De La Soul
There will be a column inserted here about De La...stay
tuned. BTW, the only reason why this
incomplete page is released is that there is still
a large amount of info on here that I know people
could use...so I wasn't going to hold out because
of some missing import releases.
Albums
3 Feet High And
Rising - Tommy Boy
1989 (1019)
Well...there's just too much
to say about their first LP.
First of all, it was probably
the most important debut
LP by anyone of the Native
Tongues. Second, without
being too preachy, "3
Feet..." contributed
significantly to the elevation
of consciousness of Black
America and all the
problems plaguing the
Hip-Hop community. Lastly,
it set new standards in
terms of skits and album
inserts...with a hillarious De
La Cartoon & ongoing game
show. Oh yeah...did I forget
to mention the album is
dope as hell?
Intro
The Magic Number
Change In Speak
Cool Breeze On The Rocks
Can U Keep A Secret
Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's
Revenge)
Ghetto Thang
Transmitting Live From Mars
Eye Know
Take It Off
A Little Bit Of Soap
Tread Water
Potholes In My Lawn
Say No Go
Do As De La Does
Plug Tunin' (Last Chance To
Comprehend)
De La Orgee
Buddy (With Jungle Brothers And
Q-Tip From A Tribe Called Quest)
Description
Me Myself And I
This Is A Recording 4 Living In A
Full Time Era (L.I.F.E.)
I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)
D.A.I.S.Y. Age
Plug Tunin' (Original 12" Version)
(CD Bonus Track)
De La Soul Is
Dead - Tommy Boy
1991 (1029)
Now this was a much more
somber and almost bitter
sounding album for De La.
They dissed radio shows,
crossover artists, hip-house
music...and even Arsenio!
But you know what...this
album still stands the test of
time. At first, fans where
kinda frontin' on it...but then,
with hits like 'Saturdays',
'Ring Ring Ring', and
'Keepin The Faith', fans just
couldn't help but give De La
their props.
Intro
Oodles of O's
Talkin' Bout Hey Love
Pease Porridge
Skit 1
Johnny Dead AKA Vincent Mason
(Live From The BK Lounge)
A Roller Skating Jam Named
"Saturdays"
WRMS' Dedication to the Bitty
Bitties in the BK Lounge
Skit 2
My Brother's A Basehead (CD
Bonus Track)
Let, Let Me In
Afro Connections At A Hi 5 (In The
Eyes Of A Hoodlum) (CD Bonus
Track)
Rap De Rap Show
Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa
Who Do U Worship? (CD Bonus
Track)
Skit 3
Kicked Out The House (CD Bonus
Track)
Pass The Plugs
Not Over Till The Fat Lady Plays
The Demo (CD Bonus Track)
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
WRMS: Cat's In Control
Skit 4
Shwingalokate
Fanatic of the B Word
Keepin' The Faith
Skit 5
De La Remix -
Tommy Boy/Mega
1992 (3197)
One of two essential
remix/b-side compilations
that spanned 12"s off their
first 2 albums both from the
US & abroad.
Jenifa (Taught me)
Skip To My Loop
They Don't Know That the Soul
Don't Go For That (Potholes
Instrumental)
Me, Myself And I (Oblados Mode)
Freedom Of Speak
Stricktly Dan Stuckie (A Home
Production)
Brain Washed Follower
Ghetto Thang (Ghetto Ximer)
Ain't Hip To Be Labelled A Hippie
What's More (From "Hell On 1st
Avenue")
The Mack Daddy On The Left
Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix)
Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)
Ring, Ring, Ring, (Party Line Mix)
A Roller Skating Jam Named
"Saturdays" (Dave's Home Mix)
Keeping The Faith (Just A Touch
Mix)
The Best -
Flying/Tommy Boy
1993 (100)
Second of two essential
remix/b-side compilations
that spanned 12"s off their
first 2 albums both from the
US & abroad. Strangely
enough, it features almost
identical tracks but it was
released off a different
label.
