3 Feet High and Rising

One of my favorites and so glad this came up on a day I really need the energy this album brings.

Funny and clever at the same time, with some good nonsense. I wish more rap was like this.

Whimsical skedaddling.

how do i know this back to front without ever having owned it

Take me back to this time, with albums full of skits, self unserious messaging, and some of the sickest beats and rhymes you've ever heard.

Pretty original.

Classic hip hop album that has influenced many artists to follow. You hear it so clearly in their flow and beats

great album but not my style

bem feito, engraçadinho, mas sem perder a qualidade brabo

um hiphop mais tranquilim, que não se leva tão a sério, recheado de beats e samples pedradas. papo reto, que debut impecável desses mano. nada aqui eh desperdiçado, nem as skits. gostosinho no azeite demais, um absurdo!!!

De La Orgee sucks. 10/10 otherwise

it’s okay, not really my thing. It’s basically just like three guys hanging out. I don’t think I’d listen to it again honestly.

A classic rap album where I never got the appeal. Prince Paul's sample collection is great, but the nursery rhyme candence, unfunny sketches, joke songs, and smug preachiness make it a tiresome experience for me.

Don’t think i needed to hear this before i die tbh

+ fun hip hop, eye kniw er jævlig banger - orgy greiene kunne de ha kutta tenker eg 3/5 would buy the record on sale

The good is good. Rest is mid

At the risk of sounding like a miserable old git, this may be jolly and fun hip-hop for 10-year-olds but it's not terribly good is it?

Oh man. I loved this. If you're not concentrating it's one thing (which I liked) and if you are concentrating it's another (which I loved). Hip hop with a side serving of silly. Rap for the whole family. So happy I now know the Greatest Secret.

HOLY FUCK ALL THOSE SAMPLES

I felt is checked all the boxes for early hip-hop. Simple drums, guitar, a little goofiness. There was a lot of unnecessary filler tracks I felt but I think they were just trying to have fun. l thought it was good

I just skimmed this one to make sure and yeah, still one of my favourite albums. So many bangers, excellent flow, such a fun release. A lot of skits but not overly obnoxious. Not really any misses, I like the whole thing.

College memories.

This is a fun hip hop album with some superb use of samples. Proof that you can make great rap music without overdoing the overt violence and misogyny. Just remove the skits and orgee tracks and you have a 5 star album.

I have been meaning to dig into De La Soul's catalog for a long time. It's only very recently (2023) that they have been on streaming services at all, on account of stupid legalese around how their samples were cleared. No fun allowed. Anyway, this is an excellent record! Being that this is from '89 I can see that is set the stage stylistically for a lot of the threads hip-hop I've come to love the most. It feels old in a way that's quaint and nostalgic, without really feeling dated at all (total contrast with 2Pac here). I'm quite sure I'll be coming back to this one and I'm looking forward to the next three, which between this and those, the "heads" seem to spiritedly disagree as to which is their best.

Very fun! I listened twice, and on the second time it did feel a little more surface level goofy, as Trevor pointed out -- but it has a fresh sound with a lot of different lighter things going on, and Eye Know could crack my next Top 1000

This is just a great time! For a moment I thought the old school flow would grow old for me, but then when I forget about that and just enjoy these goofy guys having fun, easy to ignore! I mostly know De La Soul from their Gorillaz features, and I love all of them, and I am happy for this incentive to listen to more. POTHOLES IN MY LAWN!!

This is extremely good, the use of samples is great and the vocals are something that is still unique and really fun to listen to. Perfected the audio collage sound that Public Enemy was going for but that one was more (intentionally) abrasive

There are some tracks where I really get it and others where I kind of can't stand it

Such a fun album, I remember there was a re-release of this one in the mid-2010s and I got a bit obsessed. This one is going back into rotation.

This album is so fun! Really creative use of sampling, quick goofy bits in between tracks, really makes it feel like the hip hop of this era had no rules it had to operate within. Must have been the best to live in New York in 1991. I like the flowers in the album art, like this album truly does bloom and spread so many seeds. The only thing that I'm torn on giving this a full 5 is that the humour skews a little too juvenile, like De La Orgee is the sort of thing a 13 year old would think is hilarious. Correction: I have gone back and edited this to give it a 5. If Nevermind deserves a 5, so does 3 Feet High and Rising. I think I gotta listen to more De La Soul. Glad I listened to this album before I died.

Didn't enjoy as much as I expected to, but can see why it's on the list

Legendary beats, maybe slightly too long but the highlights on here are some of the best De La and Hip-hop has to offer. Essential. Buhloone Mindstate is definitely their most cohesive work though.

Quite interesting in parts. A real mixture of styles. Some decent songs, but didn’t really make a big impression.

Very wacky, light-hearted, lots of fun, but not my thing.

Magic Number, Eye Know, and Me, Myself, and I are cracking tracks, there’s a bit of filler here but still a good listen

Super fedt. Noget af det første hiphop, jeg har hørt, men faktisk mega nice.

These guys really just recorded every single thought they'd ever had. Good vibes though, some very cool grooves, genuinely funny, bit long tho. 7 / 10 Best track/s: Say No Go, (3 Is) The Magic Number, Tread Water

Seems fun, but honestly not really to my taste. Glad they seem like they're having fun though!

i fancy some of their songs, i get the vibe, but rather too much talking?

Esse álbum vai entrar na lista dos que eu menos curti, foi cansativo.

