De La Soul’s entire catalog is finally available for streaming. The legendary hip-hop group announced the long-awaited and hard-earned feat early this year, which carries all the more weight now after founding member David Jolicoeur (Trugoy the Dove) sadly died on February 12.
“We fought so hard and so long for it,” Vincent Mason (Maseo) told the New York Times. “For him not to be here, it’s awkward; it hurts.”
After decades of issues with their old label Tommy Boy Records as well as copyright problems over samples, De La Soul’s first six albums including their 1989 debut 3 Feet High And Rising are now available on streaming services. March 3 marks the 34th anniversary of De La Soul’s landmark premiere LP and the number 3 also figures into the trio, the album title and perhaps the record’s most famous song, “The Magic Number,” making 3/3/2023 a symbolic day for the group. But it’s also bittersweet as the trio recently lost one of its founding members.
Thankfully, the music is now there for older fans and a whole new generation to remember Jolicoeur and De La Soul’s monumental contribution to hip-hop. Also now available to stream is 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead, 1993’s Buhloone Mindstate, 1996’s Stakes Is High, 2000’s Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump and 2001’s AOI: Bionix. Stream all six LPs below:
