Reviews (page 9 of 13)
Album was ok until about half when thru, then it headed south. Not my style and language was too potty.
One word to describe it is baffling. I thought the first song with the introductions was interesting and I would not have expanded on it at certain parts of the album. At this point, I am not surprised that such an idiotic, stupid, and pointless album is on the list. Sooooooo many great artists don’t have many albums but you gave these bums an album come on man. Also why does Apple Music have it in their top 100 albums of all time. This is just not worthy of that but it’s all subjective.
Totally mid. Better than any sort of gangsta rap but still totally mid. I don’t get the hype. All the tracks are just kinda juvenile and dumb. Also it is just entirely too long. 23 tracks is a ridiculous amount.
not a bad listen. for the most part, enjoyed the lyrics. didn't take themselves too seriously but most tracks had something to say. it is too long-was bored after about 45 minutes.
Amazing, refreshing, fun. We need more De La Soul in this world.
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.
These guys were having a lot of fun!
This is all a bit dull to my 2024 ears.
It’s a rap comedy album. Basic drum machine rhythm. Not the worst I’ve heard.
Great beats and a vibe throughout the album. Not exactly the style of music I usually listen to but I really enjoyed this album.
Fun, poignant, and a little experimental. Always good for some De La
Already marked this down for being so goddamn long. And then some more cause it just isn't my thing.
Hmm has like 2/3 Nice songs on it and the rest is uncomfortable noise
This album was a trip to say the least, some songs where so funny that I was dying of laughter, and others had some funky beats that I'll be taking them with me for an exceptionally long time. Overall, must give this album a 6.5/10, as I enjoyed most of the songs but there were some that I felt like was dragging more than it should have.
классные семплы, репчик. я понимаю почему этот альбом считается культовым
As far as rap goes, this album is too tame for my taste and contains too much filler. The skits are amusing on a first listen but grow tiresome with repetition. I can see the value in the album and its significance in hip-hop history, but to my ear, it’s nothing exceptional.
Sin interés. No hay ningún disco de americana o country entre los 1001??
Not for me. 1/5
This album had a seismic impact when it was released. I've still got the original vinyl copy I purchased on import. There was nothing else really like it. The skits between tracks, the lyrics, the humour, the sound! I'm probably in a minority by saying the follow-up album -De La Soul Is Dead - is better. That really is splitting hairs though, they are both incredible. One of the easiest 5 stars I've given.
A great hip hop album. I really liked this when I was in high school.
This rap feels so effortless. I had never heard of De La Soul, but I'm really enjoying the rap groups of this era, like ATCQ and the Roots. Cool samples from all over, groovy bass lines, and creative lyrics keep this sounding impeccable. I could listen to this all day. The best here is probably Eye Know, but I also liked Jenifa Taught Me, The Magic Number, Buddy (Q-Tip again, awesome), and Me Myself and I. Could probably do without the skits, but thats a genre problem more than this album.
Classic good vibes hip hop in an era of gangster rap
They were right, this is a great hiphop album
It remains a peak of all hip hop, not just the alternative brand. It’s murky and creative and affirmative b/c it is engineered by thinking and is immensely enjoyable to listen to.
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.
De La Soul would not be my first pick from the Native Tongues collective (which also included A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers), but this debut is the trio in all their "Daisy Age" regalia, and it was a little revolution in hip hop, kiddies. Not that you would necessarily perceive it that clearly decades after the fact. What's a little strange about De La Soul is that most of their subsequent albums during the nineties were probably as good as this one, and maybe even aged a little better. In all objectivity, *3 Feet High And Rising* shows the rappers' sound not exactly fully formed, contrary to *Stakes Is High*, for instance. Follow-up LP *De La Soul Is Dead*, from whom the exciting single version of "Ring Ring Ring" was extracted, also harbors a more interesting album concept at its heart (essentially killing the Daisy Age trend though a more sardonic view of the band's artistry). Besides, and like a lot of great hip hop albums, even the most legendary one, this debut is a little too long (even though this could be argued against *De La Soul Is Dead* as well). And sometimes, it even becomes difficult to separate the (native) tongue-in-cheek skits from the earnest cuts. Taken together, all those aspects *could* work against the idea of including the album in the list... BUT, and as said earlier, this record -- even if not as good as JB's *Down By The Forces Of Nature* or ATCQ's *The Low End Theory* -- was a small revolution in and by itself. Here were three young man breaking new ground in hip hop by refusing all the clichés associated with the genre, whether hardcore rap or commercial ditties. And of course, it's got some absolutely essential tracks: catchy "Me Myself and I", atmospheric real opener "The Magic Number", "Potholes In My Lawn", the smoooooth and jaw-dropping "Buddy" (featuring the Jungle Bros and Q-Tip from ATCQ), or "Eye Know", nicely sampling Otis Redding's whistling from "(Sitting On) The Dock Of The Bay". As for the lyrics, they are sometimes so oblique and obfuscated they (unwittingly?) become high art. Like, it looks like said lyrics are firing on all cylinders, and yet the three boys had such idiosyncratic code words and imagery, it may become a whole surreal adventure to try to make sense of it all. I hesitated to give a 4/5 grade to this one. And then I listened to the goofy skit "Transmitting Live From Mars", shrewdly sampling language lessons recorded for cassette tapes (you got to be as old as I am to understand what I'm talking about here) : "Écoutez, "à midi" Quelle heure est-il? Il est midi C'est l'heure de déjeuner Qu'est-ce qu'il y a à manger? Des saucisses, sans doute Écoutez et répétez, "à midi" à midi à midi Quelle heure est-il? Quelle heure? Quelle heure Est-il? Est-il? Quelle heure est-il? Il est midi, midi, midi Il est midi Il est midi C'est l'heure de déjeuner C'est l'heure C'est l'heure de déjeuner De déjeuner C'est l'heure de déjeuner Qu'est-ce qu'il y a à manger? Qu'est-ce qu'il y a?" Only now do I remember how that skit made me roll on the floor with laughter at the time, so absurd it is. "What is there to eat?" "Probably sausages..." (inexplicably said with a very despondent tone of voice by the French woman on the tape). Yeah, as you've probably guessed, I'm French myself. And this fond memory gives me the extra half-point I needed to include this LP in my gallery. 😀 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 434 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 257 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 319
I really dig the beats of De La Soul, but this album takes a few weird twists. Interesting listen and I would appreciate to hear more of then
I like the idea of De La Soul more than the execution. Part of it was probably listening to the album during a 9 hour car ride and the judgement I received from my wife whenever they said “so and so has dandruff” for a minute straight. I see them as a similar niche to Tribe, but I like Tribe better.