2.5

good

Horrible me susurraron en el oído sin consentimiento… dnf :/

A definite vibe. Would probably rate it higher if my mood was HIGH

Joo. Mut ei kuitenkaan.

Tää ei kyl iskeny, tuli liikaa mieleen will smith ja bel airin prinssi

Oli tässä ihan jänniä viritelmiä, mutta ei oikeen silti jaksa kuunnella.

Oujee.

Ihan hauskaa settiä. Luulin bändin nimen perusteella että tämä olisi ollut jotain ysärin eurodancea. Vähän ehkä itseään toistavaa, varsinkin kun levy kesti yli tunnin. Mutta ei silti missään nimessä harmittanut kuunnella. Ei tästä nyt oikein kauheasti muuta osaa sanoa kun ei genreä sen kummemmin tunne. Mieluummin minä tätä kuuntelen kun Metallicaa tai Nirvanaa. Jack Johnson käynyt ainakin vähän lainaamassa täältä Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -biisiin pätkän, ja yhden biisin tausta kuulosti ihan samalta kun Duffyn Mercy.

Similar to Arrested Development review. I really like what they were trying to so. It’s different. Not your everyday rap, especially given the time it car out. Album is just a bit too long and all starts to sound the same. A few gems. But overall just below average. 2.75

Even though I was born in the early 2000's this album makes me nostalgic for a more fun time Favourite: (3 is) The Magic Number (duh)

Yesssss

Daisy age hip hop. I wasn’t feeling it today but will in the summer. Get the 2 disc vinyl version rather than the 1 for best sound

Küva

3.5

not for me but could see why people love it !

I think the reason I didn't really 'get' this album is because I don't know much about 80s hip hop history. So I went in blind, and here's what I enjoyed: the sense of humor, and the vibey beats. It's a long album, so I listened to a lot of it while at my part time job, doing some inventory restocking. It's a good, kinda groovy (idk if that's the right word but it works i guess) album to do mindless physical labor to. I didn't really follow most of the lyricism but I loled at Can U Keep A Secret, and had to turn the volume waaay down on De La Orgee when I was at work lmao. I enjoyed this album for what it was, but it's not my personal style and probably wouldn't listen to it again tbh. 2.5 stars. That said, I was thinking today about this project, the '1001 albums generator'. One of the reasons I love this project is that listening to these albums in the context of knowing that these are all critically acclaimed and famously Good™ changes the way I listen to them. I consume them with a different set of ears than if I were to just hear it playing on the radio with no context. Kudos to the creator of this! <3

As good as it gets!

man, this album still sounds so damn good. the sampling, the beats. incredible stuff. the rapping here is a little dated, but goddamn, this album still holds up so well. super fun listen from front to back.

I thought this was a kids album. Not my type of music.

Much preferred to contemporary cypress hills and the melodies were much better.

A behemoth of a debut. De La Soul has always been on my rushmore and it is no exception this late in my life. Funky fresh rhymes and unique samples drive the collective postive theme surrounding this album. It still sounds fresh so long after and unique compared to the rap we have nowadays. I needn't say much more but I'll ding it a half star for the De La Orgee. Gross interlude but its the 90's baby. We were a pro sex society.

It was ok, kind of repetitive

Overall enjoyable album. It isnt my style but i can hear inspiration from other artists from this album. Groovy beats and some intresting flows. Overall not bad. Not my favorite side of hiphop.

Ahh De La Soul. By no means the biggest name in hip hop, but they are in my opinion a big contributor. I love jazz rap, but it can be a little self serious at times. De la soul in my opinion shows a more eccentric side to jazz rap that you don't often see. It is a good vibe and I am always happy to see them as a feature such as on Tom Misch' "it runs through me" and ofcourse "Feel Good Inc". Overall a good record and a good reminder for me to give their newest record a shot

Fun album, great listen with some great humor in there. It feels like that really shitty white people rapping, but then actually good. It's slower but the flow is good. Plug tune is a particular favourite of mine.

This is hot. I can see why they're rising. The beats are great. The instrumentation is varied between all of the songs, which makes each track a little different and keeps the album continually interesting. The flow is incredible, and I'm nodding along to every song, if not vibing to the track. Not a fan of the orgy interlude song, though. That crosses a line for me. A really good rap album, though! I'm kind of surprised it's a late 80s album with the quality in production and sampling. I'm no expert on rap, but this definitely feels like one of the best all-time. Favorite Song(s): Transmitting Live from Mars, Eye Know

Also a classic. Can’t believe it’s ‘89.

how have I never heard this album??????? amazing.

I went into this album with high expectations, and maybe they were a little too high. I do like some of the songs on this album, but there is also a lot of filler. I enjoyed the upbeat tone of this album, which I don't hear much from this genre. I also think the game show concept is fun. Overall, for me its a mixed bag. Three stars. (Favorite track: The Magic Number.)

What a good time!! Doing the running man dance in my livingroom room rn, is that shuffle dance??? That was a fun time and I enjoyed it, lots of energy! 2 people doing synchronous twirly dances kinda vibe and I like that.

All time classic! Though it's a little bit dated perhaps, I still think this really holds up. The production is hyperactive and fun, the energy is really infectious, the songwriting is witty and sharp. I'll even let De La Orgee slide

Love! Incredible classic. Know it like the back of my hand! But still prefer De La Soul Is Dead.

