Reviews (page 8 of 12)
College memories.
There are some tracks where I really get it and others where I kind of can't stand it
Magic Number, Eye Know, and Me, Myself, and I are cracking tracks, there’s a bit of filler here but still a good listen
A definite vibe. Would probably rate it higher if my mood was HIGH
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.
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)
3.5
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.
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.)
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!
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
yo man c'est coool
Note have been deleted 😔 From what I heard I would rate 6/10
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.
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
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.
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
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.
I think this is ahead of its time, very creative and fun throughout. Not my favourite hip hop record but still a good listen.
Skits nerven, Flow ist ziemlich all over, aber das Sampling ist immer noch kaum erreicht.
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.
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.
Listened, not living it.
Not my main style of music I like but I did enjoy the vibe of the album.
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.
i only liked one song
Cool
pretty good album
Clean and cool
Good
Some really great songs, but a lot of bad ones too. Overall, would listen to some of these again. Nice to find.
Half was really vibey and fun to listen to and half was annoying af
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
Ruined by skits, but those samples and positive vibes are immaculate
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
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
Better than I thought. Innovative for 1989
Not my taste :(
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
Pretty good. Old school, but not quite as kitchy as that style tends to be. Eye Know is pretty solid.
3.5
Ihan jees. 2,75/5.
The second half is better than the first.
Pretty solid but the moaning songs were a bit much.
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
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.
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.
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
Sympathique !
142 Lo encontré entretenido? Sí Lo escucharía de nuevo? No :D
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.
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.
Dałbym wyższą ocenę tzn. 3.5 ale się nie da
Was funky but not my vibe
Good! Not my sort of thing tbh, but can see its good
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.
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)
Fun
Good fun, enjoyed this
Pretty quirky
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.
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
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.
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
It was fine
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
De la Orgee singlehandedly drags the otherwise enjoyable and fun and goofy album down to mediocrity
3 er et magisk nummer.... Og det her var bedre end forventet, men lidt langt med de mange skids, og Bits..
Sjov hip-hop. Fed sampling. Lidt langt. Virkelig platte interludes.
De har bättre..
Kind of a definitive sound of hip-hop in the early 90’s. Fresh Prince vibes ha. Good beats, good flow. Upbeat, energetic. There’s a lot of comedic lyrics and skit tracks interspersed on the album. Notable tracks include The Magic Number, Ghetto Thang, Eye Know, Say No Go, Me Myself and I.
this is such a vibe (song #1) never mind (song #3-4)
Early rap. Clean and solid. But I like my rap a bit harder and grittier
Some really good songs, some really corny songs. It's good I guess, but not my favorite group from this era. I respect the production style though. Really pushed forward sample heavy hip hop beats.
3.5
Some fine moments, some are not, mostly over the place
Production: great. Skits: horrendous. 3/5
If I had a favourite hip-hop/rap album, which I don’t, but if I did, it would probably be this one. But I don’t. The genre leaves me feeling old and bewildered, but this is a fun record and I enjoyed listening to it. As with all records in this genre, it’s the music that makes it for me.
As Hip-Hop goes I am sure this is significant in it's development etc. There are some tracks which stand out , but as is so often the case with this genre for me its the variation in the music and instrumentation that makes it of interest. All the same this feels a bit... long. Magic Number, Me Myself and I are, great. The quiz show bits wear thin very quickly.
This is #day454 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… it's been a while since I've had a record from what's apparently called the D.A.I.S.Y. Age. I always knew about the Golden Age of Hip-Hop; same thing, I guess? Anyway, I've seen this cover before and heard of the band and the album name, but somehow never actually listened to it. Until today. Surely influential and all that. A little too soulful and laid-back for my taste, though. Also, too long. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day455.
a lot of this feels like the informational videos that you would get shown in health class (A Little Bit of Soap) and the rest feels like a few guys joking around and stepping up to the mic with no real plan, just letting their inside jokes guide them (Can U Keep a Secret). i doubt i’d listen to this again, but it was a fun listen. i enjoyed Eye Know, Buddy, and The Magic Number.
3.5 stars This is a great and influential hip hop record that I appreciate more than I enjoy. While singles like “3 is a magic number” and “Me Myself and I” are undeniable classics, the album feels overlong and some of the tracks feel their age. While the sampling in this era of hip hop is impressive, the beats and rhyme schemes can often feel repetitive, making the listening experience for a 1 hour record a bit trying. I was glad that the skits were extremely brief. I’ll return to it and it may increase in my opinion over time. I’ve listened to much of the album in the past but this was my first full listen and it didn’t grab me as much as I thought it would.
Great first half.. Okayish 2nd half.. some really groovy beats tho..