Treadwater (StoneBridge's Pumpin
Mix)
Skip To My Loop
They Don't Know That the Soul
Don't Go For That (Potholes
Instrumental)
Freedom Of Speak
Stricktly Dan Stuckie (A Home
Production)
Me, Myself And I (Oblados Mode)
Brainwashed Follower
Ghetto Thang (Ghetto Ximer)
Ain't Hip To Be Labelled A Hippie
What's More (From Original
Soundtrack "Hell On 1st Avenue")
Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix)
Eye Know
Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)
Ring, Ring, Ring, (Party Line Mix)
A Roller Skating Jam Named
"Saturdays" (Dave's Home Mix)
Keeping The Faith (Just A Touch
Mix)
Buhloone Mind
State - Tommy Boy
1993 (1063)
Well...gone are the skits, the
cartoons, and the strange
and twisted humour. A very
different De La stepped to
the plate this time
around...and they did it
again. Another solid offering
that was sadly slept on by a
few fans. The focus on this
album seemed to be more
on a back to basics dope
rhymes and slammin' beats.
Again, they seemed to be a
little bitter over the
crossover success they
gained from the last
album...thus the name
"Buhloone Mind State".
Intro
Eye Patch
En Focus
Patti Dooke
I Be Blowin'
Long Island Wildin'
Ego Trippin' (Part Two)
Paul's Revenge
3 Days Later
Area
I Am I Be
In The Woods
Breakadawn
Dave Has A Problem...Seriously
Stone Age
[available as a single vinyl promo
LC, and a UK limited double vinyl
PC with the bonus track "Sh.Fe.
MC's". The track listings on the
domestic promo do not list the skit
tracks, but they are in the right
places on the record itself.]
Clear Lake
Audiotorium -
Tommy Boy 1994
(1093)
[whistle]...now this is one
fresh promo. Featuring
some hype tracks off
"Buhloone Mind State" and
then backed by two bonus
cuts: 'Sh. Fe. MCs' and 'Stix
& Stonz'. 'Sh. Fe. MCs'
features Tribe and a nice
lyrical display over a hype
beat. 'Stix & Stonz' further
proves De La's fetish &
respect for the old-school by
doing a song with folks like
the Fantastic 5,
Treacherous 3, and Cold
Crush.
In The Woods
I Am I Be
Sh.Fe. MC's
Patti Dooke
I Be Blowin'
Stix & Stonz'
[a very limited (estimated 500
pressings) promo release originally
pressed on clear vinyl. It has since
been bootlegged in the UK on
regular black vinyl. All tracks are
edited for radio.]
[Big thanks to Steve 'Flash' Juon
for the bonus tracks on this EP]
Stakes Is High -
Tommy Boy 1996
(1149)
This time around...De La &
longtime producer Prince
Paul seemed to go their
seperate ways...the result:
"Stakes Is High". Like the
previous 2 releases by De
La...fans fronted on this
album at first but then soon
came around when they
realized just how solid it
was. They managed to rip
shit up nicely on 'Supa
Emcees', 'The Bizness', and
'Itzsoweezee'. Note the
impressive cameo
apperances of newfound
Native Tongue affiliates Mos
Def & Medina Green on 'Big
Brother Beat'.
Intro (UK double vinyl bonus track)
Supa Emcees
The Bizness (featuring Common)
Wonce Again Long Island
Dinninit
Brakes
Dog Eat Dog
Long Island Degrees
Betta Listen
Itzsoweezee (HOT)
4 More (featuring Zhane)
Big Brother Beat (featuring Mos
Def of Medina Green)
Down Syndrome (UK double vinyl
bonus track)
Pony Ride (featuring Truth Enola)
Stakes Is High
Sunshine
More Supa Sweet
Stakes, Baby -
Tommy Boy 1996
(770)
Uh-Oh...more promo
madness. Apart from some
more crossover tracks off
the LP, it features two great
remixes. The JuNoD remix
of 4 More is not bad at all...it
uses a pretty fresh beat, but
the real treat on this sucker
is the phenominal DJ
Spinna remix of 'Stakes Is
High'. This was getting
much love on hip-hop shows
everywhere...and was
further proof of Spinna's
incredible skills behind the
boards.