So, so fun! This is an album of pure creativity. I like the comparison to Sgt. Pepper but for hip hop. Although I do like the darker humor, this was a nice break from the edgelord hip hop the generator has been giving me lately. Reminds me of a Julia Cameron quote, something like "serious art requires serious play." I don't want to say they "stumble" onto some great stuff here, because there's obviously a lot more intention and skill than that. But there's a creative freedom to 3 Feet High and Rising that comes, I think, from getting just as much satisfaction from the process than from the product. I'm happy to come along for the ride!

2+ Stars (6/15)

So many elements are ahead of the game for 1989 so by influence it’s an easy 5 stars but my personal enjoyment was quite lower. I’m sure the juvenile parts were needed at the time in response to gangsta rap but it makes it age pretty poorly. The beats are quite creative but the lyrics are so lame. Is this one of those let’s celebrate being lame together? Have your fun in a different room than me please Rating: 3.0

It was okay, not really My style. They did have a fun style tho

Classic 90s hip hop. The sampling set the standard.

yo man c'est coool

C'est le groupe de Feel Good Inc donc je m'attendais à de grandes choses mais j'ai été déçu voire j'ai pas kiffé... C'était peut-être un peu trop fait en mode rien à foutre pour moi :/

I am not the target audience for this album, and that's ok. My expectations were low but then I listened to it, and hey! This is a ton of fun. I feel like fun and joyfulness are missing from a lot of things right now, so finding it in this album felt like a Monday morning gift. A surprising 5-star album for me.

Some really fun and interesting songs on here if you can get through the irritating skits.

Seminal, a little overstuffed.

Note have been deleted 😔 From what I heard I would rate 6/10

So funny

Feeling bad about being so mean about Steely Dan two days ago. They did at least give us a tune to be sampled so delightfully here on Eye Know. This was a really fun listen: a few of the interludes don't really add much but overall it's a great debut and shows how far rap had progressed since the beginning of the decade.

Meh

One of the most uplifting listens in hip-hop. Great to revisit them after they dropped 'Cabin in the Sky'. 8/10 [KEEP]

I like De La Soul, and understand why this album was a big deal...but I wouldn't play again and again.

Classic

It's De La Soul. In a genre where most at the time were taking things way too seriously, these guys were having some fun.

This is an incredible album for the samples alone. It took forever to get everything cleared and reached streaming, but when it did I listened to it for a week straight.

This is not only widely considered the first Psychedelic Hip Hop album, but it's also the Hip-Hop album that introduced skits on albums, in particular via Gabe show format. Top this off with catchy beats, excellent production, and whacky lines, it's a masterpiece in the Hip-Hop community. Favorite Track: "Change In Speak".

De La Soul uses the coolest samples and beats from early hip hop. I really enjoyed this

it's evident they had a lot of fun making this, really shows in the final product. fantastic use of sampling techniques. overall, it's a few of semi-memorable tracks sandwiched in between a lot of filler. wouldn't expect or ask for more than that out of this album, it simply does what it needs to do.

Not my favorite but had a time and place

Not more to say than very fun! Stand-outs - Change In Speak - Eye Know - Say No Go - Plug Tunin’ (Last Chance to Comprehend)

3.5/5 - I think I liked this. I don't listen to that much hip hop but I enjoyed this. I would like to come back to it.

Gillade en del låtar. Mer intressant än vad jag tyckte det var bra. Lite plojjig bitvis.

High upbeat album, i really enjoyed it and would listen to it when studying or doing homework. Not the type of genre i would go for but definitely a great listen

I really enjoyed this album!! it was creative and fun, and really good vibes here. I will be hearing songs from this album again good vibe to start my day!

Finally a hip hop album that is not about drugs, sex, violence and misogyny. It's a really fun album (albeit the jokes are a bit childish here and there), the interludes are great, and the general vibe of the album is energetic, infectious and a real mood booster. The album is from the late 1980s but it doesn't dated at all which is another plus. De La Soul showed a new way for other hip hop bands with this record. It's a tiny bit long (with about 10 minutes more). A 4.5 star album, might round it up to 5 stars.

Super cool. Would love to listen again

One of the greatest albums of all time, hip hop or otherwise. Flowing with genuine whimsy and heart and full of incredible sampling. The only negative is that its maybe 10 minutes too long.

pretty fire

I wish I had heard the full album when it came out in 1989 to fully appreciate its freshness and innovation at the time. I can glimpse the surprise and fun of the samples selected and I love the sweetness and play of the trio, as well as their nods back to funk, soul and jazz. As younger men, they lean a little too into juvenile skits for me. Overall, it’s a four.

3/5 I like the vibe on this album. Hiphop is not my favourite genre, but because of the vibe I quitte enjoyed this one. It has some silly but also good songs on there. Favourite songs: - Eye know - Me myself and I

J'aime bien, mais c'est pas ce que je réécouterait.

