Deep Rising

Devone Tucker asks: was De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising the first true hip-hop album? The black conservative blogger opines:

"Obviously, the answer is no--hip-hop had been around for at least a decade prior to the album's 1989 release. Yet a case could the made that the answer is actually yes, in the sense that Rising was the first album to demonstrate that, at its best, hip-hop was in fact an art form. The Long Island trio's debut album was one of the most innovative of its era--or any era, for that matter.

Transcending the boundaries of "urban music," hip-hop, and jazz, Rising set a standard for creative excellence that only A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory could ultimately match. What made Rising stand out from the hip-hop pack was its sense of intelligent humor--not the blood-soaked street sarcasm that could be found on the 'gangsta rap' albums of the age, but the cerebral, crisp hilarity of such songs as 'Jenifa Taught Me,' 'A Little Bit of Soap,' 'Potholes in My Lawn' and 'Buddy.' While the album did occasionally venture into serious territory ('Ghetto Thang,' 'Say No Go'), the album is defined by its levity.

"Mr. Tucker continues his commentary: "Rising was also notable for its creative use of sampling; De La Soul used the work of Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Barry White and others to create a unique aural experience. The group set a standard for the skillful use of sampling in hip-hop; it's hard to imagine P. Diddy making a name for himself through effective sampling if De La hadn't paved the way."

And more: "What delighted De La's fans--and irritated their critics--was their refusal to adhere to any sort of hip-hop convention; they simply made music, and anybody who didn't like their product was free to listen to a far less talented performer.

De La Soul will always be associated with the genius of their first album; perhaps they set a standard so high that even they couldn't match it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however. 3 Feet High and Rising remains a work of unlimited ambition, extraordinary skill and creative flawlessness. Listening to the album is like watching the performance of an athlete in his or her prime; it's the easy experience of excellence."