#65 of 100
· Apple Music
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Year
1989
Genre
Hip-Hop/RapLabel
Tommy Boy
Format
Vinyl LP
“A masterclass in production innovation and lyrical playfulness that absolutely deserves a spot here, though I'd honestly push it higher. Tommy Boy's decision to press this with those wild, cartoonish skits woven throughout makes every needle drop feel like stumbling into a party where Trugoy, Posdnuos, and Dave Jah D are genuinely having the most fun in hip-hop. Prince Paul's production—those chopped strings, the genre-hopping—was so far ahead of its time that this record still sounds fresher than half of what dropped in the 2010s. Position 65 is respectable, but 3 Feet High demands to be heard as a complete wax experience, skits and all.”
De La Soul, formed in 1987 in Amityville, Long Island, consists of rappers Trugoy, Posdnuos, and DJ Prince Paul. Their debut album 'Three Feet High and Rising' (1989) revolutionized hip-hop production with its sample-heavy, jazz-influenced approach and whimsical sensibility, earning platinum certification and establishing them as leaders of the Native Tongues Collective. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, they released critically acclaimed albums including 'De La Soul Is Dead' (1991), 'Buhloone Mindstate' (1993), and 'Mosaic Thump' (1999). Known for their positive, socially conscious lyrics and innovative sample-based production, they influenced generations of alternative hip-hop artists and remained active performers, eventually releasing their final album 'And the Anonymous Nobody' (2016) before Trugoy's passing in 2023.
Style
De La Soul pioneered "Native Tongues" hip-hop, blending jazz samples, funk, soul, and psychedelic elements with playful, conscious lyricism. Their production style featured dense, creative sampling and a signature whimsical aesthetic that contrasted with harder East Coast and West Coast rap trends.
Significance
As originating members of the Native Tongues Collective, De La Soul profoundly shaped alternative hip-hop and expanded the genre's artistic possibilities through groundbreaking production and positivity-focused messaging. Their early vinyl releases remain highly sought-after by collectors for their innovative production, classic artwork, and cultural importance to hip-hop history.
De La Soul's debut album '3 Feet High and Rising' was recorded primarily at Prince Paul's home studio in New Jersey during 1988-1989. The trio—Trugoy, Posdnuos, and DJ Prince Paul—created an innovative, playful approach to hip-hop that departed from the harder styles dominating the genre. Prince Paul, the creative architect behind the scenes, employed unconventional sampling techniques and production methods, layering obscure soul, funk, and jazz records with comedic skits and interstitial interludes. The album features production from Paul, Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, and Stetsasonic's Fruitkwan. Key collaborators also included Monie Love and Queen Latifah on guest vocals. The group's philosophy emphasized fun, wordplay, and positive messaging, rejecting the gangsta rap narrative that was gaining prominence.
Historical Context
Released in March 1989 on Tommy Boy Records, '3 Feet High and Rising' arrived during hip-hop's transition from the mid-80s party rap era toward more sophisticated, album-oriented work. It coincided with similar releases like A Tribe Called Quest's debut and marked a shift toward jazz-influenced, sample-heavy production. The album was both a critical and commercial success, reaching gold status and significantly influencing the Native Tongues collective's aesthetic of Afrocentricity and conscious positivity. It established De La Soul as innovators and helped validate alternative hip-hop approaches beyond mainstream gangsta and party rap, profoundly shaping the sound and values of 90s hip-hop.
Pressing Notes
The original vinyl pressing on Tommy Boy Records (TLBOX 1029) came as a single LP, though some early pressings were double albums. The album includes the famous 'Magic Number' with its distinctive kazoo riff. Collectors should note that several reissues exist: a 2000 remaster, a 2001 double vinyl reissue that restored expanded material, and more recent 180-gram audiophile pressings from Music on Vinyl and other labels. Original 1989 pressings in good condition command premiums. The back cover's holographic sticker and the album's distinctive gatefold packaging make condition assessment important for collectors.
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