De La Mix Tape (Remixes, Rarities And Classics) [PA] - De La Soul

...wax you can find the De La Mix: Remixes, Rarities & Classics, De La Soul's 2004 release on Tommy Boy/ Rhino. This is not so much a greatest hits as it is a revisiting in an alternate universe. Both commercial and critical successes are treated to a fresh dusting off, live performance or remix on this disk.

Laying down the Knowledge

For those of you that don't already know, De La Soul has been around since rap was just ...
...were out of ear shot. De La dropped 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989 and it was different from anything else on the scene. At this time Run DMC had just released their fourth album after their first had really introduced rap to the masses. LL Cool J was on the air sharing space with DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. N.W.A., Ice-T, and Public Enemy were scaring the heck out of white folks and a division began to grow in rap. There was "good" ... more

***Warning*** This review does contain some edited adult language and themes. The words have been changed but the meaning is plain.

In the stacks of wax you can find the De La Mix: Remixes, Rarities & Classics, De La Soul's 2004 release on Tommy Boy/ Rhino. This is not so much a greatest hits as it is a revisiting in an alternate universe. Both commercial and critical successes are treated to a fresh dusting off, live performance or remix on this disk.

Laying down the Knowledge

For those of you that don't already know, De La Soul has been around since rap was just rap. Hip hop was just starting to take root as a music genre. There was just rap. When the boys from Long Island hit the scene there was the rap that played on the radio and the rap we listened to when our parents were out of ear shot. De La dropped 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989 and it was different from anything else on the scene. At this time Run DMC had just released their fourth album after their first had really introduced rap to the masses. LL Cool J was on the air sharing space with DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. N.W.A., Ice-T, and Public Enemy were scaring the heck out of white folks and a division began to grow in rap. There was "good" rap that was funny, easy to listen to, and didn't intimidate anyone. Then there was the "bad" rap by guys belting out lyrics about drug dealing, prostitution, drive-bys and racism from the street. Many people felt this was verbal violence. So the "good" stuff was clean, non-threatening and got radio play. The "bad" stuff was put behind the shelf for only adults to purchase making it only more desirous to the youth. So you had a choice; bland, wasting milk toast tracks for the masses or driving, ethnically charged rap giving snap shots of an illicit lifestyle that 99% of us knew nothing about.

In the middle of this, poof, De La Soul steps off the Island and into your TV with videos and their first radio release Me, Myself and I. You could not help but hear the heat. The President got less air time. De La Soul was the middle, the bridge between the mindless drab of most hip hop of the time and the hardcore gangstas. De La had soul and rapped about their reality and their views of the world. They preached peace and rapped for change when others were advocating and glorifying violence with raps like F#ck the Police (NWA). De La Soul vocalized the urban spirit when other rappers where belting out audible waste like Hammer Don't Hurt Them (MC Hammer).

When De La hit they took me by storm. I wore out my 3 Feet High and Rising tape, literally not figuratively. On the surface they were just another rap group vocalizing fluff, filling time and making money until the whole rap thing shriveled up and died. After a couple of runs through you slip below the glossy exterior and start to get an insight on how there is more to witness than meets the ears. Me, Myself and I is about the most superficial track that De La Soul ever produced and if you delve a little into the track you will find it is not so shallow after all.

De La Soul is a group of three rappers from Amityville, Long Island, New York. Kelvin Mercer (a.k.a. Posdnuos, Pos), David Jolicoeur (a.k.a. Trugoy the Dove, Dove) and Vincent Mason (a.k.a. Mase) grew up together in the shadow of NYC and were but a couple exits down the L.I.E. from the man that would take them from rapping in their parents' basement to entertaining millions worldwide, Prince Paul. After hearing a demo, Prince Paul went to Tommy Boy Records and De La Soul was signed. The rest is history, so they say but if you are still current can you really be history. That is a whole other topic.

De La Soul's sound was pretty unique when they hit the scene. They skipped rapping about how their parents just don't understand them or about rolling Blunts and pimping. De La was heading down a more socially relevant direction. De La Soul is a child of the collective influences of the music that Posdnuos, Dove and Mase enjoyed. De La had a soul because of the R&B influences as well as the reggae social conscious. De La is not over the top and never take themselves too seriously. They flow with a smooth cadence and snatch electronic sounds, live instruments and whatever else is handy as they lay down unusual and thoughtful rhymes. They often rap with their own brand of reality. They sometimes use words that they made up and rap about subjects that can be serious or just plain. De La Soul has their own sound without being too out there. At the time it was ground breaking. De La Soul was proud to be different and talented enough to make it in the mainstream.

Since 1989 De La Soul has released more albums, none of which ever carried the heft of 3 Feet High and Rising. They fell from Tommy Boy's graces and almost faded away to obscurity. They are still making music and released The Grind Date in 2004 with the Sanctuary Urban label (see fun fact #1). The Rhino label took the chance and released some of De La Soul's material from the Tommy Boy days. De La Mix Tape is a Rhino release taking some of De La Soul's more successful tracks, remixes, and live performances. Rhino is giving you a chance to relive the classics and get a fresh impression with some tight remixes.

De La Mix Tape is probably not the best disk for a first time listener of De La Soul. There is no ebb and flow to the album. This release is aimed more for the established fan but heck; a new listener might dig it too. What do I know, I am just a critic.

DJ, spin that record!

Stakes is High (Remixed) 4:49~ Mos Def (fun fact #2) and Truth Enola works with Detroit producer Jay Dee to rework the 1996 release. This version is more rugged than the original with Mos and Enola laying vocals over Dee's samplings. I am not going to tell you this one is better than that one but both are outstanding on their own. Dee put together a wicked remix and Mos and Enola are both hitting on all cylinders on this one.

The track is groovy. I can hear James Brown behind the jazz horns. Dee added a piano that makes this track really outstanding. This is one worth ripping and putting on your computer.

Oodles of O's 3:32~ This is a straight cut from the De La Soul is Dead album that was released in 1991. This is laid back philosophical track with lyrics like:

"All I is a man and once an embryo
Am I solid gold? I don't cast a glow
Yes I guess it's reflex
Some have no control
I'd rather let a laughter
And tally off I go"

This is pure De La Soul. Smooth, rhythmic rhymes racing along funky drums capped with old school scratches. The track lacks in depth but makes up for it with the funk factor. You will bob your head with this one. You can't help yourself. Listen to this one enough times and you will want to run out and get a fade. Yeah, it is worth a rip too.

Trouble in the Water (DJ Honda/ De La Soul) 3:46~ This joint is off DJ Honda's release 1998 hII. This carries a more modern rap feel thanks to DJ Honda's deeply felt groove. You have De La reminiscing about their childhood on Long Island here. DJ Honda takes what sounds like a lounge organ warming up and new school mixes to reinforce De La's lyrics. It has a smooth feel to it. I dig it for how personal it is. It feels raw yet polished, if that is possible at the same time. Trouble in the Water is not overly produced and stays loose. This is De La Soul at its most mature. It has ears; I would rip this one too.

Piles and Piles of Demo Tapes Bi-Da Miles (Conley's Decision) 4:06~ This is B-side instrumental from the 1991 release De La Soul is Dead. I am not a fan of instrumentals let alone four minute instrumentals. It is a very smooth take with a flute solo. It has a soulful grace as the music and back beat dance together. It is still an instrumental and it just seems to carry on a little too long. Cut this track in half it might be a little easier on me. Personally, I hit the skip button on this one.

I.C. Y'All (featuring Busta Rhymes) 3:20~ This one is off the 2000 release of Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (not so fun fact #3). This is more electronic heavy than most De La Soul tracks. I.C. Y'All has Busta Rhymes and the De La crew exchanging verses at fever pace. This track is much heavier than most De La tunes too with a thick bass line and tons of sample overlays. I.C. Y'All is one of those "I am better than you" raps that takes on such serious topics as other rappers don't rhyme as well as they do, they make more money, they don't let people change them, they are not fake, and they will take advantage of your woman quickly. Not ground breaking, in fact, I found this track to be pretty lame. The rhythm is quick and the rhymes are tight with lines like:

"Chop it up and fit it inside your quart of rice
You speak ghetto falsetto on the mic device
Trying to give me third degree, you're just a third of me"

Tight rhymes? Yes. Cleaver lyrics? Got 'em. Lame subject? Yeah. I skip it.

