The eighth full-length album finally been released, funded by a Kickstarter campaign. eclectic as always, featuring guest appearances from 2 Chainz Damon Albarn, David Byrne, Estelle, Justin Hawkins, Little Dragon, Roc Marciano, Pete Rock, Jill Scott, Snoop Dogg, and Usher.
http://www.metacritic.com/music/and-...ody/de-la-soul
Short Documentry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmpGJ7P_xsw
you can check it out on their YT channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWpmWvJThkQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBk9knE8v08
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vDVDo9w20w

The single I have heard on the radio fills me with disquiet. It seems rather than the entertaining songs we got on "3 Feet High And Rising" and "De La Soul Is Dead" they have become just A N Other rap band. Seemed too like any gangster-rap group that clogs the charts.

Will listen to the album sometime over the weekend and hope to be pleasantly surprised and pleased by the album. That is if it is on Spotify. Will decide to buy it if I like it.

I love the song they did with Snoop called Pain. They still have it.

I dont agree that they are now a gangster rap band..they always do there own thing. in fact they are nerds if anything, and have never really cared about what is popular. that is why their albums stand the test of time.. the sound has evolved over the years..when they made 3 feet high and de la soul is dead they were teenagers.

Snoop sounds so smooth on that song.

Wow great news De La Soul have a new album out I had no idea!
Love em, having a listen on Deezer now.

I have heard the album now and the album is better than the single - which in my subjective opinion is a strange choice of lead track.

There are good songs but there are no obvious singles like there was in the first two albums. Like most I got into De La Soul through Me, Myself and I. This album is more artistic than commercial and fares better listening to it in one sitting rather than as individual songs.

Which is the single? I heard a song the other day - Trainwreck? - and thought it was really good. Was surprised when I found it was by De La Soul.

Royalty Capes is the one that 6 Music playlisted as the single.

Best thing he's done in ages. Thanks for mentioning this. I will definitely check it out. I adored De La Soul back in the day.

Just heard the Damon Albarn collaboration Here In After and liked it. Sounds like the album is worth buying.

david byrne collab is also great. i even like the 2chainz track. never heard him rap that well before. not so keen on the justin hawkins one though. doesnt quite hit the mark for me.

Its sad that you cannot buy a digital copy of any of their back catalogue because of all the sample clearances, and probably never will be able to except this and the grind date (which is also great) 3 feet high and rising especially is a classic album and is in the national recording registry. yet you cant buy it on itunes.
questlove talking about it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOtvZChu7o

I was on the email list when they gave away the back catalogue a couple of years ago.
But the download system crashed and I didn't get the zip file. Very disappointing.
I like the new album but is there a problem with music that is based on sampling so much?

The new album they have only sampled their own music.
The problem is that all the albums they made before the advent of the internet, the wording in the clearance contracts only stipulates CD's , Cassettes, vinyl and not digital mediums. Its just a case of rewording contracts to include digital but for whatever reason the record label they were signed to wont do it.

They sample James Brown on the new album, don't they?

Having now listened to the whole album, it's pretty good. I like the contributions from Snoop, Estelle, Damon Alban and even Justin Hawkins. A good listen.

maybe they thought there HAS to be a james brown sample on the album somewhere

i like how even though there are a lot of features , those songs feel like genuine collaborations and the other artists shine on their songs just as much if not more so than de la..like on the little dragon song pos only comes in one min before it finishes.

Reading the credits, there are a few other "interpolations" and "excerpts" from other songs on the album, all "used by permission", but only a few.

The other thing I really like about it is the use of live instruments. Pretty sure there are real drums on several tracks, likewise a bass guitar and a double bass, plus strings, brass, flutes etc. Gives a natural warmth and depth to the sound.

they recorded over 200 hours of live jam sessions with different instruments and sounds, then sampled from that.

The album has entered the charts at Number 16.

Not bad for an album with little mainstream exposure.

Not bad for an indie act..i wonder if the chart position includes the advance sales they got to make the album. any sale from the release date onwards is gravy.