Lots of fun! Heavy on the interlude tho

De La Soul has always been on my radar but never directly on my radar. My love for rap somehow went from Eric B and Rakim straight to gangsta rap. I am an angry person, so gangsta rap took much of the space in my ears during the time when this album came out. I have heard individual songs but never this entire album. So, I was excited to hear this one. I really enjoyed this album and can't believe there is only one De La Soul album in this book. It feels like their catalog may have another great album in it somewhere, so I am going to investigate. This is considered "clean" rap I would guess because there is only one track that has an "E" for explicit. My favorite tracks are: (3 Is) The Magic Number Change in Speak Eye Know Say No Go Buddy Me, Myself and I

This had to have been the inspiration for Jet Set Radio. Filled with some incredible sampling / DJ'ing, and the emcees always present something smart and quippy. Remarkable history here, as it apparently (following a lawsuit) changed how hip hop music, specifically samples, were regulated. Of course hip hop that's somewhat accessible to a wider audience would be the instigator of legal trouble. This is a good pacer album that I can hear spinning in a barbershop. Opening / ongoing sketch about gameshow contestants reminds me of College Dropout. Got a bit tired of it after 45 minutes, but have a lot of deep appreciation for the roots they set.

10

Everyone in the world you got dandruff lol can you keep a secret?

I think this is ahead of its time, very creative and fun throughout. Not my favourite hip hop record but still a good listen.

Fun upbeat hip hop. Has the skits between songs that continued to be popular years later. Solid listen.

Considerably too long but you can’t argue with the head-nodding beats and polite raps of De La. Fav tracks: Eye Know, Potholes in my Lawn, Buddy, Me Myself and I RYM: Y (#1,081) Saved a song: Y

Skits nerven, Flow ist ziemlich all over, aber das Sampling ist immer noch kaum erreicht.

Some call it the "Dark Side Of The Moon" des Rap. Maybe, maybe nicht. Aber das Ganze macht Spaß und hat offensichtlich bei der Produktion auch Spaß gemacht. Extrapunkt für die Gameshow-Skits

There's a few tracks on here, e.g. Buddy or the all-time classic Me, Myself, and I, that still delight, but most of this feels dated or just indulgent. Would have been improved tremendously by cutting ~half the tracks and focusing on a core album.

Not hit-laden, but fun and ridiculous. Almost up there with People's Travels.

Really great, fun and ambitious, full of different sounds. It's pretty perfect, but I have a couple gripes, a little too much about sex (in a not clever way) and too long with some songs I would not have included too keep it concise. But as a statement of what you want to do, and as a record it is just cool, and I will listen to it again, very happy to discover it.

Me encantó, muy wholesome. 9/10

My first favorite rap album...and it may still be. Scrub!

Belongs on the list of great 80s early hip-hop albums.

As a musical theatre fan I LOVED the feel of this album. The spoken parts of the songs and the upbeat vibes were amazing!! Would definitely recommend to a bunch of theatre kids :)

Fun. But I didn’t like the little comedic songs.

A monster of an album. Genre defining. Prince Paul's use of samples is high art here--so much that it took decades to get some of the stuff passed when the big labels realized what was going on. The perfect example of art from collage. Plus, De La Soul is like the heart of hiphop along with the rest of Native Tongues posse. A clean 5/5, and hiphop masterpiece.

Great fun - way ahead of its time. Intelligent hip hop which handles some usual topics but with wit and humour instead of crudeness.

Lolololol. Vibeyyy. Out there and clearly inspired a lot of the hip hop/rap culture of today. Made me wonder if they inspired the OFWG crew (which I’ve dabbled in listening to but am not a stan so don’t fight me lol), Childish Gambino and the other indie/rap kind of sound. Some of the lyrics cringey afffff though.

This is a fun happy record. I hadn’t listened to the whole album before but knew the hits, and the whole thing is great. Sometimes I don’t go for this sort of music because it isn’t very emotive but had it on when cleaning the house and it is very positive and cool. A great record.

I love the hip hop and rap, and much as I enjoy listening to songs about street politics on my daily commute, it’s also good to listen to an album that’s upbeat. This album is as much about the production and DJ skills of Maseo, as it is the rapping. I hadn’t heard much de la soul prior to this, and was blown away at how many samples I recognised from other songs created much after this one. So I guess that says a lot about their influence on hip hop through the years, and this album in particular

Last album of 2025 and its a good one to end on. This is an absolute classic, one of the best of 80s hip hop. The verses are great, the skits are fun, the sampling is godly and the vibes are off the charts. I do feel its pretty long and by the end I find that I start to lose interest but I wouldn't say it drops in quality or anything. "Eye Know" is a song that I overplayed the hell out of over the last couple years but I still think its undeniably the highlight of this album. De La forever! Favorite track: Eye Know

Վայ շատ հավես քոնսեփթ ա: Չէի ջոգել որ ռեպ ա😭:

Listened, not living it.

very groovy and hip hoppy, orgy song was weird as shit though

Not my main style of music I like but I did enjoy the vibe of the album.

De La Soul’s debut is a lot of fun. I remember enjoying the singles at the time but never picked the album up. I should’ve done. Their approach was completely unique in 1989 and has weathered well. It’s had a couple of spins today, and the combination of smart wordplay and tunes that stick, still sound fresh as a d.a.i.s.y. – I went there. 8/10

Often cited as the "Sgt. Pepper of hip-hop," this album introduced a psychedelic, humorous, and positive alternative (the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age") to the aggressive gangsta rap dominating the era. It triggered a landmark legal battle with the band The Turtles over an unauthorized sample, which permanently changed the music business by making sample clearance mandatory for all future artists. Producer Prince Paul pioneered the concept of inserting narrative "skits" between tracks to create a cohesive album experience, a technique later adopted by artists like Eminem and Kanye West. The production is famous for its eclectic sampling, weaving together sounds as diverse as Johnny Cash, Steely Dan, and French language instruction tapes.

