Reviews (page 5 of 12)
Like it when a nice hip hop album turns up on a day when you really need it.
3.6 stars rounded up.
it was good, not really a hip hop fan but has really enjoyable tracks that really are worth the listen, I've loved the concept too
Fun one. Weird in a good way. Love a good math song.
Well, that was sheer joy. Really playful. Lovely crunchy beats. Some nice crocodiles. A bit long but peng.
Lush and lovely, expansive, playful, innovative hip-hop. Great to revisit this band and hear the whole album. Cheered me up on a bit of an urgh work day, but really this should be for lounging about in a park on a hot, bright day feeling free I think. I found it a bit long, but I don't think I would in that context. Eye Know is such an amazing tune.
Didn't realize how many of these I already knew, or how many felt familiar. Maybe that is a sorta Mandela effect, but I can tell this album has gone on to influence a lot of artists. A lotta saved songs on this album, I will be coming back to it.
Good and not as good
Good and fun
Banger album, some of the best 90's hip-hop has to offer
Just a fun time.
I'm not typically a fan of this era of hip hop for some reason. This album is definitely an exception to that and I'm confused as to why I haven't heard of them before. Reading through some of the other reviews, it looks like it's because they weren't available on some streaming services before so I'm glad they are now (at least on my streaming service of choice). This will go into my rotation.
man I listened to this a lot when it was new. mostly harmless. may be responsible for the "skits in hip-hop" trend it took a decade to stamp out?
Cool simpling. Really enjoyed this.
YES
4/5 Really enjoyed listening to this on this Friday morning. Overall great vibes and a couple iconic songs. Will be adding a few of these to my library
4.5
Not normally my thing, but there are some serious foottappers on this.
I love a skit in a Rap Album. Researching the efforts behind this album's creation is where I learned the term "sampledelia," which is still one of my favorite traits in music. It's like an audible collage (which also happens to be one of my favorite physical art mediums.) The amount of fun they're having on the album is just fun to hear. Feels like the pinnacle of late 80s/early 90s rap, where charisma was just as important as rhyme. Tracks like Jenifa Taught Me, and Do as De La Does shows the lasting impact disco has had on hip-hop, such fun danceable tracks. It's a challenge to review music that you can tell inspired so many later artists, because it sounds so familiar it's almost boring, immediately this album reminded me of The Pharcyde's later album Bizarre Ride II (and that album is more confrontational in its sound - it is very much of this sampledelia era) so in a way it played like something I had already heard 100s of times before.
this was really good and cool conceptually. I feel like it dragged on a little long but I liked the storytelling and tracks a lot. Fav songs: eye know, tread water
I adore this album. Great lyrics, great samples, great execution. Only thing I’ve ever not liked about it is the skits.
After a spell of mostly dreary albums, this came with a breath of fresh air. Some energy and solid beats even if it is a bit dated at times. Still, an essential old school hip hop album that deserves its spot in the book.
This is giving fun & playful energy throughout, with consistently interesting samples & beats. As far as hip-hop albums go, this one is particularly light-hearted and upbeat. Very enjoyable!
Would have been a five star album if not for the number of filler tracks. Masterclass in sampling, Prince Paul is top notch. De La has a relaxed but crisp vibe that balances your focus between the music and lyrics perfectly.
This is a classic…it grew on me as I got through the album, but I feel a little guilty about how it doesn’t always totally hold my attention. Very unique vibe/beats, creative songs, but maybe some primitive production and the vocals are mixed quite low relative to other hip hop. Love “Eye Know” “Tread Water”, and “Potholes in my Lawn”, and of course “Me Myself and I” is a classic…great recognizable samples from Led Zeppelin, Funkadelic, Steely Dan, James Brown, etc. I appreciate the way this album perfectly captures a young, and sort of light, late 80s/early 90s NY hip-hop, and builds on music that came before it while maintaining its own identity. Also feel like it might be like 3-4 songs too long and (as with most hip-hop albums) i could do without some of the skits.
I think it's aged the worst of the jazz rap classics, but is also responsible for like all of my favorite hip hop, so....
Is there a 3rd alt hip-hop entity starting with the letters D-E-L with a song about how you need to stop stinking?
Good stuff. Fun and upbeat with some classics. Skits are a bummer, but at least they're short.
One of the most fun and unique albums on the list. The game show theme and joke tracks fit the music perfectly. Jam packed with great tunes and iconic hip hop. That being said, joke tracks do limit the number of relistens I can do, and this combined with the length means that I will rarely stick it on - so leaving this with an 8/10.
Not usually my type of music, unlikely to listen to it frequently, but really respect the idea behind it and the music itself
One of my hip hop favorites. I always enjoyed the grooves and attitudes from this group and from the Native Tongues collective RIP David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur
H: you can tell immediately that this album is from the 90’s, solid story telling and overall good driving beat. 8/10 H fav song: Eye Know (this was a hard choice for me, a lot of good songs on this album) Z: such a fun hip hop album. The sampling must’ve been groundbreaking at the time— the song choices flowed perfectly with the upbeat, positive direction of the album (I recognized Hall and Oates and Steely Dan, among others). Mix that with eclectic lyrics and textbook storytelling of late 80s-90s hip hop, undeniable chemistry/flow between members of the group, and fun interludes (with the exception of ‘De La Orgee’) and you get a classic like this one. 8/10 Z fav song: Eye Know
solid classic Hip Hop album. wasn’t necessarily my style, but was still enjoyable!
