3 Feet High and Rising

Hard to find, brilliant

I can't describe a situation where I would prefer this album over any different one... so... that's a point for itself

Very playful old school rap album. The fun is infectious. Found it to be a bit too much skit but I did really like all the music tracks. Eye Know is a masterpiece.

Well I was very exited listening to this and then it went for 40 extra minutes with an orgy (orgee) skit. I like this kind of clean high quality mixing and I can see why people say its the SgtPLHCB of hip hop but Sgt is much more concise.

It's regarded as a classic of the genre, and for good reason. It's quite enjoyable. It's just never been a 5 for me, but a strong 4

I'm finding it very hard to get into this one. All the silly spoken word passages are very offputting

Mocht m niet luisteren op spotify

Shame this wasn't on Spotify. Ran a little long, but seemed inventive and fun for it's time. I only know if them randomly from their 2000s output but I'd venture to say this is the better version of them.

An enjoyable album, but probably not one I could put in heavy rotation.

I love me some hip hop especially 80s and 90s

very silly. 3 is the magic number is a bop. everything else is meh

What a way to start a weekt and continue my lessons on hip hop (Also thank you to the ppl that put this album on YouTube); from the opening skit I was smiling and the vibe never went away. It was a joy through and through, and learning more about how innovating it was and the impact it had on the culture just made it all the more enjoyable. 5/5, recommending it to everyone.

I'm not usually into the humorous, tongue-in-cheek type rap that was popular in the 80's and early 90's, but I think De La Soul did it better than any of the other rap groups that were popular in that time. The skits were funny and the songs are catchy as hell. This is an album that has really stood the test of time. No idea why it isn't on Apple Music.

Its all a bit twee nowadays

It's a shame that this wasn't available on Spotify. It was always one of my favorite hip hop albums. I was able to find it all on YouTube. Great stuff!

Unique pastiche of sounds.

Despite not being a hip-hop head, I have heard a few of these songs before, specifically Magic Number. Aside from that, I only knew De La Soul from their features in Gorillaz (insert laughing guy). It's a bit annoying I can't listen to any of this on spotify aside from the intro skit, meaning I will forget about this in a few weeks. It's a decent album and while I only liked a few songs, I can appreciate the wide range of samples used which makes some interesting music. It's a good experience to listen in full.

Fantastic

This has got to be regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all-time. It was like listening to a musical collage with great lyrics & vocals on top of bits of sampled a songs with creative instrumentation. Everything fit together beautifully by masters of music. Excellent album.

Niet gedraaid, maar ken deze plaat goed dus ik kan 'm blind 4 sterren geven.

Een van de weinige Hip Hop acts die ik altijd erg heb kunnen waarderen. Vrolijk en lekker veel catchy (gejatte) samples - dat is waarschijnlijk ook waarom dit album niet op Spotify staat: ze gingen gewoon muziek maken zonder te betalen voor de rechten van alle gebruikte samples. Toen de plaat een succes werd volgden er vele rechtzaken en hebben ze uiteindelijk geen cent aan de plaat verdiend. Gelukkig heb ik de CD nog 😅

Energiek en vrolijk.

This is the first hip hop album that I truly liked from all of the ones I've had to listen during this challenge. So upbeat and groovy! Pity it's not on Spotify! Some weirder tracks on the second half of the album, but overall really good. Favourite tracks: The Magic Number, Change in Speak, Ghetto Thang, Tread Water, Me Myself and I, Plug Tunin

Really good! 4/5

Nope

Gentle hip hop, nostalgic fun, correctly famous, but not quite as amazing as I remembered.

I remember this getting played a lot when it first came out but never coming around to it - I found them a bit cutesy maybe? I can say that with the cast-of-thousands production we hear on Kendrick & Kanye, this, by comparison is one-dimensional and repetitive, but they were dealing with the tech and budget available at the time.

I'm guessing that this is probably the most accessible and fun hip hop record on the list. Its refreshing that every second word isn't mofo or the N word. Their sample of Steely Dan's Peg on Eye Know was probably one of the most seamless mashups ever and Jenifa taught me is also a ton of fun.