Apreciei
Great
My first foray into Hip-Hop in this journey. Very much not my usual genre. Intro - X/10. Not rated, played like a gameshow introduction. (3 is) The Magic Number - 8/10. Nice beat, a bit meta and very intelligent lyrics. I like it. Change In Speak - 7/10. Good beat, I like the backing music. Solid groove. Cool Breeze on the Rocks - X/10. Not rated. Gameshow Interlude. Can U Keep a Secret - 7/10. Good groove, lyrics fit with the title of the song. Jenifa Taught Me - 7/10. Another nice groove. Ghetto Thang - 7/10. Surprisingly, I find a lot of similarities between this and Elvis Presley's "In The Ghetto." Transmitting Live From Mars - 5/10. Not bad, but not as good as the previous tracks. Eye Know - 9/10. Smooth groove, and they're sampling Peg by Steely Dan and Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding. These gentlemen have taste. Take It Off - 4/10. Not a fan of this one. A Little Bit Of Soap - 6/10. Nice sample of Stand By Me. Tread Water - 6/10. Another smooth groove, which they seem to specialize in. Potholes In My Lawn - 8/10. This has me doing a little dancing in my chair as I listen. I like it. Say No Go. - 7/10. Another smooth groove. Using the words almost as another instrument. Do as De La Does - 6/10. More of an aggressive groove here than what's come before. Not bad. Plug Tunin' - 7/10. Back to the smoother grooves, and I like it. De La Orgee - 4/10. Significantly more ... explicit than what's come before. A bit jarring. Buddy - 6/10. More on the explicit side, but also more subtle about it, so I don't mind it. Description - 7/10. Smooth and back to the fun of the early part of the album. Me Myself and I - 6/10. Very nice groove, mix might be a little too heavy on the music, lyrics aren't as easy to pick out as I'd like. This is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime ERA - 6/10. Very typical of this album. I Can Do Anything - 5/10. Meh. D.A.I.S.Y. Age - 6/10. Smooth and simple. Overall Rating - 3/5. Solid album.
Some great tunes on this one but some filler also
really weird, but super funny 3
SEEEEEEEEE
Inside joke I'm looking in on
The music was alright and gave a real uplifting vibe, which was nice; however, it was a bit too long for me.
Some bits I quite liked but not enough interesting stuff for me.
is the magic number.
Some parts great, some parts repulsive. No parts for me.
Fun sound and energy on this album. Not something I think I’d revisit much, but a good hip hop album with lots of twists and turns. 3/5
I don't like the skits, they drain a lot of energy, but the tracks are really good. Great flow, excellent rhymes, kinda understated, which I really like.
This was fun mixed with message mixed with Proof Redding. It was just a simple album for the day that had me think a little and chuckle a little.
It's okay. In it's best moments it has some creative sampling and cool scratching. Their rapping isn't that great. Sometimes seemed kind of juvenile, probably because they were young when they made this & some of it seems like they are just messing around.
This record is a pioneer in hip hop and I truly respect it, and yet I can’t rate it high because it simply does nothing for me. The tracks are interesting and yet not. It sounds like it was all made up in the spot.
This album feels like a big party. Super fun vibes. It went on a little too long for my taste, especially with the similar back beat that is present through so many of the tracks, but I was impressed with the creativity and the raps.
As usual, I prefer the alt rap to the typical gangster rap of the 90s, and this is no exception. I also like the positive vibes of this album
Highlight Song/s: (3 is) The Magic Number, Ghetto Thang, Eye Know Quite a relaxing album, no yelling or other aggressive forms of rapping are present. Positive and light-heartedness and comedy are some other elements on this album. De La Soul; all three of them have a really clean, steady, punctual flow. De La Soul references like a dozen or so words in most of the songs, which to my ears gives it a more cohesive feel to it; like it's a show or something. Some thoughts that didn't fit anywhere else: -Eye Know sounds so hopeful and so so sweet. -Tread Water's flow kind of sounds like the flow from It's Tricky by Run-DMC.
I have pretty strict tastes when it comes to soul. I think they're doing cool, really new stuff, but it isn't for me
alright
Nice and fun. I liked the track (3 Is) The Magic Number. I also really like how these 90's rap albums tend to have all these intermission tracks, which I love in albums. Also, I like the game show storyline
The answer is 3
They really like sampling.
Smoooooooth
Very creative, maybe a bit unrefined. But if you like old school hip-hop and rap, it's fun.
Remember when hip hop was just fun? This record is just a good time. I wish there were less skits but that's not a huge deal. Favorite track: The Magic Number
This was quite fun! Not the usual sort of thing I listen for in hip hop, but I liked it. I was really impressed by the DJ and the production, as well as how early those "skits" you often find in hip hop appeared.
some hit and miss songs but overall I enjoyed the album. wouldn't mind listening again
Very sunny and uplifting slab of old-school hip-hop. Prince Paul is the main hero of this record for me, as lyrics will often float by me on the first few listens with rap records; still, I appreciate the craft and accessibility of the words here too. The biggest downside of the album, for me, is the skits. They really got tiresome for me the more I listened, and I never found them that funny to begin with. If I give myself permission to skip tracks, though, this is a perfectly fine record.
