De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising: Magenta (180g Colored Vinyl 2LP) * * *

Magenta Colored 180g Vinyl 2LP

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 well over 30 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.

3 Feet High And Rising is the group's legendary 1989 debut which was the first of De La Soul's three collaborations with producer Prince Paul. A critical and commercial high water mark for both parties, the album is regularly cited as one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop albums of all time. Featuring the feel-good hit singles "Me Myself and I," "The Magic Number," "Buddy" and "Eye Know," 3 Feet High And Rising was chosen by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

"At the end of the Eighties, De La Soul rolled out a new style called "D.A.I.S.Y. Age," which stood for "Da Inner Sound, Y'All." They led the Native Tongues posse – no gold chains, just samples, skits, jokes and beats. This happily sprawling album is the sound of middle class pals pushing rap's possibilities by expanding its subject matter and sonic makeup; their ingenious producer Prince Paul bit everyone from P-Funk to Hall and Oates and Johnny Cash. And on tracks like "Eye Know" and "Me, Myself, and I" De La Soul presented an optimistic eclecticism that served as a buoyant alternative to the rap scene's swaggering conformity." - No. 32 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Debuts of All Time