This past March marked the 30th anniversary of De La Soul‘s debut album 3 Feet High and Rising. In a tribute to the album’s legacy, Polish YouTube user Nama Hecc has compiled every sample used throughout the project. The video is nearly eleven minutes long.
In addition to early hip-hop classics, Prince Paul heavily sampled the British funk band Cymande, as well as Steely Dan and Hall and Oates. Additionally, “The Magic Number” samples country legend Johnny Cash and New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. De La Soul credited sampled artists as songwriters for four tracks on the album, but this mashup goes above and beyond to list a full bibliography.
The samples have been a point of contention for the group and their former label for years now. This past March, Tommy Boy planned to release De La Soul’s first six albums digitally for the first time. Subsequently, the group notified their fans that they were against this decision. According to the group, they would only receive 10% of royalties from streams and digital sales. In late February, they joined the Sway in the Morning show to discuss the conflict.
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Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more
Bonobo
Saturday, Nov 14 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Pretty Lights
Thursday-Sunday, Nov 19-21 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Ozomatli
Saturday, Nov. 21 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley
Kamasi Washington
Saturday, Dec 5 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley
Steel Pulse
Thursday, Dec 31 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley
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