Artist: De La Soul Album: 3 Feet High and Rising

Year: 1989
Duration: 1:07:23

Going Back in Time: A Critical Review of De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising Album

The year was 1989 when De La Soul released their debut album titled 3 Feet High and Rising. This album brought in a new wave of hip hop music, and it is still regarded as one of the most innovative and groundbreaking albums in hip hop history. This album brought in an era of positivity, showcasing the endless possibilities of hip hop. So, let's take a trip down memory lane and delve deeper into De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising album.

De La Soul was formed in 1987 by Kelvin Posdnous Mercer, Dave Trugoy Jolicoeur, and Vincent Maseo Mason. They first came into the limelight with their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising. This album showcased their unique style of using samples from different genres, including funk, soul, and rock. It’s this unique sound that made De La Soul stand out in the hip hop scene.

The 3 Feet High and Rising album was a celebration of hip hop music. Its positive messages radiate throughout the album, making it the perfect album for anyone who wants to feel good and uplifted. Some of the best tracks include Me, Myself and I, The Magic Number, Say No Go, and Eye Know.

One of the more innovative parts of the album is the use of skits. The group uses skits to connect the tracks together. The skits are funny and add to the album's overall theme, adding to its uniqueness. This album ushered in an era of hip hop with more skits included in future albums by other artists.

While the album is fresh, unique and positive, it also has some criticisms. Some critics blame the album for its commercialisation of hip hop. The album became popular and this led to companies using hip hop as their marketing tactics, causing the hip hop genre to become much more commercialised. Despite this criticism, the album still remains to be one of the most innovative and trendsetting hip hop albums worldwide.



It's been over 30 years since the release of De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, and it’s still widely celebrated as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. It shaped the sound of hip hop and paved the way for many of the great rappers, DJs and producers we know today. It’s an album that everyone should listen to, not just for its revolutionary sound, but for its message of positivity and hope, which is exactly what the world needs more of today.