It's a pretty good hip hop album but it is loooonngg. Tracks felt repetitive. Also "De La Orgee" is unnecessary. If De La Soul could've tightened this album up, it would've been four stars. Top tracks: "Me Myself and I," "(3 Is) The Magic Number," "Eye Know," "Plug Turnin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)"
A lot of fun. Too long. The beats are much more interesting than the rapping. The orgy skit tempted me to drop this to 2 but there is too much value here to do that. Best song: Me Myself and I
Solid solid record. I love their classic hip hop style beats, their chilled delivery, their feel for a hook and their sense of fun. It's long though, and although there are fewer frustrating pointless skits than some hip hop from this period, the game show thing is very annoying.
Uma nova forma de trabalhar com hip hop, com elementos psicodélicos, esse álbum brilha
My first thoughts about this album were that this was probably interesting when it came out, cool jazzy influences, but hasn’t really help up into 2025. And then Transmitting Live from Mars and Eye Know came on, changing my mind about the album. In the end, a couple other songs have stood out to me - Say No Go, for instance - but overall my first impression wasn’t so far off from my final analysis. And you’ve got to be kidding me with De La Orgee.
Take out the dumb skits and this is an all-timer
Classic
One thing better left in last century is sketches on hip hop albums. I never understood it- the funny skits weren’t funny on repeat listens, the serious sketches dragged on, the sexual sketches were painful. ¨3 Feet High and Rising¨ starts with a sketch and my soul started to sag. Cue ¨ (3 is) The Magic Number¨ and its vibrancy, its soul, its sense of funky fun and all is right with the world. This album, to me, is that magic transition period between 80s and 90s New York rap. There’s still a bit of the old school but the beats are better, the rhymes less formulaic, people are figuring out they can do whatever they want. Like any good NYC classic it puts you right in the middle of a certain time and place. However, as opposed to Mobb Deep’s pissy stairways and Wu Tang’s ninja apocalypse, De La Soul paints a sunnier urban vibe- cultured and positive while still being street-smart. It’s like a cool Sesame Street (and Sesame Street was always cool anyways). I don’t find the three rappers so distinctive- they’re good, fun to listen to, but not quite as distinctive as NWA or Wu Tang. I was never huge into the conscious rap, but the older I get the more I appreciate not getting a slop bucket of misogyny, homophobia and violence poured over me. Of course, then you get to ¨De La Orgee¨ and you walk everything back. Great jazzy NYC rap for (almost) the whole family. Best songs: ¨(3 is) The Magic Number,¨ ¨Eye Know,¨ ¨Tread Water¨
Fun upbeat songs with good beats/production, just too many songs that I would skip if not listening to the album through
Can dig it
De La Soul has a distinct vibe, which I appreciate. But, similar to the Go Gos, it's a vibe that grows repetitive and tiresome midway through an album. (It's a very personal thing, I guess, how long one can tolerate a particular musical sound. There are plenty of very repetitive punk albums that I could listen to on repeat.) I enjoyed this album, but it's hard to imagine I'll ever choose to listen to it again. If I feel like listening to this rap sub-genre, I'll probably go with Jurassic 5 or Digable Planets, both of whom I find more interesting.
This actually aged pretty well. The game show interludes were moderately amusing. The music holds up nicely. The lyrics are...um...sort of par for the course. Probably won't make regular rotation, but no hip-hop ever does.
I'd of course heard of them, but didn't know any of this. Some catchy stuff. Too much talking, though.
I wonder sometimes how hip-hop artists make any money when most of their tracks are samples of other people’s work. That being said, this is a melodic and largely inoffensive piece of work with some recognisable (and I mean the tracks not just the samples) songs that I quite enjoyed. Well done hiphop (for a change). 4 But I did hate all the sketches in between songs. Why is that a thing in hiphop? It never works. Knocked down to a 3 because of that.
Alright. Interesting vibe and character but a little boring and repetitive.
3,25
It was chill Will I listen to again: 45%
Probably one of the most boring concerts I ever attended was De La Soul back in the mid 90s. Their style of laid back jazzy hip hop just never translated well to the live stage as far as I am concerned. Nevertheless, as far as background sound at home while tinkering on this or that, it works well. I always loved the track Me, Myself, and I. But they were never as fun or engaging as their contemporaries A Tribe Called Quest. 3/5 #190
Will listen again
Fairly enjoyable listen, although it doesn't quite hit fully for me
The list comes bearing gifts once again in the form of hour-long conscious hip hop albums; this time it’s far nicer and more listenable than what I’ve had thus far. Perhaps it’s because De La Soul weren’t looking over their shoulder for rival gangs during recording. There really isn’t much to separate this from many other albums of its like other than its marginally earlier release date (there’s sub-minute skits, recurring motifs, and of course an unwanted minute-ish of sex sounds) but there’s something very clean-cut about this whole affair - and I think it’s because of how fun it is. You’ll of course recognise The Magic Number and Me Myself and I immediately, but it’s a few other tunes that really make this better than the average album of its kind, especially Jenifa and Eye Know, with a better Dan sample than Mr. West could dream of. I’ll stop the comparisons though and just note that I didn’t get bored at any point here, even being an hour long and honestly having a very similar sound throughout (save for some of the skits), 3 Feet High is a lot of fun and takes you away from it all, if that’s what you want.