Big Brother Beat (featuring Mos Def) 3:44~ This is another straight cut, this time it is off the 1996 album Stakes is High. A very basic and quick rap with Mos. The crew raps about some of their boys from Native Tongue (fun fact #4). The track is hip with a slow driving rhythm. The lyrics keep pace with the music and they both quicken and pause together. The rap gets too busy at times with rappers stepping over each other. I know it is supposed to sound loose and fun but it ends up sounding like high school kids rapping along. I skip this one too.

More than U know (Prince Paul featuring De La Soul) 4:25~ This is a track taken from Prince Paul's 1999 album Prince Among Thieves. If you remember back, Prince Paul is who led De La Soul to Tommy Boy and you could say he gave them their first big break. Prince Paul trying to go the route of Sean Combs as producer then artist brought De La Soul in on the one track to add some punch to his release (fun fact #5).

This is a really basic rap with looped samples as the beat and the obligatory record scratches as the scripted spots. The lyrics tell a cryptic tale about buying drugs. The rhyming outshines the music. The music sounds like something out of an Eddie Murphy movie from the 80's. I like old school but this is summer school, too dumb to pass the first time. I skip it.

Sweet Dreams 3:27~ Yeah, it is that Sweet Dreams. If Annie Lennox was from Harlem and high this is what it the Eurythmics classic would sound like. Alright, not really. This song comes from a very rare 1996 promo EP called More Supa Sweet Stakes, Baby*. This is a mellow slow-rocking rap with boys rapping about a buddy's apartment. They steal the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams hook and dip it in some funk. This one is bluesy and fresh for being nearly 10 years old. I would hit repeat on this one. Rip and burn it to your favorite hip hop mix disk.

The Magic Number 3:16~ This is a De La Soul classic here. For those who have the '89 release of 3 Feet High and Rising you will remember this one. Right after the intro this track kicks the album off. A funky drum line grabs you up into quick step rhythm. Dove, Pos and Mase take turns on the mic and then rap in harmony. The lyrics are about the groups bond.

"Somewhere in this hip hop soul community
Was born three; Mase, Dove and me
And that's the magic number"

This is one of De La Soul's best tracks and many of you can probably vaguely remember hearing this at some point in your life. It is poppy, up-beat and hard not to like. I would rip it!

Potholes in my Lawn (Live from NYC) 2:36~ This is a previously unreleased live recording taken in 1996 from the Tramps nightclub*. Live is not a strong enough word for the energy popping off the speakers with this track. Potholes in my Lawn was originally released on 3 Feet High and Rising and was another light weight rap like The Magic Number. Here on The De La Mix Tape they make the performance funkier and fresh. The boys mix it up with the crowd. The rap is powerful and fun making me wish I was in the crowd and not listening in my car. Rip it!

The Hustle (featuring Beatminerz) 3:53~ The Hustle was left on the editing room floor for the 1996 Stakes is High album*. It was released on the AIDS awareness compilation America is Dying Slowly in 1996*. Set at a shuffle pace this rap is more thug than most De La Soul tracks. They are rapping about the hustlers in the music industry. This track is gritty and infectious. The backing rhythms are laid out by the NYC production team Da Beatminerz. They do a great job. The groove is aggressive and in your ear. This track is worth ripping.

Itz Soweezee (Hot) (De La Remix) 4:38~ This is a pumped up remix with the Jamaican rapper Yankee B of the track off the 1996 album Stakes is High. Back in the mid to late 1990's it seemed like every rapper had to throw down and thump his own chest talking about how he was a true gangsta. Everyone had to have a nickname like Scarface. De La Soul saw this as self masturbatory and called them out with Itzsoweezee (It's so easy).

