On This Day in Hip Hop History: De La Soul Releases “De La Soul is Dead”

On this day in Hip Hop history, De La Soul made a bold statement with the release of their second album, De La Soul is Dead. The album, which earned the prestigious ‘Five Mics’ rating from The Source magazine, marked a significant shift in the group’s sound and image.

De La Soul Is Dead signaled a departure from the group’s previous flower-child aesthetic and set them apart from mainstream Hip Hop. Despite its initial lackluster reception on the charts, the album has since been recognized as a classic and a game-changer in the genre.

The album’s skit-heavy storytelling structure, coupled with its cryptic title, hinted at a new direction for De La Soul. While the album did not achieve immediate commercial success, it laid the foundation for the group to be regarded as one of the most respected rap acts of their generation.

In the years following the release of De La Soul is Dead, the album has been hailed as one of the greatest of the 1990s by publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork Media. Its impact on the careers of De La Soul and the Hip Hop industry as a whole cannot be overstated.

Ultimately, De La Soul Is Dead served as a turning point for the group, allowing them to transcend their early success and establish themselves as artists of enduring influence and significance. Today, the album stands as a testament to De La Soul’s innovation and artistry in the world of Hip Hop.