Overall great album, lot of classics, but in my opinion, just a smidge too long. Funky, tons of cool samples, great rhymes.
I don't listen to much of De La but I do know this album is a classic and legendary. I know this record is one of the best in hop-hop.
Classics or Classics for a reason
Another 80's hiphop album, I am getting more accustomed to listening to albums of this genre. I read that this was their most critically acclaimed album and their most famous song "Me, Myself and I" was one of it's tracks. I enjoyed listening to it but it isn't one of my favorite hip hop albums. I like more 90s to modern hiphop but it was still interesting how hiphop has evolved throughout the years. As a sidenote, this album reminded me of Insane Clown Posse as its formatted as a game show in the beginning and end of the album. I found that pretty interesting.
3.5 stars rounded up What a fun album. We haven’t had enough of that on this list. I already had a fondness for De La Soul for their work with Gorillaz. I knew a few of the songs on this album but it was my first time listening to it in full. De La Soul are funny, eclectic, a little dorky, and a bit absurdist (“Everybody in the world, you have dandruff” lol) - a great mix in my books. There are 3 fantastic standout songs on this record - (3 is) The Magic Number, Eye Know, Me Myself and I. The songs in between aren’t quite as good, though I like Buddy too. Where it gets questionable are the recurring skits (did they invent this?) and random interludes that really push the length of this album. It definitely does run long. It could all get stupid and annoying - as we’ve heard with some other old school hip hop on this list. De La are endearing enough that it didn’t annoy me as much here. And they sequenced the album well - just when I might have lost interest, they pull out another good song. Rounding up for 3 great songs and the overall good vibes. You could throw this on for a fun chill house party and I think everyone would be happy.
Favorite songs: Tread Water, Eye Know, Me Myself and I, (3 Is) The Magic Number, Change in Speak, Ghetto Thang, Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge), Say No Go Least favorite songs: Intro, Cool Breeze on the Rocks, Transmitting Live From Mars, Take it Off, A Little Bit of Soap, De La Orgee, I Can Do Anything (Delacratic) (fuck skits), Can U Keep a Secret 4/5
Wonderful album full of whimsy and joy. "fuckin lasagna heads"
Of the golden age hip hop groups I think I've known about De La Soul the longest but listened to them intentionally the least, though not for any particular reason. I know and like 3 Is the Magic Number and Me, Myself and I pretty well, and I enjoyed the rest of the album just as much. 3.5/5
Great album. I could do without De La Orgy, but otherwise really great. It's a bit long, but not too bad. 4.25/5
Great. Not an album thats just a collection of good tracks but an overall good album experience. Insane production, unreal this is from the 80s
Fun and groundbreaking. Good combo.
Fun album. I've given 3s to better stuff, but such is my new grading system.
Fun poppy hip hop. The vibe is infectious! One of my besties was a huge fan, RIP JWS.
It's a very 80s/90s sounding hip hop album but also a lot of fun. You can tell they really enjoyed making each song and playing around with their wordplay and the samples to make the poppy beats, and the vibe is infectious. Just like every other hip hop album on this list I don't like the skits. Favourites: Magic Number, Eye Know, and Me Myself and I.
Macht sehr viel spaß 4/5
We are really enjoyed this album.
Really cool
Heavy on the amen break, for magic number, but a great warm sound filling the space. This whole album has a warm enveloping feel without being overly nostalgic. 4 stars for sure. The vocal style sometimes gets to the stilted and forced rap that strated the genre ("Jenifa"), that's a little hard to listen to. The smoother rhythms and rhymes from "ghetto thang" are much improved.
Samples, influential, has it all, hip hop skit Eye know Tread water
Very interesting listen. Beats are good, rhyme flows. It might be to explicit in some parts though.
Fantastiske beats, selv på de der dumme mellem-numre.
DLS is just fun. Pioneers of hip hop, sure - but mostly just fun.
Dad- 8 Mom- 5 Mike-8.5 Lori- 8.5 Michael-8 Miles- NA Cole- 8 Avg- 7.67
One of my all-time favourites. It was revolutionary when it came out (I bought it that week) and the standout tracks still sound great. I'm still not convinced that hop hop lends itself to the album format, however and some of the skits and lesser tracks mean it's not a stone cold classic.
I think it's good, I think the lyrics are clever and the gameshow bit was funny, v enjoyable
A Classic
This album never hit me like it did everyone else. It’s dope it’s original and groundbreaking just not my fave.
An impressive first album that aged relatively well, considering how old-school it is at heart. For new listeners, however, it’s probably hard to measure the sheer novelty De La Soul represented back in the days. They didn’t check any of the boxes rappers were supposed to check in terms of fashion, lyrics and attitude (they were even called the hippies of hip-hop for a while...). The music, driven by the innovative work of Prince Paul, was also a bit of a revolution, injecting new diversity into hip-hop with samples from all over the musical spectrum. Their humorous lyrics, laid-back attitude and festive vibe made them rightly famous. It was nice to refresh my memory on an album I hadn’t listened to in a decade. Still very pleasant in my opinion, even if a few tracks sound a bit dated now. It’s also not my favorite DLS album, I personally prefer their later, slightly darker work. Technically, I’d rate this album a 3,5* - but this list suffers from such a massive inbalance between pop-rock and rap (not to mention other less popular genres) that I’ll round it up to a 4* to make a point.