Eh if this was a tribe called quest I wouldn't have been able to tell difference, also link went to "the missing album by the noel reading band and I listened to most of that(which if you care was 3/5)

Early 90s rap.

Some decent beats. Occasional good funk. Samples are fine. Also includes garbage like "take it off." Best of the 4 albums so far.

This one hit me a lot harder than the Run DMC. Saw one review call this album the Sgt Peppers of hip hop and I liked that.

Good rhymes, interesting samples it's alright, dare I say even funky fresh?!

Pretty good. Not the best stuff coming out of the 80s. Honestly, I liked it better back then. Still like it, just not as much.

Smart, inventive, playful, positive, and unlike anything that had gone before. And the sort of album that couldn’t be made now in this age of strict sample clearance, as I am sure the almost-bankrupted De La would attest to. Which is a shame, as the samples are used creatively and with love, but there you go. One of the greatest albums ever made.

This sounded unlike anything else when I first bought it back in 1989. It's the loved up response to a West Coast rap scene that was heading down the gangster route. I knew which direction I wanted to turn to. Hip Hop concept albums should usually be avoided. But the dialogue and in-jokes aren't annoying, They keep the Daisy Age feel flowing thoughout. There's still room for politics with It's a Ghetto Thing. Plus there's also personal politics on Say No Go. This should be a SIX star album.

I liked it

love

Funky grooves

Although the grooves are mostly borrowed, at least they're there. But to drown them out in all that busy-ness and buzziness empties the whole experience. Ultimately, it becomes mind numbing fluff.

It’s fun, but I really expected to like it more. It starts off really fresh and exciting but by the second half it gets a bit samey to my ears, musically at least. I’d like to give it another chance but maybe in smaller chunks rather than slogging through the whole thing again. Cool that it invented the ‘skit’, though I guess that means it’s got a lot to answer for, too…

I didn't get all the way through this one because I kept getting busy but holy shit, this was amazing! Loved the beats, the lyrics, the performances, everything! Super laid back and yet all the flows were so precise. I only knew De La Soul from the "wash yo ass" song on Tony Hawk but now I need to get to know the rest of their discography.

De La Soul consists of Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo, though producer Prince Paul is also worth mentioning as he contributed to the first 3 albums, including this one which is the De La Soul debut. 3 Feet High came out at a time when hip-hop was dominated by the goofy Beastie Boys and the serious Public Enemy. Choosing the carve a new path for themselves, De La Soul decided to make hip-hop that was much more relaxed while also being conscious of the topics they rapped about. Production-wise, Prince Paul would take a psychadelic approach to the samples that would be incorporated into the beats, making for a fresh new sound that complimented the vibe of the 3 MC's. In addition, certain songs such as Buddy (which just so happen to have a Q-Tip feature) would pave the wave for Jazz Rap in the 90's, spearheaded by the excellent A Tribe Called Quest. There is also a sample from I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) by Daryl Hall and John Oates, which is their best song. I could take or leave the skits and some of the other filler songs on here (Can U Keep a Secret and Do As De La Does has a way of killing the album's momentum). De La Soul can also be credited for the first "sex skit" with De La Orgee, which is a musical crime if I've ever heard it. Otherwise, this is an album worthy of praise: stylistically unique and pioneering in the hip-hop genre. Enjoy what you can.

What an amazing album, I did not know what to expect but it was a fabolous experience Amazing flow, sampling on point, annoyig that it is avaliable becouse if more ppl knew about this album today it would be in the goat debate

Obv 5 star

Much more country than I remembered.

Wow, hard to find to stream but what a nice sound and vibe.

Enjoyed the listen. Amusing that they were labelled the hippies of rap.

Like the playfulness of this album quite a bit, but I feel it lacks focus. No single track stood out for me. Not being on Spotify didn't help the experience.

I can appreciate the playfulness and almost cute messaging, but it's a bit all over the place. I absolutely hate the skits and overall it's a bit long, but I can see the appeal.