Me, Myself, and I will always remind me of playing NCAA Football 2007 for hours after school and on weekends. 90s rap can sometimes sound dated, but the flow of the lyrics was nice. As always, I could do without the skits. Overall it was fun to have on in the background while hanging out, but it wasn’t anything special. No complaints, but definitely can’t go higher than a three.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I'm always skeptical of 80s rap, but this was really enjoyable. It wasn't too corny and I really liked the beats. It probably would have been a 4 if it wasn't so long.
Amazing
Bit too goofy at times, but still some really solid beats on this one.
Fav song: Buddy CLASSIC and ICONIC east coast hip hop for the soul (De La of course). One of my favourite genres of music of all time, and one of the all time greats, this De La Soul album has all the strengths that made hip hop in NYC so great in the late 80’s that would persist throughout the whole 90’s. Not taking itself too seriously at all, keeping its samples classy and having some bomb ass features from rappers lik le Q-Tip.. this album was never going to be anything but a 5 star from me. Added to my daily rotation of hip hop albums.
Never really been able to get into hip hop/rap style music.
The tunes that made the airwaves in yesteryear were superb to hear again but the album as a whole feels a bit mishmashy at times. Some random songs!
Tough listen for sure
It's good fun, too long though Tread Water probably the best song
I really enjoyed some of this album and really hated other parts but on the whole found it enjoyable but too long to listen in one go
*“3 Feet High and Rising”* by De La Soul is a light and playful hip-hop album from the late '80s, full of inventive samples. While it wouldn’t be my choice for focused listening, it’s perfect as background music. The album is a mix of different genres that create a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, putting you in a good mood.
A classic that helps to define the sound and themes of a genre for years to come. Like a lot of hip hop records from the late ‘80s and ‘90s, it can feel a little bloated in places with 23 tracks and plenty of skits, but when it’s good it’s up there with the very best
Time warp. If you wish to know what mainstream hip hop was in early '90s then here you go....
Back when hip hop was innocent. Bring back those times.
everybody in the world you got dandruff? goofy good and fun
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.
Oh my god this was cool. So fun, what happened to hip hop like this?
Kinda crazy how fun and laidback early rap sounds.
Honestly banger album
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.
I like alot of the samples but some of the beats were too out there for me. Some classics on here though.
Great hip hop album. Not a big hip hop fan but this had me listening start to finish.
Immense
Eh... I can see it's is important but not great
Meh. They should have said the music critics that rated these albums had a member of De La Soul in them.
Playful and funky. Don't know if I would listen to the whole album again, but maybe some songs
This has a very Fresh Prinz, frat-boy feel to it. Abd it's not just cuz they sampled Steely Dan. I enjoyed it like Saturday morning TV.
This is easy. 7/5. Absolute Brilliance.
Ok, I can't handle this kind of crap. I don't really enjoy hip hop or rap. The skits are just annoying. I can see why it might be influential but it's not for me. I do remember a few songs from the time it came out so there was a bit of nostalgia but not enough to make it a 3.
One of the most important rap albums of all time. Idk what to say other than that the songs in it are good 👍
Honestly it’s a solid 3.5. This was super fun and I gravitated to quite a few of the songs (Change in Speak, Say No Go, Plug Tunin’, just to name a few). Me Myself and I speaks to me as a kid who was raised on Nickelodeon. It is an album made by kids having a good time and I probably would have done a full four stars back in high school
6/10. I apologize in advance for pissing off the hip-hop-head community, but this album really isn't my thing. The concept is really cool, and so were its lyrics, but its instrumentation really bored me. It was also fairly long.
delightful
I cannot believe how wholesome this sounds...until De la orgee.... A bit sleepy other than Me Myself and I though
first time listening to a full De La Soul record as it was one of the last artists not on streaming. overall a very 90s hip-hop art album, which was trying to build off the roots that ATCQ dug into the 90s. overall solid project, would revisit one in a while.
