De La Soul Grind Date CD

Feat.Sean Paul,Ghostface,Carl Thomas,Flava Flav,Mf Doom

De La Soul: Maseo, Posdnous, Trugoy (rap vocals).
Personnel: David Jolicoeur, Dennis Coles, Yummy Bingham, Danea Mitchell Wallace, Daniel Dumile, Flava Flav, Vincent Mason, Kelvin Mercer, Lonnie Lynn, Bonz Malone, Carl Thomas (vocals).
Additional personnel: Common, Ghostface Killah (vocals); Butta Verses, Yummy, Flava Flav (rap vocals); Carl Thomas.
Audio Mixers: Gimel Keaton; Troy Hightower.
Recording information: Audiovision Studios, Miami, FL; Cutting Room, New York, NY; Duck Studios, MD; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Soho Studios, New York, NY; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA.
Introduction by: Spike Lee.
Photographer: Mo Daoud.
De La Soul were interrupted just before they could deliver the third volume in their AOI series -- projected to be a DJ album -- to Tommy Boy. (The label perhaps bailed out from a 15-year relationship precisely because the group was going to release such a commercially bankrupt title, one that was planned instead to appear on an independent label run by Maseo.) De La Soul quickly realized they couldn't go ahead with the plan after signing their AOI label to Sanctuary, so they wrote a new record, The Grind Date. Although it may see them settling into a holding pattern, at least the pattern of 2001's AOI: Bionix is one that any hip-hop fan won't mind hearing repeated. Better yet, it boasts productions from an excellent cast of figures -- partner in crime Supa Dave West, author of the best tracks on their AOI series, J-Dilla, who's stretching out his patented (read: overdone) sound to embrace classic hip-hop, an only slightly commercialized Madlib, and young phenom 9th Wonder. Madlib gets what must be the first lead single of his career, a bright, antimaterialist tale called "Shopping Bags (She Got From You)" that thumps like a club tune, but lurches as only the Beat Conductor could do it. "Verbal Clap" finds J-Dilla allowing some grit into his productions, and Supa Dave only continues floating the most fluidly catchy productions of any rap producer in action. Meanwhile, De La Soul voices Posdnuos and Dave balance their time breezing easy on bumping message tracks with a few old-school shots that show them a bit defensive about the passing of time. (Check out "Come On Down," a Madlib-produced shot with Flava Flav, or "Days of Our Lives" featuring Common.) Without a concept to tout, The Grind Date doesn't gel like AOI: Bionix, but it does show De La Soul keeping everything together more than 15 years after their debut. After all, you certainly wouldn't see MF Doom guesting on a Tone-Loc record. ~ John Bush
Hip-hop fans can always count on De La Soul; the Long Island trio never released a truly weak record, after exploding out of the box with their groundbreaking 1989 debut, 3 FEET HIGH AND RISING. Both mentally engaging and musically inventive, De La has a track record that few acts can match. With 2004's THE GRIND DATE, Posdnuos, Dave (formerly Trugoy), and DJ Maseo keep that streak intact.
THE GRIND DATE marks De La's departure from the Tommy Boy imprint on which they began, and, as chronicled by the title track, the break was anything but amicable. However, as they state there, they aren't bitter, and, unlike some artists, none of their animosity bleeds onto the rest of the record. As with its predecessors, THE GRIND DATE glides with ease from mood to mood, from defiance ("Verbal Clap") to reflection ("It's Like That") to social observations ("He Comes"). As usual, Pos and Dave's minds are spinning at an impressive clip. (How many rappers would name-check Nas and Carly Simon in the same breath?) De La Soul has influenced legions of hip-hop acts, and THE GRIND DATE is proof that they've maintained their credibility.

Spin (p.118) - "[T]heir jabs cut and the beats burn..." - Grade: B
Entertainment Weekly (p.117) - "[T]hese boho-rap forefathers return revitalized with inspired head nodders..." - Grade: B+
Alternative Press (p.114) - "Essentially one long wakeup call to the next generation....[With] colorful, soul-drenched production from underground heavyweights like Madlib and Jay Dee..." - 3 out of 5
The Wire (p.73) - "[The album] thumps you with heart..."
Vibe (p.162) - 4 discs out of 5 - "[T]hese pioneers of alternative hip hop have outsmarted the denizens of today's bulletproof-vest scene with sophisticated compositions and insightful lyrics."