Fine. Some good songs with a lot of filler. 3.5
Really good. But doesn’t make me stop what I’m doing to listen.
Feel good inc was theirs and this is their early stuff. Good background party rap.
good samples, good beats, multiple v good songs. had fun
Hip hop but poppy and fun.
This is a fun album. Nothing really jumped out at me as something I'd throw on my playlist, so it's a 3.
absolute banger, 4.5
Listened with my best friend who said this is what she listened to as a kid
I had a lot of fun listening to this album and sometimes joy is enough.
Really like the beats and flow of a lot of this album. Hate the inclusion of a track that is just sex noises - but that’s art i guess? Probably would’ve pushed towards a 4 if some of this was trimmed down, but as an entire album experience that fluff brings it a bit down in my opinion.
Ugh I wanted this to be better! There’s some really fun stuff here, but there’s also a lot of boring stuff too. A little trimming would have done this album a world of good. At least the skits are just one thing instead of overlong misogynistic stuff like a lot of its contemporaries.
Cool cool cool ol skool progressive hip hop. These guys have Fun and -tip makes an appearance. No complaints.
I enjoyed the listen, but conversely, I like other hip hop from this period better. One example would be Digable Planets.
Really liked the sound of the album, but i was not particularly captured by any specific song. Kinda samey, whack lyrics. 7/10
A good record with some uncomfortable tracks sprinkled in. Favourite Track(s):Plug Tunin', Tread Water Least Favourite Track(s): De La Orgee
Funky, freaky, silly and inventive.
Hmm... I remember liking this more last year. I don't dislike it now. But I have complaints. The first half of this album is good and really fun and includes one of my favourite rap songs (Eye Know). But the second half... has problems. Maybe last year I just listened up until Eye Know and was just so entranced by the song that I stopped listening to the rest of the record and instead put Eye Know on repeat for a few hours and walked out thinking "i'm a big De La Soul fan." But now as part of this exercise, I have listened to the album twice all the way through... and it is fucking long. It is an hour and 3 minutes long and in the back half it really feels like it. If it were up to me, i'd cut everything after Potholes in My Lawn except for Me Myself and I. That would leave a really strong 36 minutes of music (i did the math), which is a very respectable album. I'd probably give that album a 3.5 and round it up to a 4 because I love Eye Know so much. But this is not the world that we live in. We live in a world where this album is way too fucking long... like many albums on this list are. So why would I cut the back half of the album? 1) There are several mediocre tracks that don't add much to the album. Tracks in the first half deliver on these ideas much better. 2) There's a god damn sex noise song, De La Orgee. And based on the fact that this isn't the first 90s rap album with a sex noise song, it must be some sort of trend or right of passage for rap groups at the time. I have not yet found one that can actually deliver on the concept and make an enjoyable track or even a track that's subversive and shocking and taboo in a way that's interesting. So far they're either cringe, like on this album, orrr disturbing like on sex packets (if you know you know). The nicest thing I can say is the De La Soul version is better than the sex packets version... i guess. I'm glad this trend has died off since the millennium. Whoever started it, should be punished. 3) There's nothing less cool than someone who says "doo doo" or "dookie" instead of just saying "shit" like an adult. I swear this happens a few times on the album and I found it annoying. 4) There's no hooks in the back half. I listened to these songs twice and I don't remember them at all. The songs I liked... (3 is) The Magic Number - Great vibes. Fun instrumental. Catchy flows. Change In Speak - Great horns sample/grunt sample (sounds almost like James brown). The beat overall is really good. Jenifa Taught Me - I love the flow. I love how he says "jenny". I love the goofy adlibs by the other voice. The vocal sample in the beat that works as a little refrain is also cool. Transmitting Live from Mars - cool hazy lofi hiphop beat with french talking samples overtop. i dig it. Eye Know - Fuck I love this song. I love the guitar in the beat. I love the whistle that hits in the verses. I love the chorus. That vocal line "I know I love you better" and then the horn melodies. It's perfect. The lyrics are great. The flows are great. Incredible song. Take it off - Goofy, fun interlude track. A Little Bit of Soap - is that a Stand By Me sample?? Me Myself and I - a weird 90s funk instrumental. i dig it. I like that synth melody that acts as the hook going back with the "me myself and i" refrain. It's a good time. This is the only second half song worthy of this album. In general there's just a lot of variety in the first half, weird little interludes, a track where they just whisper shit, a gameshow skit. They're having fun, but also tackling serious themes. It's warm, hazy joy. It has a very summer in the city, everyone out enjoying the weather, having a good time vibe. Ultimately... because of the second half.... this is a 2.5 but i'll round up because of Eye Know.