3.5 - Good

Fun, nostalgic, and clever. Love the samples and really takes me back to a specific time with this very (at the time) innovative sound. I’m taking off one star for the skits that are annoying and unfortunately influenced other rap artists.

3 is the magic number. 3 songs of note, 3 members in the group, 3 out of 5.

Easy on the ears, especially for someone who's not a hip-hop fan.

Barely funny.

1000/10 this record means a lot to me. it's super good

i only liked one song

I just discovered this album at the beginning but f last year and it has literally become my favorite rap album ever. It’s just so endearing and honest that it really has a special sound and voice in rap that no one can replicate even De La Soul. I love a lot of their albums but this one is just so special and different from everything else they have done and everything else in rap music. I also have to acknowledge that this album pulls off an insanely hard feat, which is that the skits are legitimately funny and actually hold up over time and don’t become cringey. Everyone knows a rap album where the skits in between are either unfunny or distracting from album and don’t age well making them even worse. But this album somehow avoids that and is really endearing still. This is legitimately one of if not my absolute favorite rap albums.

Cool

7/10 maybe 8

I didn’t discover De La Soul until last year, and man, I’ve been missing out. This album is clever, playful, and packed with creativity. The samples are everywhere, and they make it all work without sounding cluttered. What really stood out was how smart the writing is. The double entendres, the humor, and the constant wordplay are on another level. tThey were clearly a horny bunch when they made this album, but they handled it with wit instead of just being crude. Favorite song: Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)

Kind of boring

we do not need to hear someone having sex on an album there are other avenues for that, also half the songs are ok and the other half aren't good

Immaculate

Really creative, I really liked the intro being continued throughout the album Not what I am normally into but a pleasant surprise Longer album than others so far fave songs: say no go me myself and i eye know like the music and vocals plus some of the features were cool 4.3 stars 8.5/10

pretty good album

Pas mon style du tout et des morceaux énervants

Clean and cool

Always a fan of jazz rap, and anything produced by Prince Paul really. This was really a precursor to 90s jazz rap and a great alternative to hardcore/gangster rap. I’m also extremely biased based on their samples like Steely Dan and Hall & Oates. It’s just an all around fun and good times record that’s great to throw on when you’re looking for some laid back good vibes due to the positive lyrics and funny skits.

This was such a fun era for rap. I grew up on Long Island, so the fashion and style of these bands — Tribe, Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep — were making their way to the suburbs from the epicenter of Queens and Nassau County. I don’t think this album was that well received at the time, though it’s critically acclaimed and stands up over thirty years later. These guys were all teens when they made these albums, which is incredible.

Sounds so contemporary!

Got this one on Christmas Eve so it was a busy day, not one for serious listening. So this ended up being background for a bunch of other things, and it’s a good, fun album. It sounds like they enjoyed making this. I never got into De La Soul despite having plenty of friends who love them, so I’m bumping it up an extra star because I’m sure I’ll like this more with additional listens.

Good

Không phải gu.

It’s fine because it’s early era hip hop - I’m not really into hip hop though

Some really great songs, but a lot of bad ones too. Overall, would listen to some of these again. Nice to find.

Incredible! I enjoyed is album very much. Added 3 songs onto my everyday playlist. Favorite track: (3 Is) The Magic Number Least favorite track: De La Orgee

*Lots of talking / talk show vibes * hip hop / rap * eclectic *long 4/5

Half was really vibey and fun to listen to and half was annoying af

Extremely funky and fun hip-hop album, I can see why everyone loves it. Favourite Songs: The Magic Number, Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge), Eye Know, Say No Go, Me Myself and I. Least Favourite Songs: Take It Off.

absolutely legendary samples on this one.. i would sell a kidney to be able to be in the studio watching this album be made because i know it was insanely vibes

Some great tracks but also dodgy ones.

Eye Know is a god damn banger. Me Myself and I is great. Rest of the album is decent. 3.5⭐️

The beats are cool, for sure....but this is some 1989-ass rapping if I ever heard it. It sounds like they are reading each line off cue cards, and I just can't get into it.

Très étrange mais quelques musiques sympa

Pre-pop hip hop. Nice blend of what was happening at the time, skits, samples, and rhymes, but doesn't rise to the level of Peoples Instinctive Travels, released the following year.

One of my favourite rap albums and some of my favourite songs it just puts me in such a good mood, the sampling is some of the greatest in rap history and honestly one of the few rap albums where I actually kinda enjoy the skits. One of the albums I recommend to people who think rap is only about promoting crime and to get people into it and appreciate it as an art form

Absolute classics. Need to pick up on vibyl

I get the significance, but this is goofy af

Ruined by skits, but those samples and positive vibes are immaculate

Not what I was expecting. Started off ok-ish but there was whistling so 0 stars for that alone.

Fun but long. Not really for the modern ear.

I get why this was massive at the time. Good fun but I didn't love it. Very high 3

Changed hip hop as we knew it. As far as debut albums go this is peak success. Soulful and positive for the time, a shift from the violent gangster rap of its time. I think De La Soul popularized the hip Jo skit. With no fear of being silly they almost poke fun of the seriousness in rap at that time. A classic, no notes. Something to come back to when you need something upbeat and fun.

A bit all over the place, but non-stop up tempo beats and fun.

