Book Review: High and Rising

De La Soul burst onto the scene with the release of their groundbreaking 1989 album 3 Feet High & Rising, an “anything goes” hip-hop masterpiece hailed as a new masterwork from a bygone era of Black experimentation.

Formed in Long Island in 1988 by Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer, Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, and Vincent “Maseo” Mason, De La Soul rebuked classification and appealed to the Black alternative. Their music was positive and psychedelic, their imagery full of flowers and peace signs. It was rap with a broad sonic palette which set the blueprint for an entire generation of artists who followed. But as quickly as De La ascended, they were faced with the pressures of a changing industry and bitter legal battles.

De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

The trio of hip-hop performers from Long Island, NY, known as De La Soul (Kelvin Mercer aka “Posdnuos“, David Jude Jolicoeur aka “Trugoy“, and Vincent Mason aka “Pasemaster Mase“) made their recording debut on the 1989 release 3 Feet High and Rising. Produced by Prince Paul from Tommy Boy Records, the release was certified Platinum in the US where it reached number 24 on the Billboard album charts, number 1 on the R&B album charts, and number 13 in the UK.

The album was a critical success as well. It appeared in the top 10 of a number of publications best of lists for 1989. Rolling Stone listed it at number 346 of its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Q Magazine ranked it number 20 on its list of the 40 Best Albums of the 80’s.