Demented, in a good way. Truth be told, this record hasn't aged as well as I anticipated. Yeah, there are a handful of classic tracks on here - and much of the production remains uniquely fresh - but there are quite a lot of meandering, directionless fillers. In my head my immediate thought was '4 star record' but I'm not quite sure it holds up to that.
Its fun hip hop from an era when it was ok to have a message, be funny and experiment with samples. Its a shame hip hop has moved so far away from creative mixing and actual lyrical content.
Ehhhhh
The album did have a kinda nice vibe to it and wasn’t the worst but did it really need to be 23 songs long? Not really. 3 stars
It's a good album but I'm just not really into 80s hip hop.
Felt like I was on speed all the way through it. I found it really good but also slightly annoying
It's a magic number 3
Me, myself and I echt dope, aber der Großteil des Albums hat mich nicht überzeugt, nur bei nem Bruchteil mitgewippt. Häufiger einfach in die Leere gestaart :S
Ganz gut anzuhören, Skits sind medium. Aber keine 4 Sterne von mir
I was pleased when this came up being a fan of 80s early 90s Hip Hop, yet never actually hearing this album in full. I had high expectations, with it being lauded as a classic. I was left colder than I thought I would be. Overall it has a nice feel to it and some good tracks, but just didn’t seem to hit with me. The skits are awkward bordering on cringe. That said, for a debut album it’s solid. Definitely finds its niche around half way.
I like the idea, sounds kinda childish though. Maybe that’s just 90s rap though.or maybe that’s the vibe…
Pretty classy hip-hop. Liked the beats, liked the flow. I am up for the classic hip-hop and that is a fine example. Favourite track - Jenifa Taught Me.
Ahh the hip hop skit. Apparently it worked for people! My guess is the extended length afforded by the CD and increasing the number of songwriting credits per album did a lot of the heavy lifting there. But, it fits in with Prince Paul’s whole sensibility even if I still find myself skipping ahead. What to make of early De La? They were always just a little too cartoonish and childish for me to enjoy back whenever, which is too bad. I blame the Beasties’ image joking around as a way of life for this to some extent but also trying to reconcile “serious music” like PE and NWA with the adolescent focuses of these 3 (4) goofs. Their flow’s always comfortable and easygoing, the samples criminally good and catchy, the lyrics always relatable and clever, but yooooo the skits can fuck off.
versteh warums influential is aber es is oft a richtig nervig lol
Alright. I understand this was the OG skit album... I just didn't find it funny at all. The songs were good.
I did not mind this album. There were some great songs and beats on it.
Hauska levy ja hyvä kuunneltava, mutta yksittäiset kappaaleet ei ollut sillein normaalia erikoisempia. Ei ollut tuttuja kappaleita. Parhaat: Me Myself and I, Ghetto Thang
3 Feet High and Rising es un disco que me gustó por sus sonidos experimentales y la “historia” que cuenta. Investigue un poco sobre este y resulta que tuvo un gran impacto en el hip hop y entiendo por qué tuvo tanto impacto: en su momento rompió con lo que se venía haciendo en el rap, fue más experimental, positivo y lleno de samples raros que abrieron la puerta a otro tipo de hip hop. Igual, aunque prometía mucho y tiene ideas muy creativas, algunas canciones no me convencieron y en general no me terminó de atrapar tanto como esperaba, pero suma puntos por el impacto histórico.
Really nice beats - the uplifting funky vibe makes it a good listen. I don't know that anything really jumped out as a relisten, cleary an important piece of music culture and history.
it was quite enjoable
funky, my kinda rap
Listened on August 5th 2025 Highly overrated. 5/10
Good late 80s hip-hop record tho a bit long
Superb album for the year it was released.
Fun listen with an interesting beat.
Ég hlustaði á De La Soul í gamla daga og fíla alveg fönkið í þeim. Kemst í fínan gír. Mér fannst það svolítið eyðileggjast með þessum spurningaþætti þeirra á milli lagana. Þetta er 2.5 en ég gef þeim þrjár fyrir nostalgíuna
I remember this release and how different it was than the other rap/hip-hop that was prevalent at the time. It sounded smarter, a bit more relaxed and funny, not gangsta and made more for a larger audience. A far cry from NWA, Public Enemy, etc. There is one hit we all knew with "Me Myself & I" (brain worm song!) and a few songs you'd hear at frat house parties like "(3 Is) The Magic Number" and "Eye Know". It was never my thing but I wasn't opposed to it either. In listening to it today I remember why, not enough hooks, no savage bassline, no cutting edge or questionable lyrics and some silly ass songs ("Can U Keep A Secret", "Jenifa...", "Take It Off"). There are some funky beats, that make you wanna get up and dance. Favorite tracks I don't remember? "Ghetto Thang" and "Potholes In My Lawn". 3 stars, it's good, it introduced a new form of hip hop to the masses and they were talented. Doesn't stand up super well today, they aren't mentioned in the all time greats or 80's/90's legends, and it doesn't have songs on the radio anymore so the longevity isn't there.