Daisy age hip-hop. Gone is the macho posturing and in comes a more hippy/happy vibe - don't let that put you off though. Great samples, great flow exist herein. Though big on skits (I'll never get skits) that sound like a game show, they doesn't detract from the overall quality of the album. Best Tracks: The Magic Number; Eye Know; Me Myself and I

44 minutes in 😳

Si tengo que escuchar este disco antes de morirme, prefiero morirme antes.

Yeah this is good

Highlights: Magic Number, Eye Know, Say No Go, Buddy, Description

good shit, It's just inconvenient to listen to (not on spotify) and so it's just annoying to figure out, meaning I didn't listen to it a shit ton, so I don't feel like I can really give it a fair score

Ehh

Classic 4.5

One’s personal high-water mark for hip-hop. The joy and warmth and humor, plus the communal feel of the whole thing. Listening today, one senses there’s perhaps too much filler (or forgettable inserts). This many full-on classics makes this 5. Shame about the lawsuit. And don’t sleep on De La Soul is Dead.

did not listen, not on spotify

Eye know is such a great song, and in general the album is really good ! 4,5/5

I didn't care for this. It's probably good but I was mostly bored. Sorry that's all I have.

Jenifa Taught Me - interesting, thoughtful Ghetto Thang - very catchy Eye Know - whistle is a nice touch, very catchy Tread Water - very catchy Potholes in My Lawn - catchy, nice baseline Say No Go - nice baseline, vocals are angelic, drums go well De La Orgee - damn! Buddy - Q Tip!, mellow Me Myself and I - vibe, synth, harmony I Can Do Anything (Delacratic) - optimistic, vibey Happy, lovey dovey, 80s vibes but introspective, a tribe called quest vibes. more weed tho

eh

Don’t normally listen to much hip-hop but this took me straight back to the 90’s! Lots of fun to listen to

Really fun and really creative. Kind of quirky. Sort of a hip-hop version of Joe's Garage, complete with the weird framing device. I don't usually like hip hop but enjoyed this one. Note it's not on Spotify.

Highlight: Magic Number

Some great tracks, but others felt dated

Outstanding album. Inteligent, creative Hip hop without Ganstas or mumble. 4/5.

Unable to stream this anywhere, unfortunately. Fortunately, I still have them on CD. This was the first rap album that I got to really listen to, when my older brother borrowed the tape from a friend. I had no idea music could be this eclectic, creative, playful and downright WEIRD. De La Soul definitely matured as artists, but they never lost their sense of humor or creativity. One thing that separates them from other hip hop acts is the variety of different flows/use of meter that they use. Every album features songs that use off-kilter rhyme schemes, and it all started here. There's precise iambic/trochaic delivery on Me Myself and I, a weird thesis statement at the beginning of each couplet on D.A.I.S.Y. Age, and delayed/echoing rhyme payoffs in Potholes in my lawn, just to name three.

Can’t find on streaming

83/100: Wow, never heard of this group or album before and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long in my life to find this. What an incredibly fun energy from this album. It sounds like a group of friends just decided to make an album. I can almost picture De La Soul cracking jokes throughout recording sessions. The through line of the game show is both genius and hilarious, and I mean the sheer number of “De La Soul” based plays on words—from “de la clothes” to “de la heaven”—is so damn comical in a great way. Through all the fun, though, this group produced a masterpiece. I saw a YouTube comment (because this album for some reason isn’t on Spotify) calling this album the “Sgt. Pepper’s of rap,” and honestly I see it. This album follows no set of rules—it does what it wants throughout every second of every track. The interlude “Cool Breeze on the Rocks” is a great example of this. This song just sounds like flipping through stations on the radio, but somehow it just works within the context of the album. I wish this album was on Spotify so I can listen to it on repeat for the next week.

Great album with top notch production and awesome beats throughout.

My favorite album so far (besides London calling). My favorite tracks: Potholes in my Lawn Tread water Ghetto thang The magic number Me myself and I Such a fun album!

Syns da va ganske nice

retro. loved it

A very cool album that obviously had a big impact on hip hop going forward, but not one of my all time favorites. I would be interested to know if this was the first use of the word "scrub" in pop music.

