346 - De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

[csberry]

3 Feet High and Rising is easily the rap album I listen to the most. I love the variety of samples from Pasemaster Mase and Prince Paul (Johnny Cash, Kraftwerk, Ben E. King, Billy Joel, Hall&Oates, Steely Dan, The Monkees), the humor found in nearly every track, and the laid back delivery of the Trugoy and Posdnous. This album was really far out on its own in 1989. It was light-hearted when rap seemed to be headed darker - from Public Enemy to the growth of gangsta rap.

The album is flush with 24 tracks with about half of them 2 minutes or shorter. Listeners get a lot of ideas thrown at them. For me, most of the tracks seem worthwhile. Would the album be worse if "De La Orgee" or "I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)" were cut? Nope, but I don't find the many quirky hit-and-run songs a distraction at all.

Songs I knew I liked: All

Songs I didn't know but now like: See previous

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None