"See them Cubans don't care what y'all n!gg*z do
Colombians never ran with your crew
Why you acting all spicy and sheisty
The only Italians you knew was ices, n!gg*z price me"

This remix is punchy, catchy and worth a listen. You will find a slow march coming from the bass and the snares keep a quick pace with the lyrics. Pos and Dove have the voice to pull in the anger. Yankee B, the Jamaican born New York rapper finishes the groove out with some fast paced rips. This is one remix that is actually better than the original. That is not common. I will rip this one too.

Stakes is High (DJ Spinna - Original Vocal) 4:41~ Stakes is High comes from the album of the same name. It was released in 1996. This is a socially relevant rap about crime and other problems in the city. They rap about their frustrations in general. It is a hypnotic tune that sticks with you after the track has ended. The original track was dry and hitting. The remix here on De LA Remix Tape is funkier with keyboards fading in and out behind the vocals. The bass gets punchier too. Unlike the previous tune I feel this remix is weaker than the original version. I still like it though, just as not as much. I would rip it but I probably would listen to the 1996 release more often.

Me, Myself and I (Badmarsh & Shri Remix) 4:02~ Badmarsh and Shri (fun fact #6), producers and musicians themselves take the signature De La Soul tune Me, Myself and I and turn into something new entirely. Take away the lyrics and listen to the music you would be hard pressed to recognize this track. Listening to the remix you find spiritual traditional Indian instruments and rhythms over laced throughout the lyrics. This gives the track a very fresh and modern jazz feel. This is not only the best remix on the album but it is one of the best remixes I have ever heard. The original track is spirited already but Badmarsh and Shri rebirth this song into something completely new while retaining its hip hop roots. Rip it!

Just a note: I finished each track review with a rip it/ skip it. Let me explain. Rip it means I feel it is worth a listen. Skip it means just that, I would skip it.

Personal Impressions

De La Soul took their influences and personal experiences and crafted a lasting image on the music world. De La Soul's roots with African music, reggae, soul and rap melted with their social concerns have made themselves into an influential group in their own right. Their spirit can be felt in many of today's raps from the Black Eyed Peas to Gorillaz.

This album alone is not great. I personally don't care for it too much. De La records are front to back journeys. Each one is its own experience. De La Mix Tape is just a partially digested regurgitation of some of De La Soul's more memorable performances and moments. Taken away from the other bodies of work I feel this one just doesn't have enough for me. There is too much mediocrity and not enough vibrancy. De La Soul records have a vibe. This one totally lacks that vibe and flow.

If you are new to De La Soul I would suggest a complete album like 3 Feet High and Rising to be your first taste. If you are already a fan then you might appreciate what the album offers. Would I recommend it? Conditionally, yes. I am sure everyone will find something to dig on even if it is not the entire album.

Fun Facts:

1. 1~ Matthew Knowles runs the Sanctuary Urban label. You might know him as Beyonce's father.
2. 2~ Mos Def has a face you know but might not realize. He is the host from Def Poetry Jam and has recently been seen in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe.
3. 3~ Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump was the first of what was to a rapidly released trilogy of De La Soul records. AOI: Bionix was the second release in 2001. Even though the critics seem to be digging on the new wax the albums were not moving well. Tommy Boy and De La Soul parted ways before the third release.
4. 4~ Native Tongue was an innovative collection of rappers from NYC. They included the rap groups Black Sheep, A Tribe Called Quest, the Jungle Brothers and Leaders of the New School. Mos Def and Q Tip were part of this circle too.
5. 5~ Prince Paul brought in more than just De La Soul for his record, Prince Among Thieves. He tapped Everlast, Xzibit, Big Daddy Kane, Chris Rock and Biz Markie too for separate tracks. All this star power did little to help Prince Paul follow in Sean Combs' wake. Critics loved it, no one bought it. Chris Rock is heard at the beginning of More than U Know.
6. 6~ Badmarsh and Shri have released two records of their own. The both have backgrounds in separate genres of music and combine those backgrounds to produce some the most unique musical experiences possible. The use jazz, reggae, and traditional Indian instruments and styles in their music.

*Information taken from the album liner notes. Run Time: 14 Tracks, 54.2 Minutes

Thanks for reading,
© Christian921

~*I have republished this review. The work is 100% my own, I have chosen to share it on more than one site.

 

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