4 More (Clean Version)
4 More (JuNoD Clean Remix)
BabyBabyBabyBabyOhhBaby (New
LP Version)
Supa Emcees (Clean Version)
Sweet Dreams (Clean Version)
Stakes Is High (Spinna Clean
Remix)
Singles
Plug
Tunin'/Freedom of
Speak - Tommy Boy
1988 (910)
Here's a nice goofy intro
from one goofy little group
of MC's with backwards
funny names. Basically
nothing more than two
tracks off the album, but it
was pretty indicative of what
fans were about to be
blessed with a few months
later.
Plug Tunin' (Are You Ready For
This)
Freedom of Speak (We Got Three
Minutes)
Freedom of Speak (We Got More
Than Three Minutes)
Plug Tunin' (Something's Wrong
Here)
Strickly Dan Stuckie
Jenifa (Taught
Me)/Potholes In My
Lawn - Tommy Boy
1988 (917)
More craziness...'Jenifa' is
essentially an answer song
to the Jungle Bros'
"Jimbrowski" featuring one
crazy-ass beat. 'Potholes...'
is kind of a battle song...De
La version...as they address
the subject of biting.
Jenifa (Taught Me) (Vocal)
Skip 2 My Loop (Vocal)
Potholes In My Lawn (Vocal)
They Don't Know That The Soul
Don't Go For That ("Potholes"
Instrumental)
Derwin ("Jenifa" Instrumental)
Me Myself And I -
Tommy Boy 1988
(926)
Basically the first big 12" for
De La as it features a nice
remix to 'Me Myself And I',
and then some hillarious
b-sides. Note that this 12"
was marketed as a
"3-sided" Record...with
b-side of the vinyl featuring
two tracks in one...get it?
Me Myself And I (Radio Mix)
Ain't Hip To Be Labeled A Hippie
(Vocal)
Me Myself And I (Instrumental)
Whats More (Vocal)
Me Myself And I (Oblapos Mode)
Brain Washed Follower (Vocal)
Me Myself And I (Oblapos
Instrumental)
Say No Go - Tommy
Boy 1989 (934)
Very nice 12" featuring
some great remixes of a
great track of "3 Feet
High...". Oh yeah, and check
the nutty b-side that takes
some shots at all the "Mack
Daddy's" out there...another
winner.
Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix)
Say No Go (New Keys Vocal)
Say No Go (Radio Mix)
The Mack Daddy On The Left
Say No Go (New Keys
Instrumental)
Say No Go (Remix)
- Big Life/Tommy Boy
1989 (10R)
Don't know too much about
this half picture disc
release...
Say No Go (New Kick Mix)
Say No Go (New Kick Instrumental)
Say No Play (No Kick Mix)
[special import single-sided 12".
"New Kick Mix" is identical to
domestic "New Keys" version. "Say
No Play" is a laser etching featuring
cartoon images of the artists (mad
face, etc.)]
Buddy/Ghetto
Thang - Tommy Boy
1989 (943)
If there was one song on
the LP that needed a
remix...it was 'Buddy'. But
you know what, that remix is
hot and got much play on all
sorts of shows. The Ghetto
Ximer remix wasn't too bad
either...but it's probably not
the reason you got this 12".
Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)
Buddy (Native Tongue Decision
Instrumental)
Ghetto Thang (Vocal)
Ghetto Thang (Ghetto Ximer)
Buddy (Vocal)
Ghetto Thang (Ghetto Ximer
Instrumental)
Ring Ring Ring
(Ha Ha Hey) -
Tommy Boy 1991
(965)
Ever wondered what that
dope song everyone had on
their answering machine
back in the early 90's...well it
was probably 'Ring Ring
Ring'. Needless to say, this
12" was a hot seller as this
track blew up all over the
place. One item of note is
the Conley's Decision that's
a nice instrumental version
with a flute loop thingy...