Not bad
The opposite of gangsta rap, it is warm, jazzy, light, and funny. A classic of the genre and great memories for me. Their next album is much better though.
Early Hippy Hop fun times
Some stand out tunes. Great production. Not for me as a whole album
Not into Hip Hop, but this was pretty exciting. Fav: The Magic Number
One of the more interesting rap albums I've listened to. A bit lengthy at over an hour. This comes with a lot of filler tracks. What may or may not be a filler track, "Can U Keep a Secret", had me laughing out loud. Favorite lyric being "Everybody in the world, you have dandruff." When you get to what feels like the meat of the album with some of the more traditional tracks, there are some good ones, favorites outlined below. Didn't know they made Me Myself and I. After hearing basically the whole album before this song, it tracks so hard. Overall, this was enjoyable. A definite early rap sound, great sampling, some good record scratching and a large dose of goofy. These guys seem like they'd be a good hang. 3.5/5 Favorites: - (3 Is) The Magic Number - Eye Know - Me Myself and I
I had a good time listening to this album over the weekend. I really enjoyed a lot of the sampling and beats — particularly on “Eye Know”. The skits and short tracks were fun, though I probably won’t revisit those as often… although I did Google the answers to the game show questions. On the borderline of a 4/5. Favorite tracks: - (3 Is) The Magic Number - Eye Know - Me Myself and I
It was alright enough
Great album, probably the De La Soul record I enjoy the most
Funny album, feel like on a few listens I may upgrade to a 4 but on first attempt it’s a 3
Relativt trevlig o harmlös lyssning för att vara hiphop. Good vibes men inget för mig.
Rätt kul lyssning! 3 Is the Magic Number är visst inte bara en reklamlåt
Meh
intro- interesting intro. 6 the magic number- 7 change in spark- 6 cool breeze on the rocks- 5 can you keep a secret- 6 jenifa taught me- 6 ghetto thing- 6 or 7 transmitting live from mars- 5 eye know- 5 take it off- 5 little bit of soap- 5 or 6 tread water- 6 or 7. i love all types of rap and rap is definitely an effective way to spread very serious messages, but i love when rap is goofy. who else is rapping about talking to squirrels. pot holes in my lawn- 7 say no go- 7 or 8 do as de la does- 6 plug turnin- 5 de la orgee- 5 buddy- 5 description- 5 me myself and i- 5 this is a recording- 5 i can do anything- 6 daisy age- 5 very interesting. will return to this later
Bouncy 90s hip hop.
Alegre pero perecita la verdad. Sexo en De la Orgee???? This is a recording is nice. Jenny only thought about Jenny
3.5 - liked the vibe, but didn't grab me
I was a little iffy on this album at first because of the more old school style of hip-hop/rap it goes for - it feels a little "My name is De La Soul and I'm here to say, I gonna rap and rhyme in a major way" at times - but it started to grow on my a fair bit the further I got into it. There's some fun catchy stuff on here, and it's got me interested in giving it a second chance.
3.5
Look, it's highly influential and there are some great songs, but the skits really mess with the flow of the album. It's also too long, and can get kind of irritating.
Nice and unusual samples that make this album quite eccentric for Hip Hop. Good but not totally my vibe
tut nicht weh. ganz gut aber nicht ganz mein style
Old school hip hop
If you cut out the 10 worst tracks it'd be a phenomenal album.
it's ok
bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! Hmmm maybe 45RPM got inspired by them?
I liked a couple of the tracks but it seemed like it had a lot of filler. There's probably a great 30 minute album in there somewhere.
I didn't really care for this the first time I heard it. I still don't really care ABOUT it now. Some of the rhymes were clever, but overall it's a forgettable album. It's also too long, some editing may have made something better.
It’s been ages since I last listened to this. Me Myself & I was one of the first non-Eminem hiphop songs I ever heard and showed me the genre could be fun and light without coming across as corny. This album has flashes of brilliance, but it suffers from the usual issues sold the era: its way too fucking long and the skits are dire. But the way the three of them throw the bars back and forth to each other is sublime and the production is top notch. This still holds up as a great hiphop record, even if you do feel its age slightly now.
fun
This is the best De La Soul and the stings and skits don't feel like an interruption as they do for a lot of its peers
Unique but overrated 3/5
3.3 2x catch up on Youtube, 5/12/26
Fine. Unlikely to listen again.
2.5 Too long and the sketches were awful.
very good
This was pretty fun in a turn of the 80s/90s kind of way
It was aight not my favorite
I am ASHAMED I love Gorillaz so much and never bothered listening to them. This is a very repetitive album which can be fun but with the amount of short songs on the track, it got old. Album art is pretty and feel ahead of its time.
kid friendly hip hop?
очень концептуально и не отложилось. какой-то деловой реп про геймшоу
This was a fun album. Upbeat vibes, mostly lighthearted songs. Good samples and beats. Enjoyable, would definitely throw it in the mix for an outdoor gathering playlist (if I did stuff like that, which I don't).
