In 1987, a trio known as De La Soul formed from Long Island, NY roots and changed the landscape of hip-hop as we knew it. Now, for over 20 years they have rocked us with their De La songs full of inscrutable samplings, whimsically irreverent lyrics, social commentary, light rhythm and laid back rhymes. They have gained respect within and outside the hip hop community with their contributions to rap, as well as jazz, funk, soul and alternative genres. Not only are their musical innovations acclaimed and respected worldwide, but they paved a path for many alternative rap groups to come after them.

De La Soul formed while the trio – Kelvin Mercer (Posdnous, Plug One, Plug Wonder Why, Mercenary), David Jude Jolicoeur (Trugoy the Dove, Plug Two, Dave), and Vincent Mason (P.A. Pasemaster Mase,Plug Three, Maseo) – attended high school in the late 1980’s. As a group their stage names reflected the same whimsy they brought to their rhymes. Through backward spelling of Mercer’s nickname as a high school DJ “Sound-Sop” became Posdnous and Trugoy was derived from Jolicoeur’s favorite food –yogurt. Mason noted in an early interview that Pasemaster was the DJ and Mase wasn’t simply a nickname, but an acronym for “Making A Soul Effort”.
The group soon caught the attention of producer Paul “Prince Paul” Huston (of local rap group Stetsasonic) with a demo tape of the song “Plug Tunin’”. He played the tape colleagues on New York’s rap scene, and soon De La Soul signed with Tommy Boy.

3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul and Prince Paul produced the group's debut album, a mock-game show soundtrack titled 3 Feet High and Rising (released spring 1989). The release was an undeniable smash hit and was quickly hailed as the future of hip hop. The album sounded like nothing else in hip-hop and presented a clear alternative to the hardcore rap that was dominating hip hop at the time. 3 Feet High and Rising was a package of clever rhymes laced with cleverly inventive eccentricities and quirks. Where most of their contemporaries drew directly from old-school rap, funk, or powerful barrage of groups like Public Enemy, De La Soul were gentler, taking in not only funk and soul, but also pop, jazz, reggae, and psychedelia.

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