Gothic Theatre
De La Soul
Few rap groups have proved to be as enduring or challenging as De La Soul. From self-appointed purveyors of the D.A.I.S.Y. (DA Inner Sound Y’all) Age to creators of an art official intelligence, the trio — Posdnous, Dave, and Maseo — has made music that continues to amuse and inspire hip-hoppers around the world.
Critics hailed the group as a refreshing alternative to a perceived glut of machismo in rap and pegged them as hippie rappers, thanks to their dancers, China and Jette, who liked to toss flowers from the stage during concerts. Meanwhile, young people across the world began mimicking their style of dress — baggy pants, hiking boots, and multi-colored shirts, topped off by black medallions and eccentrically cut flattops. Along with the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul exerted an immediate musical influence on other rap groups, most notably fellow Native Tongues members A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, and Monie Love. Memorably, the entire Native Tongues appeared on De La Soul’s remix of their Buddy single, as well as on the Jungle Brothers’ Doin’ Our Own Thing.