Repeat

Favorite Track: Me Myself and I

Definitely feels dated now, but the legs are there for a great album. Solid early rap styling with a great flow

It’s aight. Not something I would normally listen to. I don’t see how it’s that special for 90s rap but I’m not mad. Better than some rap fs

Long album bit some bangers

what if hiphop wasn't about fucking hoes and drugs? it would be very boring ig. every songs has 1 flow and it never changes

Better than I thought. Innovative for 1989

Not my taste :(

Mostly enjoyed this! I just wish it slightly fewer skits and bits. "(3 Is) The Magi Number" "Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)" "Eye Know" "Tread Water" and "Potholes In My Lawn" were all faves.

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I knew it was hip-hop, but I have only listened to dark, gangsta rap. De La Soul is not this. it was funny, and light and inventive. I really enjoyed this album.

I can tell how much fun did this guys had when making this album, I can see why some people will grade it high but for me it is not that wow 3/5

The cast of collaborators on this album is quite impressive. The music?...not so much.

that’s what i’m tawking aboutttt

Pretty good. Old school, but not quite as kitchy as that style tends to be. Eye Know is pretty solid.

Kinda a vibe. Kinda didn’t like it

Quelle heure est-il? Il est l’heure d’écouter la musique sympa de De La Soul! Anybody who makes a good song about haircuts and dandruff is okay with me! Social commentary with a good beat.

3.5

An album that was so ahead of its time. Who would have thought one of the best east-coast 90s hip-hop records would have come out in ‘89? Really creative beats and production. Not the best lyricism and the some of the tracks do start to blend together. But these are overall minor critiques in light of how good the overall song crafting is and how the vibe De La Soul creates on the album. 3 Feet High and Rising really stands the test of time as one of hip-hop’s best albums.

Album was okay, not really my taste in music though. I liked the intro song though

Ihan jees. 2,75/5.

I enjoyed this way more than I thought would. Great album.

Overall Rating: 8.7/10 Favorite Song: Tread Water

liked the instrumental but it wasn’t for me per say

This was a super fun and feel good album with fantastic sampling and a lighthearted, humorous tone. I just felt good by the end of my listen. This is one of my dad’s favorite albums so it adds an extra positive bonus to it. 5/5 would recommend

The second half is better than the first.

This album is a fun ride with great flow, solid beats, and tons of clever little samples sprinkled throughout. I could definitely do with fewer of the comedy bits, but overall it’s an enjoyable, upbeat listen.

This album changed what hip could be and they did it in a way that changed hip hop and music forever

Pretty solid but the moaning songs were a bit much.

oneee

Fun album and clever lyrics, sometimes very naughty.

I think the algorithm must be checking my previous review because yesterday I said "hiphop isn't my thing" and today I get another hiphop album...and it's pretty great actually. Next up, please can I get some good country to get the taste of Loretta Lynn out of my mouth? It's just super fun. Certainly gets a bit too wacky at times (what the fuck is De La Orgee) but it's great fun to listen to and has a great funk to it. I might go back and listen to this again some day actually. If you're like me and think "nah hiphop isn't my thing at all", I'd strongly suggest giving this a listen. It really doesn't feel like it's a whole hour (!!) and it's damn good. Favourite songs: (3 Is) The Magic Number, Me Myself and I

Upbeat, optimistic rap. It's carefree in a 60s-hippie-Dr. Seuss kind of way. Had to do a double take on that one track tho 🤨

Dispensável!

A hip-hop blind spot for me - I recently listened to De La's latest album Cabin in the Sky but had no context on who they really are. On first listen for 3 Feet High..... I wasn't super impressed. I understand and agree with the inclusion of this album due to the contrast it presented against gangster rap but I grew up in a post Kanye world where all of that perception has already been torn down and opened up what a "rapper" is. They rap in such an 80's lyrical miracle way that I'm sure was super fresh n different then but just feels ANCIENT now. The production however, is incredible. Today, after 1 listen, its a 3/5 but with an understanding that I'm probably just not adapted to this sound and will eat those words once I learn the members and their stories better. Favorite Song: Transmitting Live From Mars into Eye Know

I love this style of hip hop. It’s got great beats, socially conscious lyrics, positive vibes, soulful, and smooth. The music is fun, funny, and clever. I bought this CD when it was first released and I’ve missed listening to it.

It's fun. The continuity and premise is great. The filler tracks are weak and it's held up by a couple of good songs.

It's fun but I didn't have to listen to this before I died

this was sooo fun!!!!!

some people just know how to have fun

This isn't a genre I really like, but I like this better than anything else I've listened to from this genre. Glad it was recommended but I don't think I will come back to it.

3 is the magic number is great. The rest not so much

Really fun!!!

I’d never heard this whole album before and it was clever and not as repetitive as some similar albums from that era.

Soooooo much fun

just nonstop fun!! comeon ... it kicks ass

I mean, it’s fun. Just not really my thing. The skits are entertaining and it’s a lot different than most other hip hop I’ve ever heard.

Wasn't bad, just didn't grab me the way other hip hop albums on this list have.

Groovy grooves

At the more melodic end of the hip hop spectrum

Accessible rap

After all the gangster rap I really enjoyed the lighter vibe on this album. Some great tunes, but some I can't quite connect with. One to come back to.

I appriciate the effort here to make a concept album. I don't think the execution was exceptional, but I did enjoy the listen. 6/10

Chillige Musik aber old school HipHop holt mich nicht so ab. Super, wenn es nebenbei irgendwo als Hintergrundmusik läuft aber ich würde es nicht für mich hören.

Great classic stuff here, gets marked down for too many filler skits and stuff in between the actual songs

Sympathique !