A friendly, fun and accessible hip-hop album. Very little of the usual sophmoric hip-hop themes. This is the only hip-hop album I've heard that I'd like to hear again.
the humorous and creative lyricism makes it a very fun listen. you can tell they had a lot of fun making it. this album came at the right time considering i've been listening to a lot of tribe called quest. the interludes/game show skit was entertaining too - you have to avoid taking it too seriously really enjoy it. the singles were a great listen, particularly 'eye know' with the otis redding sample. probably wouldn't listen to the album in full again but i'll definitely go back to certain tracks.
This album showed me that I like hip hop more than I thought I did. I love the creativity in the beats, sampling, etc.
Very chill and laid back
Very good but not quite up to the 5 level I expected from this album. Some of the tracks just felt like they fell flat. Also a lot of songs that seemed between a skit and a song and I just couldn’t understand it fully
Aah, De La Soul... This hip-hop/rap album was entertaining to listen to. Their approach of using unusual samples and sometimes even surreal lyrics, while projecting generally positive vibes, is a welcome relief after all that gangsta rap stuff.
Love it. Great sampling, nice lyricism, not overly showy, just all around good 90s hip hop.
Cut the skits and you have the perfect album.
Quite enjoyed this but a bit saccharine. In a terrible mood when I listened to it though which probably didn’t help
As someone who is really not a Hip-Hop guy, I absolutely loved this. The lyrics, the sound. The gameshow theme that ran through the album. This felt like a bunch of guys just having fun and making whatever the hell they wanted. Put me in a good mood!
Great album
A Tribe Called Quest but with a sense of humor
This is the one for me for them. What a time capsule.
I’m not the biggest rap fan but this was still really good. It’s a fun album overall but I think it could do without some of the shorter tracks and skits. As far as early rap groups go, I still prefer A Tribe Called Quest but I’m glad to have finally listened to a full De La Soul album
This one is all buddy, bubby, buddy in my face. How did the kookiest, most unique hip-hop album at the time resonate with everyone at school? I think it’s 'cause it's crafted by hand with 💛 and 🌼
Very good album. A little repetitive though.
Really enjoyed this one. Thought the game show concept album thing was strange but fun. Some tracks I didn’t enjoy as much and sometimes the humour wasn’t my thing, but as a whole I liked it a lot. Fav song: Eye Know - might be partly because I really like the Steely Dan song it samples. Also liked (3 Is) The Magic Number and Transmitting Live From Mars
Enjoyable but not quite as mind blowing as the Wikipedia article suggests it was. Definitely had influence though. Enjoyed the skits. Except the orgy one what the hell was that about. Specific rating- 3.9 Fav song- say no go Least fav- de la orgee
Fun to have a song that samples a song we’ve already had in the 1001 albums! Think how much I liked the first song made the rest of the album a little bit disappointing but still really enjoyable. Favourite song: (3 is) The Magic Number Least: De La Orgee
81/100. A great debut and truly an iconic hip-hop record. It's witty, playful, and packed with clever skits and fun, sample-heavy beats that helped redefine the genre. The album's creativity and originality make it feel fresh and engaging even today.
As classic as it gets. Eye Know is an all timer
3 Feet High and Rising is a bit on the lengthy side, and not all of the skits work, but there are still many classic hip hop songs on here, especially "Eye Know," so I'd say it deserves its classic status.
I pretty much missed this when it was new, but it feels absolutely right to the time, and I dig it.
“How many fibers are intertwined in a shredded wheat biscuit?” 72/100 Favorite(s): Say no go/buddy
Gode samples, fin flyt i albumet, men bittelitt langt
Pro: A mostly outstanding album. Certainly unique in its time period. Introduced the idea of sampling as a legitimate art. Gave a career boost to Q-Tip with his feature on "Buddy." Con: It's way too long. Introduced the concept skits and interludes on Rap albums.
Fun album
It’s better than I expected. I’m getting a whole education in 80s and 90s hip hop. It’s fun and funky. I have a little issue with some of the samples. Would be better if they were less obvious. But overall a fun listen.
I loved the prodiuction on this and it had loads of great songs. the skits werent bad. they wee funny and short. I likeed the collabs w/ q tip. Lots of fun uses of samples
Classic.
I like the style and the more playful lyrics.
This was just plain fun. Remember when hip hop was fun? Like, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince silly, but Dre/Snoop serious and quality? That's De La Soul, and I am here for it.
Decent
I don't listen to much hip hop from this time but I really liked this album. I love the samples, the raps flow very well and I love the humor!
Loved it. Listened while driving around in the week it first turned summer here.
lov this album. hate interstitials. the duality of man.
Fun and a great change of pace after Paul's Boutique Fav Track: The Magic Number
very fun!! loved that. love the old school hip hop rhythms and the game show concept too. Fav tracks: Jenifa Taught Me; Ghetto Thang; Eye Know; Say No Go
first, some context: I listened to this in Porto, an incredible city, cutting around on an early morning walk in the sunshine. That'll help. Arguably, this absolute gem doesn't need the added stimulus, but it didn't hurt. Anyway, it's everything that hip hop should be - fun, upbeat, cool - while avoiding all the traps that most people fall into of bravado and violence. They even manage funny skits! It's long, maybe too long, but a lovely pastel de nata and coffee accompaniment.
3 feet high and rating this bitch.
This is fun music
Funky album. A little goofy compared some other similar era hiphop which probably looses points for some but I it was a pretty enjoyable listen.