Not a bad collection of tracks
What can I add here except that this is really one of the best hip hop albums out there? Super clever production (country samples!) and lyrics with such a commitment to obscure humour.
Great friday vibe.
Such a fun album. You can tell they had fun making this one. I love the comparison of this album to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Best hip-hop album in this list so far.
One of the most fun albums I've ever listened to. There's a special energy to it you don't hear often, these guys are just having a great time and doing all kinds of crazy stuff. It was long and started to drag a little bit but then me myself and I came on and saved it. The energy is too fun to not give it a 5
One of my favorite albums
It’s fine. Nice Steely Dan samples.
amazing
THISBWAS SO GOOD
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.
I really love the sound and the feel of this album, it sounded old yet somehow new Haven't thought about De La Soul in so long, thank you!
While I'm not sure if I'll come back to this album in the future, I can't in good conscience give this anything less than a perfect score.
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.
Confusing and forgettable
Funky, funny, a little too repetitive in some songs, not quite my thing. Can U Keep A Secret is funny. Skipped a few songs.
Muss ich noch einmal hören. Hat Spaß gemacht zu hören, aber kein individuelles Lied konnte mich zu sehr überzeugen
Not bad overall, but don't think I would go out of my way to listen to this again.
Interesting and fun.
I enjoyed the groove and there were parts I didn’t enjoy. I’ll give it a three just for the hell of it.
It sounds like they had a lot of fun making this album. I didn’t have much fun listening to it.
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.
70+ samples.. no clearances...because these kids were just having fun.
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
Wonderful album. Not all of their wacky hijinks pay off, but most of them do, and do it well. I also appreciate the overall less misogynistic and less violent lyrics, it fits the overall positive attitude of the album really well.
A highly-lauded album often credited with helping spark the alternative "hippy rap" movement of the early 90s. It retains much of its carefree, playful charm, but its extremely long runtime is simply not justified.
I'm simply not a hip hop lover and this didn't change my mind.
A pleasant listen
i love all the 90s trip hop, conscious rap, etc.
are these guys supposed to be funny? the rhythm is not bad i guess...
The only problem with this album is the problem with so many classic hip hop albums, there’s too many skits. In spite of that, this album hits so hard. The three song run of Tread Water, Potholes, and Say No Go rules. Plus Eye Know and Me Myself and I are absolute classics. Hell even De La Orgee, a song that always played on shuffle in my car anytime I had a first date in my car and I’d have to embarrassingly hurry to change the track before she noticed, makes me laugh. Just a great album
The Intro: Look how wacky and crazy we are!!!11!!! After that it's OK. 3/5
One of the seminal rap/hip hop albums. Yes it’s sketchy at times and the vocals are surprisingly badly recorded and mixed. But it’s a piece of worlk that stands out.
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.
Despite being an 80s album, this is one of the best aged hip-hop albums I've heard, it doesn't sound like proto-90s rap, nor does it feel like a collection of 80s cliches like so many of their contemporaries. I feel like De La Soul have fallen out of favour compared to many of the acts from the 90s, which is unfortunate because I feel like this is some of the best you'll hear in the genre.
Not a fan of the skits but otherwise good
Interesting mix
Damn good album. Too many skits.
Not my thing
Not really for me, but they have fun with it. I do not like the track De La Orgee at all.
Haa. Very junior high sounding. Made me smile.
why does it need so many goofy skits, the (limited) actual music in this album wasn't even that bad
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
it has a fun personality but a bit of a sleepy listen
Really enjoyed listening to this. Never owned it on CD and glad that it’s now available to stream. It’s like it’s been made my the cool, clever, funny kids a couple of years above you at school that you aspire to be but never will.
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 Stars and Not Rising
👍👍
Oh come on! Did i take psychedelic drugs without realizing it again? No? Well in that case, this album is genuinely one of the most bizarre albums i have ever listened to. Every song had some kind of different sound to it and used very different sounding samples to make their beats. While some of the songs are so weird that they fail to really hit, other songs however, do hit and are incredibly groovy and fun to listen to and you can just tell that these guys enjoyed making this album. However, i do feel that this album is another album to add to the list of hit or miss hip hop albums from the 1980s. Best Song: Eye Know Worst Song: Can U Keep a Secret
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
Like a mixed box of holiday donuts from Duck Donuts. Everything’s fun and funky, some are delicious, some are misses, but all are unique and make you bop your head and smile and say 👌!
This was a pretty fun album.
Top grade hip hop with a fine sample of sampling
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
Love the vibe.
Day283 - glad to see this one on apple music now. it’s one of the best rap albums ever
If you wanted to listen to a kid friendly version of hip hop, these guys are your people. PM Dawn is a good path to lead kids down too. There are plenty of samples in this album, which is a bonus to me. That seems to be a dying art in hip hop these days. This album, to me, doesn’t tell a story. It’s more of just one short story about who knows what after another. This was ok. Stuck with the rest of the albums that were just ok. Choice cut: A Little Bit of Soap
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.
Looong love fest with these guys, I've had this album (1st cassette, then cd now mp3) in some shape or form since it came out. These guys are also the sample kings and it took many many yrs to clear all the samples before they were allowed on spotify. Clever lyrics, catchy beats, fun shout outs (in 1 song Trugoy says 'why not, let's go to Laces', a roller skating rink on LI that I used to go to as a teen) that endear them ever more to me - plus they sample Steely Dan so they must be cool : )
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.