142 Lo encontré entretenido? Sí Lo escucharía de nuevo? No :D

I bob my head, always halfway amazed, when they lay down "The Magic Number" in rapid fire. I laugh out loud when they compare losing your virginity to playing "Chopsticks" at your first piano recital on "Jenifa Taught Me." I reach temporary enlightenment during "Eye Know" (that Otis Redding sample was worth waiting 35 years to clear). I hear the fountain of so much of what hip-hop is, and was, and could be again, on "Potholes in My Lawn." I daydream about how much time was wasted on D.A.R.E. courses when I was a kid that could have just been replaced with playing "Say No Go" for the kids and then walking out. I can't listen to "Me Myself and I" without my White ass shaking semi-voluntarily. Can't help it - I'm powerless against something this good.

Great opening but then the album fades away

I am once again indifferent to an album. This wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible either. A solid 3.

317/1089 - I'm not a fan of sex noises in music. Some production is grating and some other songs are very good like Me Myself and I and the Steely Dan one.

Some great late 80’s hip hop. A classic.

I like the band purely because of a few songs. That doesn't really make this album very good in 2025. It's a decent album in itself, which rolls in the background in its good mood without any special ups or downs. In other words, very flat for my taste.

This kind of easy-going rap has evolved a lot since the ’80s and ’90s. From my point of view, it’s still quite dull, so it doesn’t get many stars from me.

This and ...Is Dead are probably my most listened De La albums, not sure which one is number one tho. While age is audible on this records, they still feel kinda fresh to me. Although I do not like the skits, they're very irritating to me and not just on this record but the whole era of hip hop when they "had to have" them, other wise this is pretty cool. Feels to me some new artists are starting to use the same tricks as these 30+ year old records had used.

A difficult album for me to rate. De la is one of my favourite artists in any genre, but this is one of their weakest albums in my opinion. I recognize how inventive it is - its hard to overstate how different this was from any hip hop being released at the time, but so much of it is goofy shit and dick jokes (3 feet high and rising, get it?) that I can’t rate it as highly as a lot of hip hop heads would. They don’t hit their stride until their next album (De la soul is dead) which, in my opinion, is much more interesting and effective album. While the subject matter isn’t particularly interesting, the production certainly is (the say no go sample is inspired - how do we have 9 Steely Dan albums on this list but no Hall and Oates??). I never come back to this whole album but there are 5 or 6 great songs I do listen to still. Probably a 3.6 that I’ll round up to a 4 given how groundbreaking it is

2.1 Is it fair to compare De la soul with a tribe called quest. I think im taking tribe 9 times out of 10

Dałbym wyższą ocenę tzn. 3.5 ale się nie da

Defnitely on of the best new discoveries on this list for me. It whet my appetite for more 1980s-HipHop.

Was funky but not my vibe

Good! Not my sort of thing tbh, but can see its good

Great old-school hip hop album with playful lyrics. Love the hits, could skip a few of the fillers.

Fun at moments, impressive for the time, obviously influential. I did read they popularized skits (should penalize them for that). I can understand a 4/5 rating based on the accomplishment and overall positive message etc, but I don't really like listening to it so gotta go 3. Love the samples, second time we've heard the "I Can't Go For That" Hall and Oates sampled. Steely Dan sample also stood out. Hearing Q Tip was refreshing.

Got through most of this, but this brand of hip hop isnt my bag. Cool to read about the collaborations that theyve done and I suppose I enjoyed the Otis Redding song

Disappointed, given the online music community's hype for this album. Undoubtedly some brilliant songs, and an album I will try to return to, but the skits were a distraction and the rap at times felt like a children's TV programme. Really wanted to like it, but just not fully feeling it - weird too as I am usually a big fan of jazz rap. To revisit perhaps, but 3* for now (listened to around La Defénse after a few false starts elsewhere)

strongest 4 to date.

I love De La Soul. Their sampling is incredible, the rhythm of their tracks is always spot-on, and their lyrics manage to be both clever and funny. They’re pretty much the only hip hop group I can consistently get into. 3 Feet High and Rising is brilliant. I couldn’t wait for the opening intro to finish so I could get straight into “The Magic Number” — what a superb song. The album is packed with tracks that live up to that standard too. “Tread Water,” “Eye Know,” and “Jenifa Taught Me” are all fantastic, and then it closes with the iconic “Me, Myself and I.” The whole thing is a joy to listen to. Favourite track: “The Magic Number” and “Me, Myself and I” — absolute hip hop classics Least favourite track: The intro felt totally unnecessary Album artwork: Great cover, colourful and iconic

Not my vibe

The patchwork on these samples is out of this world to really appreciate it. You gotta realize the attack that they were using our lack of tech really they’re cutting up all this stuff and layering it on top of each other all analog pulling from Records the sourcing of these samples are just so incredible. They weave it all into this great groove throughout the whole album always love the message that they are pushing is just smart hip-hop. Good shit good shit good shit.

Check out newer albums, old album not my style

Some fun parts, but I'm not sure I would listen to this again. (2.5/5)

Perfection. No notes.

Is it sad that this music is said to be so groundbreaking and amazing. Music with repetitive beats and adolescent lyrics. I’m not impressed. But it is better than gangster rap.

Meh

Great

Full of great vibes

Fun

Good fun, enjoyed this

Such a great hip hop album that I haven’t listened to in years. Funny, smart, and great beats. Plus Q-Tip added into the mix.

