The eye knows! A tribute to the 35th anniversary of De La Soul’s groundbreaking debut album “3 Feet High and Rising”

When De La Soul’s debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released in March 1989, I used to be 9 years old (but I shall be 10!). But since I even have a sister five years older than me who can be kind of a hip-hop head (in addition to my north star in all things music), I listened to all the things she did, irrespective of what. It was this devotion to my sister’s selections that brought me to De La Soul and “3 Feet High and Rising.” The funny thing is, I do not know if she actually had this album. She doesn’t remember exactly either. But I do know I remember the album cover since it’s the kind of album cover that’s magical and unforgettable.

The vibrant colours, flowers and lettering looked like something I might need made in fourth grade art class and I screamed, “SEE ME!” I remember “Me Myself and I” and the music video for “Buddy (Native Tongues Decision)”, which is different from the album version of the song.

Listen, this video for “Buddy” is my most significant memory. When this song and album got here out, I used to be living in Frankfurt, Germany and truthfully, I used to be too young to really understand what was occurring in the States in terms of style and fashion. It’s quite possible that I didn’t even realize who was who on this song. I just knew I used to be taking a look at a bunch of individuals who looked each fascinating and strangely… colourful. I didn’t even know what “buddy” meant. I just knew I wanted to do what they did. Around this time, my “borrowing” of my sister’s tapes became commonplace, even theft. I wanted all the things to do with hip-hop. It could be one other two years before I discovered De La Soul’s second album, De La Soul is Dead, an album that has change into my favorite album over the many years, regardless of genre – it remains to be rated 1a, second only to A Tribe Called Quest’s Night Marauders “.

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While “3 Feet High and Rising” doesn’t rank as high on my list of favorite albums as its successor, a song essential to my entire hip-hop life is “Eye Know,” a song built around samples from The Mad Ladds, Steely Dan, and Otis Redding, and the whole thing comes together so well that I say the song is ideal. Prince Paul’s production with the lyricism of Posdnous and Trugoy gave the look of a match made in heaven on an album full of records that were already exceptionally beautiful, each in its own way.

It’s amazing that hip-hop is at some extent where the groundbreaking albums in the history of the genre are over 35 years old. Especially since I now clearly remember some of these albums as part of my very own life. Sure, I do know I’m getting old, but it surely’s crazy to realize that the works of art that defined my youth are sufficiently old to be full-fledged adults themselves. “3 Feet High and Rising” is an album that represents a lot of what hip-hop has been and will be. Any hip-hop artist who wasn’t hardcore could trace their roots back to De La Soul and “3 Feet High and Rising.” Sure, not every rapper got here up with “Potholes In My Lawn,” but songs and skits like those on this album created space for songs like Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick Push.” Or artists like Pharrell, who’re die-hard fans of the entire Native Tongues collective.

“3 Feet High and Rising” is an album that showed even a 9-year-old kid living in Frankfurt, Germany that you would be able to be a bit of weird but true to yourself and possibly even make infectious jams someday. I will not be a rapper, but De La Soul influenced the way I listened to hip-hop and I still listen to it the same way I did in the early 90s. Fortunately, I’m one of the hundreds of hip-hop artists on platforms who realize out of a debt of gratitude to De La Soul, who dared to be weird and funny in 1989. And thank God we are able to listen to all their music on streaming platforms to fully appreciate these albums that modified the lives of so many.

Rest in peace to Dave, aka Trugoy the Dove, aka Plug Two.