Voices, rhythms, rhymes, wit, joy, and pain all bundled into a hilariously genuine and human package. Full of inside jokes and pop culture references in both lyrics and samples. A dynamic ride.
It's De La, easy 5 stars
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
Largely inoffensive and laid back vibes but just went on far too long
Funky raps. A whole different kind of vibe. More friendly and approachable in gangster rap. Good vibes for a good time.
Not great. Many better from that era.
Not my cup of tea. Not even my cup of tea for the genre. But it’s not bad.
It's De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising.
Before gangster rap took over. Great samples on this album
-yaay this is a fun one. Some really catchy beats in here, though some of the filler and skits got on my nerves. Oh well so was the style of 80s (90s)? hip hop -Aside from feeling a little long this was very well-made and enjoyable so no other complaints -Favorites are Jenifa Taught Me, Tread Water, and Me Myself and I
Another classic of my formative years--via Graeme. Introduced me to different aspects of hip hop.
Overall, a very good album. (Came back to this and upped it to a 5/5)
Awesome, super fun to listen to
First warm day, windows down kinda vibe
Some absolute classics in there. Other stuff is very of it’s time!
A classic which in the 80’s was a total game changer to how hip hop was perceived opening up a whole new audience. Some of the best samples ever utilised and almost made Hall & Oates cool.
Amazing record, well ahead of its time. I've heard so much about it, but I'm so happy to finally get the chance to fully listen to it. It does not disappoint, very familiar sounds and it's been sampled a lot by other artists. Seminal album. Full whack from me! Also, how is this released in 1989?!
It was fun at first, I enjoyed the old school flow and the scratching, but after over an hour of mostly nothing I got bored. Still was fun for a bit though
Should everyone hate 'The Turtles'? Or were they well within their rights to get mad at De La Soul for sampling 'You Showed Me' (without permission) on an interlude here? Well, I've always gravitated towards the former opinion. The sheer amount of sampling in this record, alongside other '80s hip-hop records, forever makes me yearn for the days when clearing samples was simply seen as an act of appreciation. It also really sucks that the infamous lawsuit greatly limited De La Soul's music's availability on streaming - 'cause this album is gorgeous, not in the traditional sense but in a way that is not unlike ATCQ's debut for example. Samples make colors and worlds and Prince Paul's production on this album has both of those things in spades. But it's not endlessly overwhelming you with samples like say Public Enemy's 'Fear of a Black Planet' - I mean you have a song like 'Take It Off' which is nothing but a repeating drum machine pattern driving its short runtime. The opener, and one of my favorite songs 'The Magic Number' has the chunkiest drum beat on the album that's undercut by this timid yet undeniably playful bass loop. The verses are great on this but it's Trugoy's (RIP) verse that takes the cake ultimately. 'Tread Water' follows a similar instrumental formula and is paired with surrealist imagery in the verses, where talking animals offer reassuring life advice to the passerby. My favorite song without a doubt though is 'Eye Know' with the Steely Dan and Otis Redding "whistling" 'Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay' samples making this one of the most wholesome hip-hop songs we'd end up getting out of the '80s. Lyrically speaking, it could bring a tear to my eyes just 'cause of how meditatively positive it paints these ideas of love and lust. Some other great production moments are those subtle piano keys on 'Potholes in My Lawn', the brief vocal (I think?) sample transitioning the verses on 'Say No Go', the distorted and overblown drum sample on 'D.A.I.S.Y Age', and the entirety of 'Me Myself and I', a real landmark song off this album. The production here is superb, but the rapping is admittedly rudimentary even for this group - I mean just listen to the complex rhyme schemes and flows on their song 'Stakes Is High' which would be released years later, and compare it to a song like 'Potholes in My Lawn' off this album. I like it though, it's of the time and if anything, it fits the charming production here. The album's also wittingly hilarious with the slew of interludes timelining a satirical game show night. Songs like 'Jenifa Taught Me' and 'Buddy' with Q-tip and the Jungle Brothers are forever fun to listen to. It's not all fun and games though, 'Say No Go' is an undoubtedly sobering moment in the track listing here about the dangers of drug abuse, with Posdnuos' opening verse being my favorite. This song also showcases the trio's best rapping on the album from a sheer flow perspective. If you hate fun you'll hate this album. If you associate hip-hop with grit, speed, and competition you'll hate this album. But if you broaden your horizons a bit it's not difficult to understand what the appeal of an album like this. The group was determined to stick to their DAISY (Da Inner' Sound Y'all) motif - constantly reinforcing these ideas of positivity, soul, and strong character from start to finish. Hip Hop hasn't sounded this fun since '3 Feet High and Rising' - and for that, I wouldn't hesitate to call it one of the greatest of the '80s.