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
(Extended Decision)
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) (Radio
Decision)
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
(Conley's Decision)
Afro Connections At A Hi 5 (In The
Eyes Of A Hoodlum)
A Roller Skating
Jam Named
"Saturdays" -
Tommy Boy 1991
(990)
And now for monster 12"
number 2 from De
La..."Saturdays"...and this
blew the fuck up too. As you
can see, it features a
disgusting amount of
remixes and surprisingly all
of them are pretty
dope...and don't stray too
much into that Wack UK
Remix Style (TM). The nicest
one's have
soundclips...obviously.
"Saturdays" (What Yo Life Can
Truly Be)
"Saturdays" (Who's Skating Promo)
"Saturdays" (Ladies Nite Decision)
"Saturdays" (LP Version)
"Saturdays" (Radio Home Mix)
"Saturdays" (Dave's Home Mix)
"Saturdays" (6:00 AM Mix)
"Saturdays" (Mo Mo Dub)
Millie Pulled A
Pistol On
Santa/Keepin' The
Faith - Tommy Boy
1991 (500)
Although it was funny
collection of tracks, this is
actually one of the nicest
12" releases to date for De
La. Essentially, the real
treats on this 12" were the 2
remixes of 'Keepin The
Faith'. Don't let the "UK"
scare you away either...it's
dope.
Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa (Full
Mix)
Keepin' The Faith (Straight Pass)
Keepin' The Faith (12" UK Mix)
Keepin' The Faith (LP Version)
Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa (Full
Mix Instrumental)
Keepin' The Faith (Straight Pass
Instrumental)
Keepin' The Faith (7" UK Version)
Keepin' The Faith -
Big Life/Tommy Boy
1991 (BLR D64)
Don't know too much about
this import...maybe
someone could drop me a
line? I don't think we're
missing much here...
Keepin' The Faith (Just A Touch
Edit)
Keepin' The Faith (Just A Touch
Mix)
Keepin' The Faith (Instrumental)
Keepin' The Faith (Fly And Funky
Mix)
[UK import.]
Breakadawn -
Tommy Boy 1993
(586)
Essentially a retail 12"
previewing 3 nice cuts off
the new LP. Unfortunately,
'The Dawn Brings Smoke'
was a nice instrumental
remix of 'Breakadawn' that's
only about a minute and a
half long...oh yeah,
Hsubakcits =
Stickabush...hehe.
Breakadawn (Vocal)
Stickabush
En Focus (Vocal)
The Dawn Brings Smoke
Hsubakcits
En Focus (Instrumental)
Breakadawn (Instrumental)
[promos and first shipments of this
12" were PC, later shipments were
LC.]
Breakadawn/Lovely
How I Let My Mind
Float - Tommy Boy
1993 (592)
Although I'm told the UK
remixes suck...there are still
two big reasons to hunt
down this promo: 'Lovely
How I Let My Mind Float'
and the De La Soul Mix of
Breakadawn that features
the hype beat off the retail
version.
Breakadawn (De La Soul Remix)
Lovely How I Let My Mind Float
(Radio Version)
Breakadawn (De La Soul Remix
Instrumental)
Breakadawn (Foncett UK Remix)
Lovely How I Let My Mind Float
(Vocal)
Breakadawn (London Remix)
Lovely How I Let My Mind Float
(Instrumental)
[promo-only 12". "De La Soul
Remix" uses the same track as
"The Dawn Brings Smoke."]
Ego Trippin' (Part
Two) - Tommy Boy
1993 (595)
Oh my god...this is
undoubtedly the biggest,
phattest, and even dopest
12" De La has released to
date. First of all, you get,
count 'em, THREE solid
remixes of Ego Trippin', a
fan favorite off "Buhloone
Mind State". As if that
weren't enough...they threw
in the slammin' 'Lovely How I
Let My Mind Float' that
features a nice verse from
the almighty Biz Markie.
