Connect
FRANKRADIO Episode 5: Dâm-Funk & DJ Prince Klassen
FRANKRADIO Episode 4: Yelawolf
FRANKRADIO Episode 3: Nneka
FRANKRADIO Episode 2: Wiz Khalifa
FRANKRADIO Episode 1: Theophilus London
Frank Chapter 43: Bug Out! Mix by Rob Wonder

Chapter 37: De La Soul 20 Years High and Rising

Contents

f37_I_am_I_be.jpg

I Am I Be

"Our names throughout the years, their meanings, and how we got them." – De La Soul

 
 

Tommy's Boys

Interviews: Justin Briggs
Photos: De La Soul

De La Soul’s long-term history with Tommy Boy Records was the gold standard of positive artist-label relations and mutual growth. Under Tommy Boy’s guidance, the boys became hip-hop icons; and just as De La Soul grew and matured with Tommy Boy, the label also grew and developed through their relationship with Pos, Dave, and Maseo.

Frank151 sat down separately with Tommy Boy founder Tom Silverman, and former label president Monica Lynch, to get the De La / Tommy Boy story, straight from the source.

 
 

Rap De Rap Show

Words: Dante Ross
Images: De La Soul

I will never forget the first show De La Soul ever did, however blurry the exacting facts surrounding the event are. I recently caught up with my brethrens—the De La Souls themselves—verified some of the hazy parts, and got my info fine-tuned. Here’s the 411.

 
 

Royal Family

Words: Adam Pasulka
Photos: De La Soul

Perhaps one of the most innovative, eclectic, and humorous producers of his generation (the New York Times referred to him as “the Black Einstein of hip-hop”), Prince Paul played an undeniable role in the early success of De La Soul. It was Paul’s keen ear, rigorous work ethic, and wry wit that helped carry the group to new musical territory during their formative stages.