I just don't like this style of hip hop. It's incredibly boring and samey. This record is waaaayyyy too long. Can't go to 1 but it's a super soft 2.
it’s pretty good. feel bad for my string of threes lately but yeah i mean yeah this was good
Pre-listening thoughts: LETS GO I am very excited for this album. Legendary pull with some songs I already know and apparently a Jungle Brothers feature as well?! Hype ‼️‼️‼️ Post/during listening thoughts: I love 80s/90s rap and hip hop and De La Soul delivers. Their use of samples are so clever and fun (Steely Dan Peg sample is my personal fav on Eye Know). The interludes are a bit bizarre but honestly add character to the album. Can U Keep a Secret is so weird help 😭 why are we discussing dandruff?? I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me laugh which seems to be the goal. It’s just such a wildly fun album that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the studio with these guys goofing off. But there’s also such innovation here that would be criminal if overlooked, I mean the samples alone are one thing, but the production is so clean and the lyrics really solidify this new age of hip hop. 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes!! Fav tracks: man I was listing them out and it turned out to be every song (except for De La Orgee. What) Least fav tracks: De La Orgee
A classic and one of my first cool (not gangsta) rap albums.
Pretty good!
As soon as this album popped up it brought out a big smile. Masterpiece 5/5
If you don’t enjoy this album then there is something wrong with you.
every song very alike, good vibes
Early Hip Hop, it is pretty good
Hip hop vibey, but not hitting for me
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.
I know a lot of people love this, but it is too backpack for me.
Early on I was thinking "eh it's fine" so maybe a 2, but then it ... just ... kept ... going.
ganz interessante Sachen dabei
Sigh, another hip hop album. This wasn’t terrible but I didn’t like it.
Not a fan of rap
Not really my genre, but I did enjoy this album. Their voices are nice to listen to and their flow was pretty good, although a little stilted (like vintage 80s hiphop in some places), but it was done with a level of camp that I appreciated. The sampling was well-chosen, but sometimes the execution was a little sloppy (like where I could hear the drums of the sampled tune were conspicuously out of sync with the base track and poorly blended in the final product). Overall a good listen, although I don't really want to listen to it again, nor any of their other tracks. Three stars.
Chaotic, wild, and pretty funny. Not every track lands for me (and I'm not at all a fan of 50 second filler tracks), but there is something here that is wildly creative. Clever lyrics and catchy enough beats make this album pretty solid, just wish there was less excess. Top tracks: Ghetto Thang, Eye Know, Potholes in My Lawn
An unusual album with a good song. (Me Myself and I)
Old school hip hop, kan ikke lige komme ind i det. Det er lidt ligesom funk, men bare mere kedeligt fordi der kun er beatet og bassen tilbage. Fint med origins, men for mig er tiden løbet fra det.
Really cool samples and mixing.
I really struggled with this one. I was ready to skip just about every song in this album. To me, there's nothing here that stands out. All the songs kinda blended together. I was happy the album was over and I struggle to find one song that I enjoyed. 1/5
Added 3 or 4 songs to liked songs - reminded me of good old times. 3,5*
what a fun album
Really loved the vibes of this album. Felt both chill and upbeat to me. I don't usually jive as much with more of the old school flow but this I liked, just went with the music particularly well to me. Truthfully probably a 4.5 BUT it is a 5 for this time period in the genre to me so I will round up.
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.
i understand the concept but i'm not really sensible to it
Respect the legacy, but not my thing. Rhymes and beats weren't there, but I came in with high expectations
This album is a good time but unlikely to make it into rotation, kinda got tired of it after awhile. I know they have a huge fan base and they are anti establishment in the way that punk rock kind of is so kudos to them but for me I would have liked more.
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.
Hip Hop "singing". Check "Vinyl" sound-effects. Check "Radio Show". Check Can this get any worse ? I'm sure there will be a worse abum in the near future but I utterly hate this one.
This is hard for me to review. I am a true fan of hip/hop and I definitely feel the vibe in this. But I have to be careful to say what I mean now... I think that De La Soul is a very solid band, and they should be respected and they are likeable. I get why they have a rabid fanbase. They are fun, interesting, laugh out loud at times, and have great surprising mixes thrown in now and then. However, punk and hip/hop share a common root value in being somewhat anti-establishment, somewhat political, sometimes emotional... I got the sense, after 23 songs (!) that De La Soul intended to keep it light and for me, it is a fine choice but I was hoping for that little extra...
Nice! Seemed like a seminal album for its time, one that set a standard for rap going forward.
I felt like I was watching a school assembly rap about not smoking, then one of their songs was actually a school house rocks song
This album is a good time but unlikely to make it into rotation
Fun and hip hoppy.
A few good songs here, though I don't really want to sit through the whole album because of the meh skits and some throwaway tracks.
Odd, but I kinda like odd. Fun listen but I got tired of it after a while tbh (sorry). Didn’t dislike but wouldn’t necessarily go back to it! Love to expand my range though
Who likes this album? Me, myself, and I (and a lot of other folks)
OK 👍 amazing haha funny lol xd
listened to again funky fresh despite being 35 years old
Was a pretty good album, set to a game show type backdrop. Not really my thing but pretty good songs. Didn’t like the talking between some of them though.
