Artist: De La Soul Album: The Impossible: Mission TV Series, Part 1

Year: 2006
Duration: 0:0-1

The Impossible Mission of De La Soul: A Critical Review of Their Album

De La Soul, a hip-hop trio from New York, has been producing music since the late 80s, but their latest album, The Impossible: Mission TV Series, Part 1, is a standout. The album features collaborations with a range of artists, including David Byrne and Snoop Dogg. In this post, we'll take a deep dive into the album, including a brief history of the group, an analysis of the music genre, the standout tracks of the album, and a critical review of the work as a whole.

De La Soul formed in the late 80s as part of a larger collective called the Native Tongues. Along with groups like A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers, they helped pioneer a new style of rap that emphasized positivity, storytelling, and intelligence. The group's classic album, 3 Feet High and Rising, is still regarded as one of the most important hip-hop albums of all time. The Impossible: Mission TV Series, Part 1, marks the group's first full-length release in over a decade.

One of the most striking things about this album is how it blends multiple genres. The group has always incorporated elements of jazz, funk, and soul into their music, but here they also experiment with rock, reggae, and even gospel. This eclecticism can be heard in tracks like Genesis and Lord Intended, which both feature live instrumentation and a fusion of styles that only De La Soul could pull off.

Still, the best moments on the album are when De La Soul sticks to what they do best: clever wordplay, tight rhymes, and a sense of humor. Tracks like Remove 45 and The Magic Number showcase the group's ability to pack a lot of meaning into a few well-chosen words. The latter features a memorable chorus that lists off various numbers that are believed to be significant in different cultures and religions.

There are also some innovative elements to the album, such as its use of samples from old spy movies and television shows. These snippets provide a sense of narrative to the album, as if it's telling a story through the lens of a classic espionage thriller. While these moments are certainly intriguing, they can also be somewhat distracting, pulling focus away from the group's strengths and into a more gimmicky realm.

Overall, The Impossible: Mission TV Series, Part 1 is a strong return for De La Soul. While it may not be as groundbreaking as their earlier works, it still showcases the group's evolution and mastery of their craft. Fans of hip-hop, jazz, and soul should all find something to enjoy here.

In conclusion, The Impossible: Mission TV Series, Part 1 is a daring and eclectic album, with De La Soul pushing their own boundaries and experimenting with a range of styles and sounds. While it's not without its flaws, it's a worthy addition to the group's already impressive discography. Any fans of the group, or of intelligent and genre-defying music, should certainly give it a listen.