Rap and hip-hop is a major blind spot for me, mostly because I’ve really struggled to find artists I actually enjoy. At this point, the only hip-hop artists I actively listen to are Aesop Rock, Beastie Boys, and MF Doom. However, I think I’ll be adding De La Soul to that list! This album is so much fun and feels to be the opposite of a lot of the rap trends that I can't stand, and after reading their wiki, it seems that this was actually a large focus of their music. It really sounds like they were having an absolute blast making this album!
4
The magic number.
Hell yeah
Very fun, takes me back. I did not listen to this type of music back in 1989, but it is fun today.
J - 4/5 Best Track - "The Magic Number" F - DNL
I wanna win all da money
Never really listened into De La Soul even though I always knew they were one of the early pioneers of the hip hop. Should obviously have done. Love the laidback beats and the flow is impeccable. Also love how the scratching etc. is not over done. Not too much of a faen of all the skits that often is included in this age hip hop. Definitely hear a lot of this in modern hip hop that I lesten to, so they have probably inspired a lot of MCs coming after them.
Album de rap US essaye de pas avoir des sons de femmes qui gueulent comme dans un porno challenge : impossible. (Sinon c'était cool)
Classic
A hip-hop album, heavy with samples and opening with a skit - I should hate this, right? Wrong. Compared to other hip hop albums of the era, this is playful, jazzy, progressive and funny too. The samples here are eclectic choices (and also from a time before anyone thought to get clearance for them from copyright holders!). As well as classic soul and funk, we get artists like Hall & Oates, Johnny Cash, Steely Dan and The Turtles. There's also a cheeky French language tuition record thrown in for fun! Legal problems with the samples used kept this album off digital platforms for a long time, causing the band to release everything for free on Valentine's Day 2014 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this album's release. The good news is that an edited version with the samples still causing problems removed or replaced is now available to stream. Three-tastic!
A great hip-hop album, very fun, playful, great samples, good flow.
Twy
Muy bien, padre y divertido. Yo solo le hubiera quitado los tracks hablados en donde se supone que están en un programa de concursos, pero pues bueno, autores y conceptos que a mí me parecieron de más. Pero la música, bastente padre.
A certified classic! So many fun samples
What to say about De La Soul's joyous and witty 3 Feet High and Rising in 3 run-on sentences — no more, no less (you see what I did there)? There are more than 3 songs to be charmed by on this record that imprinted itself on my young mind, but I think of “The Magic Number,” “Eye Know,” and “Me Myself and I” as the pillars the rest of the tracks flow around effortlessly — thanks to 3 qualities: playful production, lyrical sincerity, and fresh tracks on wax. Can U Keep a Secret? — I could do without most of the skits (they’re part of why this is a 3-star rating — that and the cheekiness, you know I love you better), but they don’t drag the album down enough to dim its charm.
Pretty grooving good. Good rhymes on good beats, what more could a man ask for? I like the consistent theme of it being a game show, and it feels like they really tried to experiment with what's out there on the album.
Fun samples combined with excellent rapping make for a layd back summery listen. They occasionally drop real lyrical gold nuggets but some of the in between songs take the flow out.
Feel the damned groove.
Great 80s hip hop. Love the beats, love the rhymes, it sounds like a classic.
way better than run-dmc that’s for sure
molte canzoni sono ben all'interno della nostra cultura bello bello, soprattutto 'eye know' e 'me myself and i'
Sounds like a summer's day 😎
Lots of brilliance. But so many skits. So many.
❤️❤️❤️❤️Nostalgic
Remember when rap used to be the most fun genre of music? De La Soul was the pinnacle of that. Extra points for how thoroughly happy this album made me.
Silly, in the best way.
I'm not a huge hip-hop fan but I really enjoyed this!
I think about 3 Feet High and Rising as the most kind, and Enter the Wu-Tang as the most evil on the spectrum of influential group-style rap albums. Both great in their own way, only one you’d play with your parents in the room.
What's 3 feet high and rising? Funk? I think it's funk.
Real nostalgia
Would have got full marks, but those skits and humor were seriously not funny at all.
Just a name to me before yesterday, and let me tell ya, I frigged that one up. Right up my alley, hip hop wise. Dense, kinda fun, good sampling. Sick
Honestly I like this a lot I know more songs (three) than I expected to so thats good! I liked this album. It's pretty funny. I enjoyed listening to it. Overall: 4/5
8/10.
Not as good as I remember. Magic Number / Eye Know / Potholes in my Lawn / Me Myself and I are still laid back classics. Unfortunately there is alot of filler tracks and crappy skits that disrupt the listening experience and unfortunately means its a 4 and not a 5.
30/04/2025 I'm not into rap or hip hop, but this was alright.
Fantastic, awesome beats and samples. Mostly avoids the usual misogyny etc, but marked down a point for De La Orgee which was gross. Favourite tracks: The Magic Number, Jenifa Taught Me & Eye Know. Definitely worth a relisten. 4/5
Atemporal.
3 Feet High and Rising is a hugely important album in hip hop history, and you can hear why—it’s playful, inventive, and completely unlike anything else that was around in 1989. Instead of leaning into aggression or bravado, De La Soul built a colourful world full of quirky samples, light-hearted skits, and offbeat rhymes. Tracks like Me Myself and I and The Magic Number are infectious and clever, with an easygoing charm that's hard not to like. That said, the album’s constant skits and chaotic pacing can sometimes make it feel a bit bloated and uneven as a front-to-back listen. The creativity is undeniable, but a little trimming would have made the overall experience tighter. It’s a landmark album for sure, but it doesn’t always hit as hard emotionally or sonically as later hip hop milestones. Still, it’s a brilliant, joyful piece of work that changed the rules for what hip hop could be
Good flows and beats. I usually don't like skits on rap albums, but the skits on this one were funny, so I dug them a bit. This album might have been a 5 if it wasn't so fucking long.
