The artwork says it all. A broken flower pot, soil spilling out like blood and three daisies wilting away. Following the success of their groundbreaking debut 3 Feet High & Rising in 1989, with all it’s talk about the D.A.I.S.Y. Age, De La Soul had been labelled the hippies of hip-hop. And, with their follow album De La Soul Is Dead, released May 14, 1991, the group sought to set the record straight.
Produced by Prince Paul, the concept for the skits that run throughout is entirely unique. Through a fictional debate between schoolyard bullies over ‘The De La Soul Read-Along Storybook’ tape, De La Soul playfully parody and challenge the criticisms and attitudes that surrounded them at the time. E.g. “What happened to the pimps? What happened to the guns? What happened to the curse words? That’s what rap music is all about, right?”
De La Soul Is Dead is seen as edgier than 3 Feet High, touching in on themes such as role-models in gangster rap with “Who Do You Worship,” and sexual abuse in “Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa.” While undeniably smart and providing commentary on serious issues, the record is also fun and humorous as anything. The album features brilliantly flipped samples from the likes of Funkadelic, the J.B’s, and Stevie Wonder, and the singles “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)” and “A Roller Skating Jam Named “Saturdays”” remain bonafide party classics today.
Now, in 2016 we are seeing the 25th anniversary of the album’s release. To celebrate the truly dope record, our homie Chris Read has put together a sweet mixtape of original sample material, remixes, and album versions.
Tracklist:
1. Jimmy Spicer – ‘Money (Dollar Bill Y’all)’ (sampled in ‘Bitties in the BK Lounge’)
2. Chris Read – ‘Theme #3’ (Scratchapella)
3. De La Soul – ‘Intro’
4. Funkadelic – ‘I’ll Stay’ (sampled in ‘Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa’)
5. De La Soul – ‘Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa’
6. Funkadelic – ‘Mommy What’s a Funkadelic’ [Extract] (sampled in ‘Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa’)
7. Stevie Wonder – ‘Hey Love’ (sampled in ‘Talkin’ Bout Hey Love’)
8. Freda Payne – ‘The Easiest Way To Fall’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Talkin’ Bout Hey Love’) 9. De La Soul – ‘Talkin Bout Hey Love’
10. White Lightnin’ – ‘That’s No Lie’ (sampled in ‘Fanatic of the B-Word’)
11. De La Soul – ‘Fanatic of the B-Word’
12. Lee Dorsey – ‘Get Out My Life, Woman’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Fanatic of the B-Word’)
13. Chuck Jackson – ‘And That’s Saying A Lot’ (sampled in ‘Afro Connections at a Hi-5’)
14. De La Soul – ‘Afro Connections at a Hi-5’
15. De La Soul – ‘Pease Porridge’
16. Edna Wright – ‘Oops Here I Go Again’ (sampled in ‘Pass The Plugs’)
17. The J.B’s – ‘Pass the Peas’ [Extract] (sampled in ‘Pass The Plugs’)
18. De La Soul – ‘Pass The Plugs’
19. Eric B & Rakim – ‘Eric B Is President’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Pass The Plugs’)
20. Tom Waits – ‘Diamonds on My Windshield’ (sampled in ‘Oodles of O’s’)
21. Biz Markie – ‘Nobody Beats The Biz’ [Extract] (sampled in ‘Oodles of O’s’)
22. De La Soul – ‘Oodles on O’s’
23. Lafayette Afro Rock Band – ‘Hihache’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Oodles of O’s)
24. De La Soul – ‘Rap De Rap Show’
25. Lou Johnson – ‘The Beat’ [Extract] (sampled in ‘Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)’)
26. The Whatnauts – ‘Help Is On The Way’ (sampled in ‘Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)’)
27. The Honey Drippers – ‘Impeach The President’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)’)
28. De La Soul – ‘Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)’
29. Taana Gardner – ‘No Frills’ (sampled in ‘Bitties In The BK Lounge’)
30. De La Soul – ‘Bitties In The BK Lounge’
31. Lou Donaldson – ‘It’s Your Thing’ (sampled in ‘Bitties In The BK Lounge’)
32. Bob James – ‘Sign of the Times’ (sampled in ‘Keepin’ The Faith’)
33. Aerosmith – ‘Walk This Way’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Keepin’ The Faith’)
34. De La Soul – ‘Keepin’ The Faith’
35. The Mohawks – ‘The Champ’ [Extract] (sampled in ‘Keepin’ The Faith’)
36. Instant Funk – ‘I Got My Mind Made Up’ (sampled in ‘Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays’)
37. Mighty Ryeders – ‘Evil Vibrations’ (sampled in ‘Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays’)
38. De La Soul – ‘Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays’
39. Young Holt Unlimited – ‘Light My Fire’ (sampled in ‘Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays’)
40. Tower of Power – ‘Ebony Jam’ [Loop] (sampled in ‘Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays’)
41. De La Soul – ‘What Yo Life Can Truly Be’