In the middle of my second play through now. Stream of consciousness first impressions - Pretty solid album - Obviously sounds a little dated being over 30 years old but holds up - Enjoy most of the songs and not wanting to skip any - Windows down cruising music or background bbq music - Some pretty good use of samples and a lot of them are recognizable, not altered that much I’m leaning 3/5 right now, solid album and can see how it had an impact at the time. Probably not adding to my main rotation

Great stuff - never heard of it before.

Curioso que este disco o lo tienes comprado en físico o nada. No es posible su descarga legal ni tampoco el streaming online. Todo parece que se debe a que los mil y un sample incluidos son imposibles de licenciar. Canciones como The Magic Number o Me myself and I, son suficientes para que este álbum estén en esta lista. Hip-hop y Rap del 89 con el aroma de los 90.

A fantastic and influential debut album from a talented trio, bringing a new sound and image to hip hop (one somewhat rebuked on their follow up De La Soul is Dead) and recalling the earlier days of classic hip hop. There are so many classic tracks here and is a showcase for the art of sampling, creating something new from something old. Three Is The Magic Number and Me, Myself and I are wicked party tracks, Eye Know is a surprisingly touching hip hop love song and Buddy is an energetic posse cut with like minded acts Jungle Brothers and Q Tip (but seek out the superior 12 inch remix with Phife Dawg, Queen Latifah and Monie Love plus a Kazoo horn section!). The downsides are an obsession with body odour and bad breath and a slew of skits and in jokes which amuse the band but nobody else. For this, a star was almost docked but my love for the band and for some even greater albums that followed since (Buhloone Mindstate, De La Soul is Dead) five stars are coming De La’s way.

magic number is such a goooodddd song omgg. the album is good but can feel lengthy sometimes

Sounds like funkmaster sex

Heard a few songs before, overall was very fun liked it a lot

Few tunes, fun little album!

How many times did the Batmobile catch a flat???

Top 10 all time. At Least

I'm not a big fan of the old school hip hop, but I can see the appeal of this album. They have a pretty clean and fresh take on the genre for the time.

Link doesn't link to 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, but to The Missing Album by The Noel Redding Band.

What a fun listen! This album is cited in this site for being of the called "Golden Age of Hip Hop" for a good reason. With a very original concept, a great sense of humour and the incorporation of many different genres from funk to rap rock, this album is a true masterpiece. My only issue is: why tf isn't this album on Spotify? It's so sad that this fun piece of hip hop history hadn't made it to the biggest music streaming service.

Very fun and incredibly clever. Many reviews compare this record to Sgt. Pepper but for hip pop. The comparison is completely understandable. Very fun concept album with great lyricism and wonderful production. The album does not drag even with the track-listing being more than an hour long. The album just feels like a group of friends having fun on the mic and in the studio. Favorite Track: Magic Number Least Favorite Track: De La Orgee

It’s definitely a fun album that still feels modern even today. Too bad their music doesn’t stream so I can listen to it without YouTube audio compression

It's genuinely heartbreaking that this album isn't on any streaming services, because it means that De La Soul has fallen out of the conversation of greatest 80s and 90s hip hop groups. This album, their debut, is absolutely brilliant. Funny, corny, listenable. It influenced so many modern artists, and I didn't realize before hearing it how much my favorite albums (such as Wildflower, by the Avalanches) are based on it. I can't identify a favorite song or moment, because they're all so good. This is an instant 5/5 for me, and it's by far the best album on this list that I'd never listened to before.

Fun.

Wonderful, if it's not the Sgt Pepper's of hip-hop, it is the Dark Side of the Moon of hip-hop! Absolute genius, even if it's not on Spotify

fun and vibey!!

Fun tracks, love the samples

One of the best hip hop albums on this list. The game show stuff was a really fun theme throughout. Great lyrics, samples, and beats. Plus Q-tip!

pretty goofy but cool

This is actually one of my favorite hip hop albums of its era. From front to back De La Soul show their lyrical prowess and penchant for fireball sampling.

taste: 3/10 known: 0/10