Iconic! Great songs, but some filler tracks stops it being a 5.
Can definitely do without the faux orgy sounds, but otherwise, incredibly fun, smart album.
Still sounds like a modern album which sometimes difficult with sample based music. A worthy inclusion here 4.5*
I had this one on tape! I was a big Me Myself and I fan, so the album never really became a regular for me as the track is buried. Relistening it's so good, so many creative samples and completely new ideas. It was one of the last hip hop albums I ever owned as there seemed to be a split between dance hip-hop and 'serious' hip-hop, and I veered into indie rock.
Поймал Flow и мне вкатило
Cool transition hip hop album. This and the triple called quest albums are great.
This was so much fun! I couldn’t stop giggling my way through it.
8/10 Forgot how enjoyable de la soul is and hadn’t listened all the way through an album of theirs in far too long. Favorite Song: The Magic Number
Fun concept well executed. Naughty samples
Hér er heilmargt af skemmtilegu síðníundatugar hip-hopi. Smá filler með líka, en mér finnst þetta gott stöff heilt yfir og sum lögin eru klassík.
I like this kind of hip hop but I'm not sure how it's classified to be able to look for more.
Such a good old school hip hop album
🎧Good stuff, nice alternative to gangsta rap. Also it’s crediting with introducing the hip hop skit, so that’s a hell of a legacy.
Great album
Had high hopes for this, I think if I wasn't expecting a great album I'd have been happier because it was still good but not as good as it could have been. It was too long, lots of small throwaway songs that didn't really add anything. Strip those out and there were some quality songs. Magic number, Eye know, Me myself and I, daisy age all great. Think it's a 3.5 because I still like the sound but could have been more.
Terrific use of samples. The Magic Number and Eye Know stood out. Sounded decades ahead of its time. Lost a bit of spark because of the rotten interludes, so was too long, but overall closer to a 4 than a 3. Nice.
Enjoyed this, was maybe a bit silly in parts, but largely what I expected and recognised a few tracks. 3.5 but closer to 4
Can U Keep a Secret made me chuckle aloud. Eye Know and Me Myself and I were really good. A fun early hip hop album
So much fun! The rhymes are from a different era (and often a little juvenile). But the party vibe is timeless— turn this in at a party now and people will think: “that guy/gal throws a great party.” Will listen again when I’m not on a plane. At least, a four.
A mix of 80s hip hop and what was yet to come in the 90s. Superb album. A bit too much filler and skits though.
So glad it’s streaming now. I got to see De La Soul at Bumbershoot years ago, and briefly confused them for Yo La Tengo because I’m an idiot. I make it up to them by listening frequently. I’m not sure this one’s their best when there are so many to choose from. My name’s Plug Four.
aint too shabby actually quite fun
Classic and an enjoyable listen.
Loved the overall sound and vibe. Definitely deserves a fourth star for The Magic Number, Say No Go, Eye Know, Me Myself and I, and its sense of fun. I definitely get on with this kind of hip hop much more readily than with the sweary stuff that seemed to take over later on. A tad long, though.
This was amazing. Awesome and revolutionary production topped by clever wordplay along with funky chemistry between the three. This album revolutionized Hip-Hop and I can see why it's so highly rated. 4/5
It was a change to hear a rap album from a group that was very young when it was recorded. On the one hand, there is a youthful exuberance that isn’t full of weight from adult life and problems. On the other hand, there’s a lot of juvenile content like Orgee or the pointless skits that rap albums of the time had. When it hits, it really hits. But when it’s childish it becomes far less enjoyable.
Dit is best wel vet Doen alsof het een soort freestyle rap-battle is waarbij mensen zelf beats kunnen kiezen, maar de beats zijn allemaal bekende melodieën. Vooral mooi dat ze ook van die tussenstukjes met aankondigen enzo hebben Zou dit wel als geheel luisteren maar losse nummers denk ik dat niet echt werkt in een playlist. Wel hard
If I get anything out of this musical journey, it's a new appreciation for late 80s/early 90s hip hop.
De La debut still cooks
3.5 Fun, not spectacular but a fun listen faves: the magic in number, change in speak
First Listen: Feb 14 2023 one of my favorite old-school rap albums. makes me so happy
Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 🟨🌼🔃 Production: 🎛️👍🕺 Music: 🎤🌈🔥 Rating: 🌼🌼🌼🌼(🌼)/5
Smoove grooves. Added. Perfect music for getting work done.
Fun and funny. There's some great use of choice samples as well. Eye Know and Say No Go are highlights.
funky
Just a fun, unserious album to groove to, even if most of the attempts at humor weren't funny
3.75/5
This however, was very cool
Great album overall. Plug Tunin’ is such a great throwback. ❤️ The tracks “Do as De La does” and “De La other” are trash, LOL.
Yo, what if hiphop was, like, fun?? Is that anything??