This is one of those albums that hasn’t aged all that well. It definitely had a strong run for about 15 years, but listening to it now, over 30 years later, it just doesn’t hit the same. The humor that once made it stand out has worn thin, and overall, it doesn’t hold up as well as some other classic hip hop albums.
I like the vibe but did not get into this one.
Not my usual genre of music, but I enjoyed it.
Är det här Just D fick sin inspiration? 😂
I think this album is a bit too long but is dotted with some solid tracks with decent beats, I just lost a bit of interest by the end. Have never listened to De La Soul purposefully but heard them a few times on Gorillaz songs, definite overlap explaining why I generally liked this. I think without that link I might have struggled a bit more through it.
Not entirely sure what genre this sits in. I can hear so much of other songs in this. They must have created a large impact and influence on what came after them. For example gorilaz, will smith or Fat boy slim have similarities with this and many more I cant put my fingers on! Unlike some other similar hip hop / rap I didn't find their "message" irritating, overly macho or self indulgent. Just a playful appraisal of their view of life that seemed a bit funny and real. Crème del la genre! Just shame not my thing but they must be great if it wasn't for me reviewing them!
I liked it and then the orgy part happened and I wasn’t prepared and thought it was weird
I think this is the easiest album to describe with one word so far: Groovy. Literally the definition. Honestly, not sure I vibed the entire time with individual tracks, or the interludes, but the overall album was a vibe. Just something to put on when you want to vibe and chill. I'll be coming back, may go higher later but for now solid 3.
This was a fun listen for a Friday, but it got repetitive after a while
I have long familiarity with this album, and while it’s fun, I wish it didn’t have so many skits in it. That game show theme wears a bit thin for me. The album is fun and poppy, a bit cheesy at times, but it has some great sampling on it and the tracks are groovy and a bit trippy. Probably can be described as the hip hop Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It’s a fun album, it’s got a relaxed vibe, but the skits could be fewer. It’s obviously influential and deserves its place on the list. I would listen to it again, it just wouldn’t be in my heavy rotation list.
Not my cup of tea
Syns da va ganske nice
Ik ben geen liefhebber van rap, maar dit is wel lekker fris en kan ik goed luisteren. De beats zijn eenvoudig en de stemmen zijn aangenaam. Leuk album met twee bekende nummers. ***
Alright, fun, but also kind of repetitive
An explosion of hip-hop treacle
Not my favorite but a fun album I’d put on again. 3.5
its good
This was fun and v. 80s.. kinda went on but it dropped on a sunny chill day so it fit the mood, might come back to it. Idk maybe I wasn't paying full attention bc I can't think of much to say
I wanted to love this more than I did
It was a jam, but probably needed to jam out to it a bit more for a higher rating...
Xxx
A good hip-hop album. A recogniseable sound, better lyrics than most.
Positive Rap.
Super cool record, aside from that super fucking weird skit towards the end. Liked it overall, though, despite the runtime being so long. I would revisit this if it were shorter for sure.
Shout out to Amityville.
3,5
I’m not sure why I assumed this was going to be a Soul album (probably the name of course) but I was pleasantly surprised to hear a hip hop album. The whole album was enveloped in a “game show” type skit. The lyrics were comical and it was a fun listen.
Old school hip-hop is cool, gives me boy vibes too with the beats. Simple and clean 3
Prince Paul always knew how to put a beat together. Playful lyrics on the non-serious side of hip hop but I find it wearing after half an album. How you gonna put Me, Myself, and I 20th?!?!?! The skits are grating and far too numerous.
Old school hip hop group with a lot of charm. Definitely has got an aged sound to it. I have listened to the album twice and i think i like it but not a lot of emotion was felt while listening. Dont really remember much of the tracks too, but i did appreciate the humour especially because of the time it was released in. I think i have to give it a strong 3/5 rating. I kind of want to put it higher because i did like their energy but i just dont really fuck with the music that much
Interesting album but not really my taste, liked all the samples that I recognised from other songs
There are a couple of bangers in this album. Lots of throwaway tracks as well which was annoying.
I wanted to love this album but I only like it. I know De La Soul by reputation. I love Tribe Called Quest and Del's work in all its forms. From the singles I've heard I assumed I'd be all about this crew, but the album feels a bit corny and overly long. Tracks like Can U Keep a Secret, Jenifa Taught Me, and Take It Off all felt like filler and bad filler at that. I don't know if things are going over my head but the lyricism feels lackluster too. There are some clever bars and the flow is strong but they don't really add up to anything fun or otherwise. Let's also never touch De La Orgee again. On the positive side, the production is on point and, for the era, pioneering. The crew seems like they're having a blast. The skits are fun and dont overstay their welcome. I'll keep the highlights in my rotation. Eye Know, Tread Water, The Magic Number and Me Myself and I are all great. I also loved Do as De La Does; I wish more of the album could be that silly. Looking forward to digging deeper on later albums to see how it comes together, but this was uneven.
What is it with the skits?
