De La Soul is undeniably one of New York hip-hop’s finest treasures. Formed in 1988 on Long Island, the legendary trio consisting of Kelvin « Posdnuos » Mercer, David « Trugoy the Dove » Jolicoeur, and Vincent « Maseo » Mason quickly carved out their own distinct musical identity. At a time when the Wu-Tang Clan was launching the golden age of gangsta rap with classics like « C.R.E.A.M » (« Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers), and Nas was laying the groundwork for conscious rap, De La Soul took a unique path with their « D.A.I.S.Y » style (« Da Inner Sound, Y’all »), promoting positivity and optimism. Yet, by the early ’90s, the group boldly broke away from this style, releasing their audacious project titled « De La Soul Is Dead ».
Among their remarkable discography, « The Grind Date », originally released in 2004 and reissued this year, stands out as a cornerstone album. Praised extensively by critics, its success can largely be attributed to its collaborative production approach, featuring for the first time a multitude of influential external producers from the underground elite. Unlike their earlier « D.A.I.S.Y »-styled albums firmly rooted in the late 80s, « The Grind Date » remains fresh and relevant even today. The reissue is further enhanced by two new tracks, « Bigger » and « Respect », alongside four additional original versions, featuring prominent collaborations with major artists such as Common, Sean Paul, Ghostface Killah, MF DOOM, Flavor Flav, and Carl Thomas.
De La Soul unveils a special reissue of « The Grind Date »!
This exceptional project boasts contributions from an outstanding lineup of acclaimed beatmakers: Posdnuos, Supa Dave West, J Dilla, Madlib, 9th Wonder, Jake One, Chachi Bacala, and the iconic Pete Rock, notably famed for producing Nas’ classic « The World is Yours » from the legendary album « Illmatic » by the prince of Queensbridge. Madlib, a cornerstone of American hip-hop, is celebrated for his collaborations with giants such as Erykah Badu, Mac Miller, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar, while continually releasing daring solo projects that showcase his distinctive sound. Meanwhile, the legendary J Dilla, hailing from Detroit and famous for his work with The Pharcyde, continues to influence contemporary artists like New York’s rising star Joey Bada$$. Joey notably reinterprets the legacy of the Wu-Tang Clan by flipping their iconic anthem « C.R.E.A.M » into « Paper Trail », cleverly twisting the famous line into « CASH Ruined Everything Around Me »—a clear sign of hip-hop’s continuous evolution.
Listening to this freshly pressed vinyl reissue by De La Soul (vinyl collectors take note), it’s striking how remarkably contemporary the album remains. While some albums become nostalgic relics of their era, others effortlessly transcend decades, maintaining their timeless relevance. These are the quietly powerful works that shape the ongoing cultural revolution known as hip-hop, continuously evolving since the 1980s right up to the present day.