No

Pour le coup je n’ai pas du tout accroché, je suis restée assez imperméable à cet album.

Standouts 3 is a Magic Number Tread Water Buddy Me Myself and I

Even speed, listening was a waste of time

Pretty quirky

Loved this

A rather enjoyable listen, quite funky with some of the most quirky/funny lyrics I've heard in a while. A fair few songs that I'd be happy to listen to again!

I'll preface this to say that I'm not a huge classic hip-hop fan. All flows with no hooks just kind of get monotonous to me. I liked a lot of this though. De La Soul wasn't on my radar when I was younger, mostly because gangsta rap was so big in the late '90's and this was seen as old school. I wish I had heard more of this though; more than the hits you heard on the radio. It's pretty good.

just so fun the whole time. this is the typa stuff that makes the 80s better than the 90s for rap

One of my favorite hip hop albums. Very fun laid back energy. Love all of the sampling.

Rips

album of joy and whimsy. there’s a perfect balance of 19 year olds making beautiful songs and 19 year olds just having fun and fucking around here. at first i was like “wow that’s a lot of interludes” but for the most part they don’t break up the flow at all. epic awesome sauce favorite: maybe jenifa taught me? least favorite: de la orgee 8/10

oh my goodness it's the epitome of a summer break. not only groundbreaking but just as warm and fuzzy as 1989. fav song: eye know

Intro: Different, weird, grabs your attention. The Magic Number: Repetitive supporting music which is broken up more frequently in the end of the song. Catchy bass. Change In Speak: Repetitive again. Lacking in variation. Catchy riff. Cool Breeze on the Rocks: Weird like the intro, different. Can U Keep a Secret: Whispering makes it a bit interesting, but otherwise quite uninteresting and too repetitive. Jenifa Taught Me: Interesting structure, movement, and sounds/instruments. Development of foundational elements would have made the song good instead of average. Ghetto Thang: Too repetitive supporting music. Good beat and interesting sound use. Transmitting Live from Mars: Interesting break in the album, but not an interesting song on its own. Eye Know: Nice variety in the layers of the supporting music. Easy listening and comfy. Good song but missing some development in the latter half. Take It off: Too repetitive and boring A Little Bit of Soap: Not much happening Tread Water: Development needed after the change halfway through. Potholes in My Lawn: Boring main riff, interesting use of yodeling, welcome scratch break in the middle, but could have taken the song in a more interesting direction instead of going back to the same old stuff from before. Say No Go: Interesting layers and a nice, solid beat. Nice to hear some development in the end, might have been even more of it. Good song. Do as De La Does: Took half the song for the song to start and then a strange ending. Plug Tunin': Nice development in the first half. Woyld have been nice to notice the same in the latter half - Repetitive. De La Orgee: Wierd and uneccessary. Buddy: Boring intro. Some interesting elements brought in through the song, but could have been used more coupled woth proper development of the song. Descruption: Flat and uninteresting. Me Myself and I: Great instrumentation and catchy, cool riffs. Great use of scratching. Good song, coyld have been great with a better structure and build. L.I.F.E.: Promising build up that could have been developed to its fullest, instead it ended up being basic and average. I Can Do Anything: Seemed pointless D.A.I.S.Y. Age: Disappointing end to the album. Rather boring song with a weird ending, in style with the intro. General comments: Many interesting ideas and cool songs that usually lack in structure and development. Sounds and riffs are typically cool, catchy and interesting.

Mjög flott en tapaði mér stundum

Rapp eins og ég fíla það.

7.8

Album review 005 Three Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989) Rating 3.5/5 Everyone remembers the first album I ever bought(?) and Three Feet High and Rising was mine. It’s been years since I last spun this but sat with a big smile on my face when listening to it again. First thoughts were how refreshing it was to hear a rap album from late 80s-90’s that’s fun and isn’t “gansta”. I expect I’ll be listening to De La Soul and other artists from this period (a Tribe Called Quest, Statsasonic, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Jungle Brothers, etc., etc….) a lot in the next few days.

Skits are a miss. Some cringe bars, reminds me of a quote from a Donald Glover stand up: "Have you ever listened to rap back in the day? It’s always some dude being like: Well I went to the hat store today And I bought myself a hat Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Fave track: (3is) The Magic Number

Bright, funky, playful hip hop. Some decent samples and some clever rhymes and wordplay. Always a big fan of when these classic rap and hip hop albums include a few skits throughout, although these weren't the funniest I've heard. I'd certainly recommend turning your volume down before listening to De La Orgee in public. To be honest, I prefer my rap to be a bit more gritty and serious. This was an okay listen just not really the music for me. Favourite track - Me Myself and I. 6.5/10

Just freaking great

This was a lot of fun. Amazing production for their times, some of those beats made me dance in my kitchen with my toddler. Clever and light-hearted - they are serious when necessary, but never take themselves too seriously, which is so refreshing to hear. I'll be definitely coming back to this one. 4/5 with a strong potential for growth

Pretty dang good. A few great tracks. Makes me want to listen to their other albums.

Really fun songs and fun samples. A great way to end the week.

It was fine

A masterpiece!

three wheels of cheese high and rising

Fun, goofy listen

*1989. American hip hop. *This is a fun album. *Easy hip hop, like Will Smith. Catchy tunes, not very deep lyrics, and easy to sing along to. *This album is too long though. RATING - 7/10