I put Tribe above them
Funky, upbeat. Little too long. Fun album.
The Good: late ‘80s hip-hop The Bad: late ‘80s… The Ugly: hip-hop… De La Soul… what is there to say? It seems that my musical pallet is not in-synch with what great musical journalist would argue, as this, so it seems, is definitely one of the greatest albums ever… For me, I appreciated the Me Myself and I song, and enjoyed the fact that these three cats were out there trying to stay positive and have a good time. So, yeah, good for them. But I listened to this song playing far on the background, mainly because the rhythm in the rhyming was starting to get on my nerves as it is so basic, and the drum machine too monotonous for my liking. Still, in stark contrast with the east/west coast bashing that was going on, it is refreshing to have this album to listen to at least once in one’s lifetime. So, shooting it straight down the middle… 3* GASP
Summer vibes need a Green Day
Bastante bueno, tiene ritmos muy cool y la vibra es alta
Rating: 3.5/5 | Favorite Track: Say No Go --- I really liked this album and there quite a few outstanding tracks. There are a few songs however that keep me from giving this a 4 star rating; I just wish the trackless was a bit tighter. Still a good listen!
Borderline novelty music at times (dandruff song??) but the beats are cool and the whole thing feels sunshiney. 3.5
Cool concept and funny album, but I wouldn’t necessarily rush back to it. 3.1
Nice tunes and listening but not my style :( thx!
Interesting
Overestimated
Unique record with amazing lyrical chemistry and some cool samples. However, as always, I hate skits on albums. Standout tracks are: “The Magic Number” and “Eye Know”.
Not bad but the whole intro/game show bits were just a bit too much for me so got knocked down a star for the non music bits.
Pretty middle-of-the-road classic rap. There was one real funky song that I loved.
Old school hip hop uit 1989. Solid productie, verschillende sausjes en met momenten wat abstracter. Voor de tijd begrijpelijk uniek en innovatief, interessante momenten en een paar headboppers voornamelijk dankzij de jazzy-ish instrumentals. Persoonlijk niet per se mijn ding, begrijp de cult status maar geen album waar ik snel naar terug zou keren. 6.5/10
Interesting track 9 Eye know
Fun early hiphop album, heard it a bunch of times. I like Steely Dan's Peg sample in "Eye Know" -The Magic Number -Eye Know
Like most millennials my age, my first exposure to De La Soul came from their numerous features and collaborations with Gorillaz. Being that Gorillaz is one of my favorite groups, I am very familiar with all of their featured songs but I've also heard a smattering of songs from De La Soul's discography - however - the only song on this record I was familiar with coming into this review was "Me Myself and I". The album provides a pleasant listen with lots of well done "boom-bap" beats to bob your head to and the lyrics on this record are fun and don't take themselves too seriously. Lots of tasteful turn table work as well. I generally enjoyed the chilled out vibe the album brings but also have to admit a lot of the songs blended together for me, so much so that it was difficult to pick out standout tracks, although I have a few. It feels to me very much like a first release. You can feel the group trying out a style to see if it fits and trying to throw darts at the wall and see what sticks. As I felt with the Talking Heads record I reviewed, I have a feeling I would like their later albums a lot more than "3 Feet High and Rising" but this one did not capture me as much as I would have hoped. Standout tracks to me were "Eye Know", "Ghetto Thang", "Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)", and of course "Me Myself and I".
Fine, sounded like fairly standard 90s hip hop to me. Enjoyed it but wouldn't go back
Tiene sus momentos.
Solid 3.5 here but expected some more jams.
Fun vibes. Especially like “Eye Know.”
This was fine. Better than a good bit of the late 80s hip hop. 3 stars.
Got some fun old school beats. Overall though, not my favorite. Did like Me, Myself, and I quite a bit.
Weird as hell, but in a fun way. Feels like a hip-hop record made by kids who grew up on Sesame Street and Parliament records. It's playful, full of samples stacked like a Jenga tower, yet somehow it holds up. It drags a little, but it's charming. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - The Magic Number - Eye Know - Me Myself And I
This is one of those albums that hasn’t aged all that well. It definitely had a strong run for about 15 years, but listening to it now, over 30 years later, it just doesn’t hit the same. The humor that once made it stand out has worn thin, and overall, it doesn’t hold up as well as some other classic hip-hop albums.
Niet perse mijn smaak
This album is apparently critically and commercially successful, but I'm not sure exactly why. I think it's kind've fun, but it comes across as a bunch of quirky college kids making an experimental hip-hop album. Upon doing some research, I see that it's sampling techniques were very innovative for the genre, which is now a commonplace practice in rap/hip-hop. The whimsical nature backs off of the commonly aggressive approach by other artists, paving the way for alternative hip-hop. I can appreciate these sentiments, and for that I'll bump my rating up a star. But as a listener in 2025, it's not something I'll likely play again.
3.5
me aburri al final. 2,5
It’s good, but idk. I think the increase in production over time hurts them, but that’s not their fault (3)