De La Soul's visionary catalog finally hits streaming at a bittersweet moment for the group
Long considered a cornerstone of hip-hop history, the Long Island trio's catalog hits streaming today, just weeks after emcee Trugoy the Dove's sudden death
As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, a new, integral piece of the genre’s history has finally landed on streaming. The early catalog of Long Island trio De La Soul, whose seminal body of work both expanded the horizons of hip-hop and highlighted the possibilities (and pitfalls) of sampling, was only available via cassette or record for decades. Now, 1989's 3 Feet High and Rising, 1991's De La Soul Is Dead, 1993's Buhloone Mindstate, 1996's Stakes Is High, 2000's Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump, and 2001's AOI: Bionix are all available for streaming.
The arrival of the group’s early albums on streaming marks a bittersweet moment for the trio. Just a few weeks ago, founding member David Jolicoeur, a.k.a. Trugoy The Dove, died suddenly at the age of 54. Ten days after his death, De La Soul’s Maseo and Posdnuos shared letters dedicated to Trugoy, with Maseo specifically highlighting the tragedy of celebrating a wider eye on their music without their bandmate and friend.