Not normally my jam, but this is very solid. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
I would absolutely listen to this again. My favorites are the singles, but they're so good! I go gaga for any Q-Tip feature - he has one of my favorite voices ever - so I like Buddy, and I love the Otis whistle on Eye Know. I already knew and liked Me Myself and I and The Magic Number. I listened with headphones and was not prepared for an ASMR experience centered around dandruff, but otherwise really enjoyed this, ha.
A classic!
Incredibly light and fun. I wasn't familiar with De La Soul and this was an awesome first impression
So many great tracks on this. Can put it on and just let it spin, although have to take a break between the orgy and Me Myself and I, but then it's back to hitting.
A fun listen with good vibes. Would listen again.
Really really great. I loved this.
This was a fun one. I almost gave it a 5, but there’s just a few too many misses for me. 4/5 Highlights: The Magic Number Eye Know Me Myself and I
Jazzy, uplifting and upbeat. Very fun album and very influential to a lot of artists I listen to regularly today.
Melodyjny rap z ciekawymi samplami. Zaskakująco mi się podobał, chociaż trochę za dużo tych kawałków jak na jedną płytę. Ale tak to jest jak się wrzuca coś poniżej minuty. 6.5/10 ale zaokrąglone w górę dla odmiany.
This was pretty good. It sounds dated though... it's so very obvious this is from the late 80's/ early 90's... but it's good, fun, and very original.
Muss ich noch einmal hören. Hat Spaß gemacht zu hören, aber kein individuelles Lied konnte mich zu sehr überzeugen
-1 for inventing the hip hop skit
I dig the hyper-eloquent laid-back vibes. I think I’ll like their later stuff even more.
Très cool. Je connaissais via leurs collaborations avec Gorillaz, mais j'avais jamais écouté leurs albums avant, et je dois dire que j'ai beaucoup aimé, de leur humour au choix des samples
Del La Soul FOR THE SOUL. Lyrics that are sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but always well-crafted. The music production is unreal. Upon this re-listen I’ll have ‘The Magic Number’ stuck in my head for days.
This week has given us a string of "4 stars that are almost 5 stars." Which is such a good place to be in, versus the usual 70s rock and 90s Brit band doldrums. Only the fact that overstay it's welcome a bit, and has a few misfires keeps this from being a 5 star. But still a classic.
I thought I would hate this. Cheesy 80's rap? I mean, it begs to be hated! But, this was a surprisingly good listen
Fun and chill, a lot of notable tracks but also kinda long. Favorite track(s): Magic Number, Eye Know, Buddy, Me Myself and I Will I revisit?: high priority Current rating: 8/10
Classic. Fun. Hiphop
I am not a big rap fan, but I did enjoy a lot of the hip hop/jazz fusion that was present on the record. Each member has a presence on the mic that is undeniably fun. It's clear that they are having fun on the record with some of these goofy skits. At times I found some of these skits to be a bit much at times, but overall was pleasant. Fav Track: Change In Speak Least Fav: Take It Off 7/10
I enjoyed this much more than I expected to. I think it's the sense of humour that the lads bring to the music that lifts it above any similar effort.
Funky
Fun, funky, fresh
I love De La Soul and there are so many classic tracks on this album but sometimes they can be corny as hell, like in the song Tread Water. The skits are a major drag and completely ruin the otherwise wonderful track Buddy. All in all, still a good album and De La Soul rules
A straight up classic record. These beats hit the right spots for that nostalgia high. Great record.
3 Feet High and Rising has a sound that speaks straight to my childhood. De La Soul is from Amityville, New York, about an hour from where I grew up on Long Island. the group's suburban surroundings had a tremendous impact on their subject matter, sense of humor and overall musical dynamic. Prince Paul's groundbreaking production focuses heavily on samples from psych rock and funk, and the general theme of being true to yourself comes through in the trio's carefree flows (dated though they may sound today). that being said, this album invented (or at least pioneered) the skit and the sex skit, a sin for which it can never be forgiven. light 8/10.
Everyone was right, this really is delightful Favourite track Eye Know Least fav track: Tread Water
Un très bon album de hip-hop, je comprends pourquoi il est si bien perçu par la communauté. Je ne suis pas autant fan que d'autres albums qui sont son contemporain (particulièrement les skits), mais c'est un album vraiment amusant. 7.5/10
Love it, great start.
Hiphop de finales de los 80 que tiene momentos graciosos y bastante originales para la época, aunque dure 1 hora y pico no ha habido ningún momento de bajón, ni tan mal. Canción destacada: Eye Know
gostei demais
didn’t think it would be for me at first, but it just got better and better.
Despite being an hour long it never got boring or felt overlong.
Se ve que se re divirtieron haciendo este álbum, también la pasé bien escuchándolo y me reí, está bueno
Like a lot of hip hop from the '80s, the beats sound a little old fashioned, and the flow is not all that technically impressive by modern standards. Even so, 3 Feet High and Rising just has some kind of special charm to it. It feels and sounds very relaxed, and the skits are fun without disrupting the album too much.
3.7 - Yeah this was great, but honestly a bit too long and felt a bit samey after a while
It's fucking annoying I wrote a track by track review and it disappeared. This was fucking great, but we'll never know how I really felt in the moment 4.5
ja heti the crunge rumpulinjaus, heh huomaan...huomaan.. Joko naurat hänen viestilleen tai otat sen sydämeesi ja saat elämäsi mahtavimmat harjoitukset eteenpäin. word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha... hip hop h h h HUMPUTUS !! on tässä hyvää... word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha, word to tha motha.. (tapa korostaa lausunnon totuutta tai vilpittömyyttä.) the magic number
The album is really cool. You can really hear the hip-hop color in this album. I'm not a fan of the "Game Show" bits that are sprickled in this album.
easy 4 stars lots of classic songs. great background album
The samples are really cool, the artwork looks fun, and everyone could use a little more positivity in their lives like these lyrics bring.