Ego Trippin' (Part Two) (LP Version)
Ego Trippin' (Part Two) (LA Jay
Remix)
Ego Trippin' (Part Two) (Original
Instrumental)
Ego Trippin' (Part Three) (Egoristic
Mix)
Ego Trippin' (Part Three) (Gumbo
Funk Remix)
Lovely How I Let My Mind Float
Ego Trippin' (Part Three) (Egoristic
Instrumental)
[promo 12" (TB 606) has radio edits
and does not include "Lovely How I
Let My Mind Float". Promo PC's
include a star-shaped reflective
sticker.]
Fallin' - Immortal
1993 (5598)
[Insert LP/12" description
here]
Fallin' (Album Version)
Fallin' (Acappella)
Fallin' (Remix)
Fallin' (Instrumental)
[Limited promo from the
"Judgement Night" soundtrack,
featuring Teenage Fan Club.]
Me Myself And
I/Say No Go - Big
Life/Tommy Boy 1995
(122)
The UK stay true to their
name on this 12" by
releasing some bland housy
remixes of two of De La's
bigger hits. The best remix
on here, the Say No Dope
Mix, is already featured on a
domestic 12"...so there's no
need for this one.
Me Myself And I (Richie Rich Mix 1)
Me Myself And I (Richie Rich Mix 2)
Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix)
Say No Go (House Of Love Mix)
[Import reissue.]
The Bizness -
Tommy Boy 1996
(728)
Hmmmm...what's this...a
new De La song with
Common?!?!?! Fans nearly
wet themselves when
rumours about this
collaboration began
circulating....and you know
what, this song did live up to
its hype. Both Common &
De La did well on this song.
The Bizness (Clean Version)
The Bizness (Instrumental)
The Bizness (Album Version)
The Bizness (A Cappella)
[Promo-only issue.]
Stakes Is High/The
Bizness - Tommy
Boy 1996 (730)
With 'Stakes Is High', De La
were starting to show their
bitterness towards the new
type of crossover MC. And
fans just weren't feeling this
as much as the hype b-side,
'The Bizness'.
Stakes Is High (Album Version)
Stakes Is High (Instrumental)
Stakes Is High (A Cappella)
The Bizness (Album Version)
The Bizness (Clean Version)
The Bizness (Instrumental)
[first shipments of this 12" were PC,
later shipments were LC.]
Stakes Is High -
Tommy Boy 1996
(730)
The UK Remix is dope...but
the Spinna Remix is
waaayyyy better. Although
this 12" came in the form of
a VERY PRICEY import,
many bit the bullet to get a
hold of that Spinna
Remix...until the domestic
release of the song on the
promo EP.
Stakes Is High (Album Version)
Stakes Is High (UK Full Length
Remix)
Stakes Is High (Album
Instrumental)
Stakes Is High (DJ Spinna
Extended Remix)
Stakes Is High (Acapella)
[UK import version.]
Itzsoweezee (Hot)
- Tommy Boy 1996
(752)
After shafting the US
market with no remixes...De
La finally gave us a decent
couple of remixes...well the
De La Soul Remix of
Itzsoweezee doesn't count
as it ain't much of a remix.
But the 'Stakes Is High'
Remix is pretty hot and
features up-and-comer Mos
Def...who impressed us on
'Big Brother Beat'.
Itzsoweezee (Album Version)
Itzsoweezee (De La Soul Remix)
Itzsoweezee (Album Instrumental)
Stakes Is High (Remix)
Stakes Is High (Remix
Instrumental)
Itzsoweezee (Album Instrumental)
Guest Appearances
Queen Latifah "Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children"
(Dove, Pos)
Chi-Ali "Let The Horns Blow" (Dove)
Jungle Brothers "Doin' Our Own Dang" (Mase, Pos)
3 Steps From Nowhere "Pass It On (Remix)" (Dove)
Web Sources
Charles Isbell's review of "3 Feet High and Rising"
Charles Isbell's review of "De La Soul is Dead"
Charles Isbell's review of "Buhloone Mind State"