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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.
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: 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).
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."
5 Stars, nothing less...
C-L-A-S-S-I-C Submitted by Culture (Queens, NY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Well-Crafted Personally, I liked this album a lot. The more I listened to it, the better it seemed to sound. It is filled with usual DeLaSoul metaphors and the guest apperances by Common, Ghostface, and MFDoom serve the album well. Moreover, I think POS' verse on "Much More" is easily one of the top verses of the year. It is a shame that this sort of hip-hop is not played on the radio.
JGIII Submitted by grant21999 (Dallas, TX) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Stakes is High PART 2? The back to basics De La is back and ready to run tings in a major way, cuts for all 4 seasons, my favorites is He Comes and Verbal Clap and Days of Our Life with Com Sense. Dude from Orlando is right, give it as gift!! Submitted by chronwell (Washingotn DC) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Hold Up Personally I don't like this album because I heard Much More and Shopping Bags eons ago. Plus I already heard that Church beat on the Black Album Rejects and the Ghostface track is old to. Pssshhhhh Submitted by comeonnowson (Haterville) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Easily One of the Year's best De La does it again! Stepping out of the AOI series to create a new CD for their new label situation, De La comes with 13 solid joints and surpisingly, no skits. The album has no skip tracks and great replay value. Production from Madlib, Jake One, 9th Wonder, Jay Dee and others is flawless. This is a great cd. The collaborations are very solid. De La links up with some of my favorites like Ghostface and MF Doom as well as a reuniting with Common that does justice to "Da Business". Newcomer Butta Verses does his thing trading verses with Pos on "No" one of the albums more radio friendly joints. Cop this if you like good old fashioned hip hop. A must have for De La Soul fans. Submitted by Lex (Queens, NYC) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
5 Stars, nothing less...
Well-Crafted
Hold Up
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