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Joe - Album Analysis

The document discusses the evolution of hip hop music from the 1980s-1990s. It began focused on inner city struggles through hardcore rap albums like NWA's Straight Outta Compton. Pioneers like Public Enemy and NWA addressed social issues through confrontational message rap. In 1989, De La Soul broke trends with their debut 3 Feet High and Rising, shifting hip hop to a more positive, chilled approach while maintaining Afrocentric messages. The album was revolutionary for its comedic skits, complex sampling, and visual aesthetic embracing African styles over consumerism. Songs like "Me Myself and I" and "Eye Know" exemplified this innovative new direction in hip hop.

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86 views6 pages

Joe - Album Analysis

The document discusses the evolution of hip hop music from the 1980s-1990s. It began focused on inner city struggles through hardcore rap albums like NWA's Straight Outta Compton. Pioneers like Public Enemy and NWA addressed social issues through confrontational message rap. In 1989, De La Soul broke trends with their debut 3 Feet High and Rising, shifting hip hop to a more positive, chilled approach while maintaining Afrocentric messages. The album was revolutionary for its comedic skits, complex sampling, and visual aesthetic embracing African styles over consumerism. Songs like "Me Myself and I" and "Eye Know" exemplified this innovative new direction in hip hop.

Uploaded by

joe.jeni.varghese
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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During the 80s and 90s, hip hop culture was centered around hardcore rap, which focused

on inner city life, gang life, violence, and the abusive treatment of women. Thus, hip hop became

a social and political forum to address what was going on. The concept of message rap arose

with influential albums by Public Enemy and NWA. The approach that these artists took was

confrontational. For example, the album Straight Outta Compton created in 1988 included a song

called “Fuck Tha Police”. It is clear just from the title of the song that the artist group NWA did

not mind being direct and controversial. However, in 1989, a trio from the Amityville area of

Long Island, New York shocked the world with their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising. The

trio took on the name De La Soul, which translates to from the soul, and their music clearly

reflected this idea. The trio included Kelvin Mercer known as Posdnuos, David Jude Jolicoeur

known as Trugoy the Dove, Vincent Lamont Mason Jr. known as Maseo, and Paul Edward

Huston known as Prince Paul. Prince Paul was the producer of numerous De La Soul albums. As

pioneers of comedy sketches and skits in the songs of the album, De La Soul is not a musical

group that can easily be forgotten in hip hop history. De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising

reflects a monumental shift in hip hop history from hardcore, violent gangsta rap to a chilled,

positive approach, while still preserving socially-conscious Afrocentric messages in their music.

The album chosen for analysis is De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, which as stated

earlier, was revolutionary in hip hop history. In the album, the trio redefined what it meant to be

different with creativity and possibility. In an essay from the Library of Congress, the album is

recognized for its “comedic skits, technical skill, and a revolutionized sample-laden sound”

(Tobak). Furthermore, the sound was “high-concept and layered in complexities,” and the lyrics

were “avant-garde enough to raise eyebrows” (Tobak). Between songs in the album, there are

skits and interludes that further contribute to an overall upbeat and cheerful energy. De La Soul
also significantly utilized the power of sampling with samples from the Blackbyrds, the New

Birth, Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, and the Parliament. Another aspect that distinguished De La Soul

from artists before them in hip hop history was their usage of visuals. The trio’s look “ushered in

an aesthetic of Afrocentric style marked by African medallions, Kente cloth accents, and a

no-gold, anti-consumerism ideal” (Tobak). Additionally, the album cover for 3 Feet High and

Rising included headshots of the trio with bright, neon flowers surrounding them. Prior to 3 Feet

High and Rising, album covers like Straight Outta Compton took a powerful and confrontational

approach with no unique designs. Thus, the album represented a significant shift in hip hop, and

songs like Me Myself and I and Eye Know from the album further prove this point.

The first album song to discuss is the song Me Myself and I, the 20th song in the album.

De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising

Me Myself and I Paragraphs

Eye Know Paragraphs, mention Buddy

Conclusion

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