Intro: Nice humor. The Magic Number: good flow. Bit droning. Change In Speak: music a bit too loud to properly hear their voices. Cool Breeze on the Rocks: silly, delightful Can U keep a secret: asmr nope! Jenifa taught me: it’s fine. Droning again. Ghetto thang: good flow. Good switching. Message. Transmitting live from mars: different. I see what they tried to do. Eye Know: instrumentals are smooth. Take it off: transition piece. Bit of playing around. Message. A little bit of soap: I know the sampling. Tread water: symbolism. Message. Potholes in my lawn: message. Say no Go: funky sampling. Message. Good one. Do as De La does: crowd hype track. Plug Tunin’: message. De La Orgee: skipped. Buddy: artist hype track. Everyone gets a pat on the back. Throwback. Description: forgettable. Me myself and I: funky sampling. Skipped due to something in the instrumentals that bugged me. This is a recording…: message. Droning. I can do anything: beatboxing. Asmr again. Daisy age: instrumentals are distracting. Message. Decent. Very long.
Bit too goofy. It's more vibes than enjoyable
Liked it but want to do a deeper listening sessions again
This album is ketchup. People love ketchup. I want to love ketchup. I don't.
Why are yodeling
I'm still not into hip-hop
Clearly he was having fun making this album, it is goofy and has interesting sounds. However I was definitely not having fun listening to it. It sounds like hip-hop for 13-year-olds to blast and annoy the elders, and I'm with the elders on this one. There are a couple of genuinely good and catchy songs, but most of it is so obnoxiously annoying in your face I can't stand it. Stand-out: The Magic Number
Some of my favourite songs are on this album. I think I'd be more familiar with it if it hadn't dissapeared from streaming for so long. I still find skits annoying, though.
Kinda goofy and annoying. The samples aren't particularly compelling. Not good.
didn't get my going... a little weird with the whole gameshow thing...
Hh mld bss
One of those bands I heard of at the time but never really got into. There was a minute there around 1990 or 91 where I was into rap and listened to a lot of De La's Native Tongues contemporaries, The Black Sheep. Wasn't till much later that I actually listened to De La or Tribe and realized what I'd been missing. This era and sub-genre of hiphop really is some of the best there is.
Classic hip hop album that I somehow never listened to in full. It's really good. Maybe leaning a little to hard into the skits, but it's alright, because the main material is worth it. Ecutez et repetez.
Weird, but kinda fun.
Haven't listened to this through for maybe 25 years, and it still sounds fantastically fresh and cool.
#OtisReddingWhistle
own
Did not resonate with me really - but beautiful to see the predecessors of soul beats
So this is one of those albums that I appreciate but don't really enjoy. The music is there and I really like that the lyrics aren't all about gang life and clubbing. But it's also not really my thing. Would be nice if more like this had become mainstream at the time but I know well enough to know that this group and this album were hugely influential even if I wasn't aware of them as a kid.
Pretty good, sometimes funny 80's rap. I don't remember hearing it when I was young but I enjoyed hearing it. Probably not something that I would listen to very often but I do like it. Easy to get into rhythms and good lyrics.
3.5
This album was genuinely just a lot of fun. A lot of bangers on it
- Unterhaltsam und ordentlich angefunkt - Aber auch hier habe ich ein ähnliches Problem, wie bei anderen HipHop Werken aus den 80er/90er. Es wirkt etwas obsolet - Außerhalb von Kult und Pioniergeist kann ich dem leider nichts abgewinnen 2,5/5
- gutes Zeug dabei, einiges aber auch nur so im Mittelfeld - weitestgehend aber einfach fun
Nice stuff.
comfy
It's hard to rate this without considering that I've been working on this project with someone who's waiting three years for De La Soul to appear. Seriously, we're on our last week and now we're finally here! Yay! Aside from that I loved loved loved "The Magic Number" and "Transmitting Live from Mars" since back in the day. There are lots of great samples and good raps on this album. It was fun then and fun now. it's a good memory of when hip hop was kind of fun and a little nostalgic for the sounds they sampled.
Oh, the joy!! I mean the skits could have been improved/reduced, but I have always very much enjoyed this album of upbeat hip-hop with uncountable samples.
Well I haven't heard this one in forever. Wildly fun and nostalgic.
De La Soul hit my radar with The Magic Number - after all I was raised on Schoolhouse Rock. So of course I was all in. I’m sure I listened to this album many times, but I never owned it. It is an infectiously joyous work that keeps me interested. You just never know what, or who, might appear… LIBERACE! I’m not entirely a fan of interludes, but on this album they work better than most - like when my siblings and I used to make cassette music shows back in the day. A lot of musical shenanigans isn’t always fun for the listener. But the shenanigans here I enjoyed from beginning to end!
4.5
Not my favorite. Couldn't get around the sensibility. Just not my jam, but can certainly see how and why many would appreciate it.
The quest to find hiphop I like continues. This one started promisingly enough but again the use of peculiar sound effects just didn’t work for me.
Cool, didn't love it
Such a joyous and fun album made by creative young friends, with big ideas and the best of eccentricities. This was a joy to listen to.
Chill but energetic beats with some fun rhymes, def great
A must have album.
Album 512 of 1001 De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising Rating : 3 / 5 One of the better hip hop albums I've ran across.
This was a lot of fun! Kinda long tho
Classic hip hop jams
i relistened to this album in full yesterday while sitting on my balcony in the Texas summer heat, and honestly it was a perfect way to listen. funny that it’s my album of the day today. De La Soul is Dead in my number one De La album, but 3 Feet High is classic. great vibes and so influential! glad i got into the group last year. i love their music so much 🥹
Banger of an album. Always fun to spin!
love this album <33333
I've listened to some other De La Soul album that I liked much more, but this was kind of meh.
