De La Soul
3 Feet High and Rising (1989)

review by: Alexander Washburn
Date: 11/1/00

Schoolhouse Rock. Hall and Oates. Steely Dan. These are among the inventive samples that De La brings together on its debut record that set the bar high for all hip-hop records to follow.

Funny, though-provoking, playful are all worthy adjectives to describe this classic. Where else can a listener be warned of the crack epidemic to the sample of "I Can't Go for that," and then go to the hip-hop pop song of "Eye Know," where Steely Dan's "Peg," never sounded better. The Native Tongues converge on "Buddy," and the crew puts its finger directly on the teenage angst in all of us with "Jennifa Caught Me."

Listening to this record back in the mid-80's, you have no problem believing that this is one of the most important recordings of all time. Over a decade later, it has stood the test of time, which is exactly what classics are made of.