Cool album, a bit long so i only listened fully once over. Very unique
So much fun and groove. Impossible to not smile or walk with a limp whilst listening.
Hip-hop classic, 2 songs that introduced me to the genre. So much funk and creativity. Imagine listening to this in 89 on vinyl for the 1st time, unlike anything you've ever heard!! Joyousness
A solid album but a little bit let down by the high number of tracks/filler. Very influential in hiphop, moving away from the heavier sound, also unfortunately started the trend of crappy skits. Some memorable bangers 3.5 / 5 for me, roundedup.
Unique rap album. Pretty great!
classic hip hop. pretty good
Very groovy, fun, and catchy
Classic album from my youth
Cool album.
Disfruté de 3 Feet High and Rising, de De La Soul. Me pareció muy interesante la visión del grupo acerca de determinados aspectos. A pesar de que al principio no le tenía fe, terminó por sorprenderme y enseñarme que cada grupo es un mundo y que cada visión es valiosa y digna de ser descubierta. No solo presenta extremadamente bien al grupo y a sus valores, sino que sirve de crítica a la sociedad que ve el género, y, en general, a todo lo relacionado con el rap/hip-hop (ghettos, thughs, etc) cómo algo negativo. 8/10.
Fun album, really liked "Eye Know". I'm personally a bigger fan of dirtier hip hop which would follow this era of hip hop in a few short years but can certainly respect this work as a pioneer for hip hop. I will say, though: There is no need for there to be 23 songs on this or any album. 8/10
Daisy age at it’s best…. Love this!
Fantastic album; had nothing like this in my collection back in the day. Would have given 5 stars, but the awesome follow on album - De La Soul is Dead - took it to another level
Not for me
De liteful! Back when hip hop was fun to listen to and a bit more upbeat. Not full of the N word and slagging off former friends or associates, a total lack of bitches, superb!
Three-mendous!
As someone who doesn’t really consider himself a fan of hip-hop or albums that last more than an hour, it feels like a miracle to just say how much I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I’ve heard many things about this album and how influential it is and its reputation is certainly proven to me. It’s a fun ride that never really loses steam as it goes on. Between the little game show theme and some of the synergy between the trio in the more comedic tracks, it’s a nice trip. If I had to criticize, there are moments that maybe the album can come off as a little immature. I mean, De La Ogree was a little annoying. Though I not sure what I expected with that track. It’s not a five from me personally, but it came really close. And for me, a hip-hop album that gets nearly five stars deserves my respect. Glad it’s finally on streaming services. Favorite track: Me Myself and I Other hits: The Magic Number, Eye Know, Say No Go, Plug Tunin’, Tread Water, Buddy
De La Soul was rap pioneers by using classic jazz,funk,pop, soul samples in their music and this album was groundbreaking in showcasing that. Samples from everything from Steely Dan to Hall & Oates and Parliament and everything in between. This is a must listen album. It does have a lot of filler material, which makes it almost an album you have to listen from beginning to end to get it fully. But here's some tracks you can't miss: The Magic Number Ghetto Thang Eye Know Say No Go Buddy Plug Tunin (original 12" version) Me Myself and I (look for the 7" single version to get the one that they played on MTV and radio) This is a great album, and must be heard. 4/5
Very old school style. Eye Know is a solid song. bringing Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest is a pro move, pairing that with the Jungle Brothers is another level. Me, Myself, and I is a great single.
Very groovy album similar in vibe to TCQ. I think the most De La Soul I’ve heard previously had been Gorillaz features. Nice change of pace for this list. Pleasant surprise
Have to say sadly I didn't know de la soul outside of gorillaz tracks and the ninja turtles movie. Quality album, very early 90s sound throughout. Tread water is such an excellent silly song.
Fun, poignant, and a little experimental. Always good for some De La
классные семплы, репчик. я понимаю почему этот альбом считается культовым
They were right, this is a great hiphop album
An Infectiously positive album. It's nice to get this as it feels really different from the rest of the list. The three of them work well and their approach to rap is like nobody else.
Bit too goofy at times, but still some really solid beats on this one.
While not every track is gold - I could do without some of the odd little interjections and such - there is plenty of solid old school hip hop on this album that I would definitely recommend someone to give it a listen. Eye Know and Me Myself and I alone are reason enough to give it a shot. Rap from when rap was fun, with a little bit of social commentary thrown in. Just great stuff. I want to give it 5 stars, but some of the weird stuff, like De La Orgee, knocks it down a peg.
Kinda crazy how fun and laidback early rap sounds.
7.5
As far as Hip hop/Rap albums go, this one is worth a listen. It's fun, there's good grooving beats, it's very accessible and I love the sampling. A good sense of humour never hurts that doesn't take itself too seriously and I can even appreciate the "skits" that don't distract from the music. I'm not a big enough fan of the genre to buy this, but I would definitely listen again.
One of the most important rap albums of all time. Idk what to say other than that the songs in it are good 👍
delightful
Great friday vibe.