Great
It’s good. Really good but I don’t think it’s in my favorites of the 90s. Tribe called quest was just more my taste. Loved the flows, the beats were pretty good and the q tip appearance as well
Just an incredible album and absolutely mind-blowing when it came out. Such creative lyrics and sampling - I don't think there's a better example out there of sampling - and the interludes were actually entertaining. It's been a while since the first time I listened to this, so there weren't as many surprises, but it was fun when you figured out some little easter egg, like which song was being sampled (they did such a good job with that) and like when I realized "Trugoy" is "Yogurt" spelled backwards.
Best yet
Classic
Classic early hip hop. Some of the filler/skits are skippable but otherwise a solid album.
Not my style but has some fun lyrics.
Fun hip hop album with loads of weird stuff on. I think it would be improved with cutting out some stuff. Still feel like it deserves a 4 though
Still dont get De La Soul - feels super novelty...
Some good tracks and very influential but felt like a sketch lots of times
I’m not qualified to speak to the magnitude of this album. The rap is solid for the time, and the concept is fun and enjoyable. The rap is dated but the flow is fluid. However, it is not a part of my rotation.
Leave my dandruff alone. Why is this album like 85% skits and 15% music. Listening to this felt like trudging through a scorching desert and each time an actual song started, it was like finding an oasis.
Goofy and fun. I feel like I saw them at Red Rocks with Flaming Lips and Cake. I remember it being a great night.
Lotsa good tunes
meh
I really liked this! I think it dragged slightly in some areas but I think this sound is so fresh and totally stands up to contemporary ears. Interesting to see some obvious references that have been borrowed since.
It was pretty good. Improvement over the snoop dogg album I listened to for sure. Lots of really good samples, loved hearing Steely Dan in Eye Know. Sounds pretty ahead of its time; difficult to tell it was made in ‘89 - three years after Peter Gabriel’s ‘So’, for example. Will definitely return to this in the future even though I’m not a big fan of hip-hop stuff. 6.5/10
A classic and opened up hip hop and rap to a n audience not keen on guns and hoes. Loses a star for interminable skits but the classics are undeniable.
This is probably one of the easiest 5s for me. I loved this album when I heard it. The creative sampling on top of the fun energy and lyrics blend so well. And I'm a skit lover as well so I thought the game show was so great. I have the original album on vinyl and CD, and they had the proof of purchases in the albums that you could mail in to Tommy Boy too. This album being locked from streaming for years sucked but I'm so glad it's widely available and got represses.
If Hip Hop had a musical comedy category, this album would be at the top of the list. Fun listen.
Great album that still holds up! I was 21 when this came out, but in my memory it seems like this was around high school that it came out. I think it’s because it reminds me of a simpler time in hip-hop, when it wasn’t all about “bitches & hoes”, and inner city violence. I had cousins who were living that thug life, but we weren’t. De La was for the music nerds, with the sampling and genre mixing they revolutionized. I mean, no one was mixing in country yodeling into rap at the time, and they made it work. A classic for a reason, no doubt.
It was a good jam in the beginning, but got kinda old. Just a bit too long. They were a good vibe but idk it just couldn’t hold my attention for that long
++: The Magic Number, Change in Speak, Cool Breeze on the Rocks - The Melted Version, Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge), Transmitting Live from Mars, Eye Know, A Little Bit of Soap, Tread Water, Potholes in My Lawn, Say No Go, Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend), De La Orgee, Buddy, Description, Me Myself and I, This is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E), D.A.I.S.Y Age, Plug Tunin' +: Intro, Can U Keep a Secret, Ghetto Thang, Take It Off, Do as De La Does, I Can Do Anything (Delacratic) 9,5/10
Dieses Album ist ein Einheitsbrei aus Acid, Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul und Rap. Es fühlt sich an, als hätte man alles, was mir nicht schmeckt, in einen Smoothie gepackt und ich müsste ihn trinken. Das alberne Geschnatter und die fehlende Melodie machen es für mich ungenießbar. Musikalisch gesehen fehlt dem Album eine klare Richtung. Die Mischung aus verschiedenen Genres wirkt chaotisch und unzusammenhängend. Die Tracks scheinen oft ohne erkennbaren roten Faden aneinandergereiht zu sein, was das Hörerlebnis anstrengend macht. Die Experimente mit verschiedenen Stilen und Klängen führen zu einem überladenen und verwirrenden Klangbild, das es schwer macht, den einzelnen Songs zu folgen oder sie zu genießen.
Classic.
Another addition to one of my album "obsession" years (1989). While not my usual genre, this is great fun, well produced and very listenable; I can appreciate the impact.
Dentro do contexto hip hop e rap, é um dos mais legais. Temas interessantes, letras compreensíveis, batidas reais e não somente eletrônicas. Porém, como sempre repito, rap é música fortemente de nicho e não tem a intenção alguma de ser agradável a todos. POrtanto, como não sou do nicho e não gosto do estilo, sempre tenho preguiça de ouvir os raps propostos. Mas esse é bem legal.
Now THIS is what I'm TALKING ABOUT. Flows are so good, and it's so interesting to listen to pre-90s hip hop. Love love love it.
Rambunctious and fun. Not sure I'll listen to often but I definitely enjoyed.
