. Huisan letkeä ja positiivinen. Harva kasarin rap-levy on näin iskevä edelleen. Sanotaan 4,5/5. Tarvii ehkä pari kuuntelua enemmän, että nostaisin viiteen.

Fresh ja hauska hiphop-pläjäys! Kesti hyvin tunninkin kuunnella.Ei ihme et levy on kestänyt aikaa.

I really enjoy how this album doesn’t take itself too seriously yet is one of the defining records of hip hop. This album is an early progressive rap/art rap album that elevates hip hop despite the album itself being corny and unserious in parts. The sampling on this album is incredible as well.

I understand the cultural relevance of this album and I do enjoy hip hop and rap roots but it is what it is. A raw blueprint for what rap can be. For their time its a masterpiece but to today more spiritual rap like K dot, JID, and J cole, it doesnt hold up

never heard, quite good

sadly did not really like it ):

Hip Hop. 1/5

Tremendous, inventive and fun.

Brani Preferiti: - "The Magic Number" Note: Apprezzo il modo in cui questo album è stato strutturato e pensato, per il tempo si può definire divertente ed innovativo. Infatti non credo che questo album sia brutto o inascoltabile, anzi i cantanti hanno una voce soave... il problema è che questo disco non mi trasmette niente. Rispetto per essere stato il catalizzatore per il cambiamento della scena hip-hop del tempo, ma l'unico motivo per il quale c'è un singolo brano preferito, è perché mi piace il ritornello spesso sentito nei meme.

This was just ok for me. The singles are fun but the rest ranged from meh to obnoxious.

Lots of cool ideas and samples and beats, but tooooooo long. Literally cut it in half and you’d have a top tier album

5/5 great album with kick ass beats. It's a little long. But fantastic.

Samples kings in their best work. Inventive and original album, a brave movement in an era of gangstas and naughty hip hop machos

Good classic album, good songs.

A lot of skits. A lot of samples. Pretty good. A little too childish. 3.5/5

Definitely one of my Favourite hip hop albums

This album really is incredible. Like a living painting. Paul’s production is just relentless. I love it a lot.

Very fun album, solid 80s hip-hop sound while still sounding great 30 years later. Great blueprint for later jazz/psychedelic rap albums even if the lyrics and beats are a bit basic by today's standards. 8/10 Favorites: *The Magic Number *Ghetto Thang *Eye Know *Tread Water *Say No Go *Buddy *Me Myself and I

Smart and fun.

this was excellent, so listenable, chilled out and doesn't sound dated at all

Good

Never listened to too much Hip-Hop but this had me dancing the whole time.

Didn't listen properly, maybe too upbeat for me yesterday.

Een heerlijke brij flauwekul, ik kan er wel om lachen. Plezier en originaliteit, en nauwelijks een onvertogen woord. Klinkt nog altijd fris.

De La Soul wordt vaak in één adem genoemd met A Tribe Called Quest. In een tijd waarin alle rap rauw moest zijn, maakten zij muziek met meer soul en minder lading. Over het getal 3 bijvoorbeeld. Het eerste album van A Tribe Called Quest hebben we eerder gehad. We kunnen de debuutalbums dus nu naast elkaar zetten. En wat valt op? Het album van A Tribe Called Quest heeft echt meer Soul...De La Soul moet het hebben van enkele echte uitschieters, de meest bekende nummers. Die trekken het geheel boven het gemiddelde.

Vrolijke hiphop uit de late 80s / early 90s. Met veel funky beatjes en samples. De hoes straalt al blijheid uit, in contrast met de boze gangsta rap. Deze gasten willen helemaal niet stoer doen, maar willen kinderachtig blijven. En dat maakt ze veel stoerder dan die kinderachtige gangstarappas.

Love the hip hop classic Fridays, and I love this album. Amazing to finally have it on streaming, especially considering the laundry list of samples on here. I’m only docking half a point for De La Orgy which even by 90’s hip hop standards is super rough. RIP Trugoy the Dove (4.5/5)

This was fun and had some solid stuff. Despite not being much of a rap/hip hop fan, i enjoyed it.

Fun storytelling to easy beats

A good hip hop album. Liked a few tracks but probably wouldn’t listen to the full album in one go.

Not quite my thing. But fun

estuvo bueno pero se hace largo. 6.5/10

Not feeling it.

Fun rhythms, cool atmosphere, groovy style, but otherwise underwhelming and outdated. I felt like I was listening to soundtrack from "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", but with no emotional baggage towards the series. Lyrics weren't especially interesting and I was slowly losing interest in the song as it went on. Interesting piece of trivia, but not a band I will remember for their music.

Funky - cheeky and really good fun hip hop. I mean as usual the skits get very old very quick but at least on this record they’re short and don’t get in the way… Except the orgy song. This record basically excludes itself from being played unattended and publicly. Shame as it’s a strong album.

The stitching skills to make all seamless👌👌👌

I knew the era that 3 Feet High and Rising came out, but couldn't say for sure if I had heard a full track from De La Soul. "The Magic Number" resolved that question quickly, but the rest of the album was new to me. "The Magic Number" is a good representation of what De La Soul has to offer (and is my favorite track from the album). De La Soul sounds like a band that wants to have fun with their music. "The Magic Number" sounds a little retro, like they're reaching back towards some School House Rock, while using the latest sounds available to rap and hip-hop of this era. This album is rooted in its time period. For example, "Take it off" is like a fashion time capsule of the late 80s. These combinations of retro, leading edge, and the present moment are mixed together in an effort to play and have some fun. Sadly, in spite of the sense of play on the album there are multiple tracks that I would have to skip on a replay, possibly more if I were to dig down into all of the lyrics. Even though the band is at play, they unfortunately play "dumb boys" too well, with lyrics and content that I wouldn't want my mother or my daughters to have to listen to. I would have to admit that I probably took on the role of "dumb boy" quite often, but at this point I don't want to listen to that approach to lyrics either. There was some fun with a lot of this music, but the leading impression from this album by the end was "gross".

Really good. Lots of interesting beats, smart lyrics, generally upbeat and at least somewhat danceable. Tread water was great.

Good,but samples & daises

pass

Crap

okay but not for me

Noice. Long enough for the novelty to wear off but that's fine. Much better than what I expected from this time period. Magic number/5

Fabulous and important album

Yes but less skits next time please

Pretty mellow East coast vibes. A little punchy at moments, but never really reeled me in. 3.5

Good quality hip hop from the golden age always interesting to hear stuff before gangster rap took over. Goes on a bit though in places and the quiz show skit was a bit odd.

Bonafide classic, outstanding

Like a familiar hug. Such a nice album. I think DeLa Soul are a group who have only improved with age, though. #####

...as it turns out, for this album, 5 is the magic number!

10/10 legendary hip hop album I absolutely adore this

Such great memories associated with this one personally. It’s a landmark album really.

Not for me 2/5

Already listened to this before. It’s quality work but I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it

WOW: This was an experience for sure. I clicked play and after the intro I was met with a fucking banger in three is the magic number. I loved how this album felt like a radio show mixed in with a game show and each song kinda felt like a question. The flow was just lovely. The album cover is so incredible retro, giving vibes of Tracey Beaker. My one stick with the album is it kinda fell of towards the end as well as containing one of the weirdest songs ever, WHY A FUCKING ORGY?!?