As a concept album is simply a 10 but the recording mixing failed. I liked this cd as a kid but I could never love it as the beats were too loud and I couldnt really follow the lyrics. I know they were young and their and this was their first album but they grew fast into what came after was a top 25 ever rap album. Thos was a glance of their future. Underrated group and very innovative at the time.
Four or so awesome singles, but just a bit too much of the skitting guys for five starts.
HipHop Rhythmisches cooles Album; schöne Beats
I am generally not a hip hop fan but I enjoyed this album a lot!!
Este era el cambio que necesitaba después de escuchar discos mediocres durante toda la semana.
Muss ich noch einmal hören. Hat Spaß gemacht zu hören, aber kein individuelles Lied konnte mich zu sehr überzeugen
So when everyone zigged to killing muthaf'ers and cops, De La zagged to fun and frolicking. That's positive, as is the use of such a broad range of samples. Well done. They also apparently invented the hip-hop skit which became prevalent on many albums, but my thought about that is it's fun the first time, but gets real annoying afterwards when you're just trying to bounce to some dang beats.
Unique. Always a good vibe too.
A classic for sure, even though I personally prefer their next 2 albums
The background of the album it's funny The production incredible in some tracks as well as the lyrics
i love all the 90s trip hop, conscious rap, etc.
Classic album of course and the hits are still loads of fun but I also quickly realized why I don't go back to the album as a whole very often: all those skits and joke tracks are really annoying and totally ruin the flow.
Damn good album. Too many skits.
This is such a goofy album, and I truly had fun listening to it. De La Soul is old-school rap at it's finest. And, although I haven't heard this particular album, it reminded my of one of my favorite rap groups: A Tribe Called Quest (of course, they do end up making a guest appearance on a track). Even though it was funny, I didn't particularly enjoy the non-songs on this album. I thought they ruined the flow of one solid hip hop song after another, and I found the "Delaorgy" or whatever sex thing was happening in the middle, completely jarring. I'll definitely be spinning tracks from this in the future, but I'll be surprised if I ever listen to the album from start to finish again.
Sounds like three best friends got together one day in a studio and made this. Also happens to sound awesome. Love the beats, love how groovy and upbeat they are. I did find some of the lyrics to be kinda awkward and I thought the interludes were a little annoying at times but still damn good. Fav Songs: Jenifa Taught Me, Say No Go, Eye Know, Buddy 3.5/5
Everyone is having a good time
Properly kicks off with Bonham's amazing beat from The Crunge and doesn't let up from there. Say No Go is a banger. For me, it doesn't hit the heights of A Tribe Called Quest, but is a great album nonetheless.
I had completely forgotten how much I listened to this album when I was younger and how ingrained it was in my mind. Absolutely banging production and lyrics with very distinctive themes running through the production, skits and rhymes. Flow can be a bit clunky/basic but I was loving listening to this again and will definitely be putting it back on regular rotation.
3 is the magic number. Very ahead of its time at the time, some brilliant sampling. The rhyming is good, if not a little odd. I would gladly never hear de la orgy again though lol
One of these tracks are not like the others!
Album gets wackier during later songs, but I like it more that way.
Interesting to see this album released just as gangsta rap was gaining a foothold. This is the complete other side. Interesting sampling, really varied. Charmingly irreverent. Here, the wackier the songs, the better. Tread Water is cute with talking to all the animals. I can't imagine myself listening to this album often, but I can definitely appreciate it for what it is. Main takeaway: wash yo ass with soap. Fav tracks: Eye Know, Tread Water, Me Myself and I
An album that has been on my list for a while and I'm glad I finally gave it a listen. I get the hype around this album- the raps and samples are great. Some weird sketch-like inclusions but that's typical for late 80s/early 90s rap. You can see how this album influenced many that came afterwards. 8.5/10 (4.25/5)
De la soul! Jag är alltid på bättre humör efter jag hör dom.
I'm a fan. It's an upbeat, genre-bending album. Also, once you've heard "Me Myself and I," it will stick in your head for days - DAYS. There were a few other gems I hadn't heard before, too.
Classic hip hop from a time when finding poetry in the genre was not easy. Price Paul’s beats are also so iconic and distinct that they instantly transport you back to the 90s
Funky raps. A whole different kind of vibe. More friendly and approachable in gangster rap. Good vibes for a good time.
Awesome, super fun to listen to
Pretty good!
If you don’t enjoy this album then there is something wrong with you.
The Magic Number Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge) Ghetto Thang Eye Know Potholes in My Lawn Say No Go Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend) Buddy Me Myself and I
Being the first R.E.M album Ive listened to, seems like a high mark to me. Everyone hurts and Man on the moon! Being their eighth album im not entirely sure where that lands in their discography but it was a great standalone album.
Yesssss too good.
An unusual album with a good song. (Me Myself and I)
Really cool samples and mixing.
Added 3 or 4 songs to liked songs - reminded me of good old times. 3,5*
what a fun album
Bangers. Beats are unique and funky. Rapping also genieten.
One of the best rap albums I've ever heard. The beats were fun and could stand on their own. The lyrics felt like a few guys just having a good time and trying to make each other laugh.
Fun album, entertaining lyrics. There were a lot of similarities to a Tribe Called Quest, but the smoothness of Q-Tip's bars makes Tribe rank a little higher in my book. I'll probably listen to this album again to catch more of the lyrics though.
This album is kind of a landmark in the history of hip-hop due to its very novel use of sampling, and the skit format. Overall just a few very young adult guys having a super fun time, and an important hip-hop listen.