Fun early hip hop 6/10
*mostly rap, no music that I heard.
If only all hip-hop was this much fun. Magic Number suffers badly from overplay, but the rest bounced along with great lyrics, production and them.
I don't know how to describe this album or this era of hip hop other than... Ghetto nursery rhymes? I don't know. It's the same style on each song. There is this theme of a game show that is payed through out thwt is supposed to be funny and silly.... And it misses the funny mark. It's annoying. This group sounds like elementary school kids trying to rap. Bored. I thought I liked this era of hip over modern day hip hop but I think because I'm not a huge fan of modern day hip hop, I convinced myself that I like old school hip hop. I was wrong. At least not this ghetto nursery rhym hip hop.
Love this era of hiphop. Always love a collab with Q-Tip. Really fun stuff.
This is another in the DNF club, I don't know what is going on here, but they released a hip-hop album during the time hip-hop was the most musical and sucked all of the skill and talent out of it. If I could rate this less than one star, I would.
So, I see why it's known as the golden age of hip hop after this. I rarely get into hip hop much, although I appreciate what it does. However, this is one of those rare albums that I truly enjoy. It feels unique, full of personality, intelligence, awareness and some smatterings of humour. The beats are good too.
Slow, live intro. Conveing story through talking. Goofy first song. Old school hip hop. Skipped first song. Cannot hear through second one. Seems to be the grandfather of modern hip hop. It's like listening to age old classical music. Listened to Lamar instead. Liked that a lot more. Felt like Jazz at times. Maybe I should read the lyrics along for More enjoyment. Let's see
Sonically ahead of its time. 3 MCs with tons of talent only elevate it further. Deserving of it classic status and a must listen for hiphop heads.
This album is clearly a staple in hip hop for the backpack/alt rap sound. Although I recognise the importance of it, it sounds outdated to me and doesn’t hold up as well as a tribe called quest’s low end theory. Enjoyed some of the skits and some of the flows throughout Best song: BUDDY (Q tip feature was nice) Worst song: DAISY Age
Very fun album - I knew "Me Myself and I" already but had never listened to more from De La Soul despite their excellent reputation.
Obviously a classic, it was a little before my time and I’ve never quite grasped it as a masterpiece, although I enjoy it a lot. I love “conscience” hip hop and love rap from this era, and I really like a lot of songs on here. I probably need to listen to it more often to fully get it. That said, it’s objectively really good and I enjoy it a lot, especially Magic Number and Eye Know.
Poetic simplicity, I like it. I'll listen again . I'll give it points for creativity, kinda like poetry jam in a cafe vibe, but it wears on me after a few songs. 2 stars
Foundational hip hop record.
It's fine but I wanted to like it more than I did. Favourite track: Me Myself and I.
Volvemos a éste hermoso reto después de unas vacaciones que combinaron descanso de la oficina y estudio con éste debutazo de De La Soul. Imposible detenerse a analizar canción por canción. Lo mejor es dejarse llevar por el disco como una unidad irreductible. Excelente trabajo.
Uno de los álbumes de Hip-hop más creativos que he escuchado y, probablemente, uno de los más influyentes para la corriente "alternativa" del género, con samples sumamente creativos y flows interesantes que no se sienten repetitivos en ningún momento. Altamente recomendable.
Pretty cool but not necessarily my style of rap
Not the best for listening in the office
This album was fun! Don’t know how much I’ll return to it but an enjoyable listen
Despite never listening, I have heard good things about De La Soul. They were only recently put on Spotify due to sample-clearing issues, which may explain the blind spot for me and modern listeners. I like alternative hip hop and this album could be considered the genesis of that subgenre. It's a fun listen, and they were clearly having fun messing around making this. You can hear its influence on many modern projects. I really dug the "sampledelia" instrumentals, extra impressive since this was before easy sampling tech. I found some of the dialogue and in-jokes kind of corny and annoying, and this album holds the dubious distinction for inventing the dreaded "rap skit." The lyrics sometimes almost gave me the juvenile vibe of a "t3h PeNgU1N oF d00m" (soooo randommm). I'll blame my lack of lyrical connection on unfamiliarity, which will improve on subsequent listens now that it's on Spotify. The music is just too good and the album too influential on a genre I like to rate it a 3. *Saw a couple reviews that said this was "hip hop's Sgt. Pepper" and the timing is ironic because we got Sgt. Pepper the following day.*
Enjoyed this enough while listening to it but probably won’t ever return to it
Maybe just from the album cover, I thought I would and wanted to like this more than I did. A lot of it sounded very similar and was not in my wheelhouse. Saved from a 1 by a cool Steely Dan sample (“Eye Know”) and another from Hall and Oates (“Say No Go”).
They’re fun but they leave me wanting more
That's not my taste in musik.
Great classic hip hop album. 8/10
I must be missing something... this record comes up every so often, and I mean it's ok, but...
This was a fun romp through junior high, except this time I got to listen to all the songs I couldn’t listen when I was younger. I don’t know how much I would listen to this album again but I did get a new perspective and respect for it. Ghetto Thing was an intriguing callout to hood life predating the power of Gangsta rap or Public Energy. Favorite track: Jenifa Taught Me was just a classic misogynistic teen-boy-mentality that made the 13 year old in me snicker.