Biography

De La Soul formed in 1988 in Amityville, Long Island, when high school friends Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer, David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur and Vincent “Maseo” Mason came together with a vision that defied late-’80s rap conventions. Their debut, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989), produced by Prince Paul, became a landmark release, introducing the playful, sample-rich “D.A.I.S.Y. Age” and classics like “Me, Myself and I.” Follow-up albums including De La Soul Is Dead, Buhloone Mindstate and Stakes Is High deepened their sound and themes, while their role in the Native Tongues collective alongside A Tribe Called Quest helped define alternative hip-hop.

Through the 2000s and beyond, De La Soul continued to evolve with releases such as Art Official Intelligence and 2016’s And the Anonymous Nobody…, despite long-running sample-clearance disputes that kept much of their catalogue off streaming platforms for years. Widely credited with expanding hip-hop’s sonic palette, the group’s influence only grew. In February 2023, the passing of Trugoy at age 54 marked a profound loss for the culture, prompting an outpouring of tributes and a period of reflection for the band.

In November 2025, De La Soul announced Cabin in the Sky, their first album since Trugoy’s death, set for release via Mass Appeal. Framed as both tribute and renewal, the record incorporates Trugoy’s previously recorded vocals and features collaborators including Pete Rock, Nas, Common and Black Thought. More than a comeback, it stands as a statement of persistence, honouring their legacy while carrying their creative mission forward.

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