Since 2000, the National Recording Preservation Board annually selects a myriad of different recordings from popular songs to historic speeches for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Last year, Mort Sahl's At Sunset and De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising were two of 25 recordings chosen and deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States."
With their debut in 1989, De La Soul heralded an alternative movement that had been growing and solidifying in the hip hop underground for several years. Forming in 1987 when the trio were still in high school, the group consisted of MCs Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) and Trugoy (David Jude Jolicoeur) and DJ Maseo (Vincent Mason). Then again, those stage names are only one of several the group could choose when referencing themselves. With the studio guidance of producer Prince Paul, De La Soul's album worked against the standing stereotypes of hip hop. Their sound borrowed samples from non-traditional palettes (country and jazz) and extended their use from not only hooks and drumbreaks to "split-second fills and in-jokes". In attitude and appearance, the trio maintained their own style, promoting individuality, that stood in strong contrast to the burgeoning popularity of the gangsta rap trends of doo rags and bling.
While a gangsta rapper's themes included street violence, profanity, and walking on the wrong side of the law (aka the realities of inner city life), alternative hip hop held a sunnier disposition on city life, promoted individuality, and made relevant social statements. De La Soul's debut in particular promoted the D.A.I.S.Y. Age ("Da Inner Sound, Y'all"), a peace and love mentality that earned the trio an unwanted 'hippie' label. All of these elements put together constructed an album linked together by multiple concepts (a game show transmitted from Mars), featured an innovative sound that strengthened the direction of alternative hip hop, and highlighted by poignant lyrics with definite things to say, underwritten by positive themes, veiled by quick-witted humor. The unlikely popularity of 3 Feet High and Rising and its singles symbolized the expected rise of the alternative hip hop scene out of the underground. A rise that would not come to fruition (at least not then).
Here is the discography surrounding De La Soul's debut album:
Plug Tunin' (1988 single)
Jenifa (Taught Me) / Potholes in My Lawn (1988 single)
This Day and Age (1988 EP)
Eye Know (1989 single)
3 Feet High and Rising
Me Myself and I (1989 single)
Say No Go (1989 single)
Buddy / Ghetto Thang (1989 single)
4 New Remixes (1989 single)
Buddy / The Magic Number (1990 single)
If you have any ideas for where the tour should go next, please give a shout. I'm open to whatever as long as the artists are historically related in some way and go in an artist's chronological order.
Pass the Headphones!!
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