3 Feet High and Rising
Encyclopedia
3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop
trio De La Soul
, released in 1989.
The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest albums' lists by noted music critics and publications. Robert Christgau
called the record "unlike any rap album you or anybody else has ever heard." In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums..
A critical, as well as commercial success, the album contains the well known singles, "Me Myself and I
", "The Magic Number
", "Buddy
", and "Eye Know
". On October 23, 2001, the album was re-issued along with an extra disc of B-side tracks, and alternative versions. The album's title was inspired by a line in the Johnny Cash
song "Five Feet High and Rising." The album is discussed in detail by De La Soul
in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique
. It was selected by the Library of Congress
as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry
, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
("Jenifa Taught Me"), love
("Eye Know
") and insecurity regarding personal appearance and fashion
("Can U Keep a Secret", "A Little Bit of Soap" "Take It Off"). With the exception of "Do As De La Does", there is very little profanity
on the album, in contrast to most hip hop albums from the time period. Many of the lyrics are humorous and/or abstract, being both inventive and original; Posdnous compares the rhymes to dance
in "The Magic Number
" ("the phrasing Fred Astaire
s"). Many of the listeners who compared the group to hippies criticized the album for a childlike, simple approach at complex issues, as on "Tread Water", where a series of animals exhort the listener to maintain a positive mental attitude. Supporters point to songs like "Say No Go
" as a realistic portrayal of the pitfalls of drug abuse
. The title, besides being a Hall & Oates
sample, is a reference to Nancy Reagan
's "Just Say No
" campaign; Posdnous criticizes Reagan, but applauds the sentiment.
The first track, entitled "Intro", is a skit
that takes place at a game show
. The contestants (portrayed by the three members of De La Soul plus producer
Prince Paul) are asked four questions by the host (Al Watts), and their attempts at answering are scattered about the album. The song "Ghetto Thang" is one of the few non-positive tracks on the album. It is a story about poverty
and other social ills, even though De La Soul is from middle-class suburb Amityville, New York
(on Long Island
). Its denunciation of ghetto violence can be summed up in the words "Ghetto gained a ghetto name from ghetto ways/Now there must be ghetto gangs and ghetto play/If ghetto thing can have its way and get arranged/Then there must be some ghetto love and ghetto change". "Description" describes each member of De La Soul, and a few others, in five lines each, the style reminiscent of a limerick
.
's 100 Best Rap Albums (both of which are unordered). When Village Voice held its annual Pazz & Jop
Critics Poll for 1989, 3 Feet High and Rising was ranked at #1, outdistancing its nearest opponent (Neil Young
's Freedom
) by 21 votes and 260 points. It was also listed on the Rolling Stone
s The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
. Released amid the 1989 boom in gangsta rap
, which gravitated towards hardcore, confrontational, violent lyrics, De La Soul's uniquely positive style made them an oddity beginning with the first single, "Me, Myself and I
". Their positivity meant many observers labeled them a "hippie
" group, based on their declaration of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" (da inner sound, y'all). Sampling artists as diverse as Johnny Cash
, Hall & Oates
, Steely Dan
and The Turtles
, 3 Feet High and Rising is often viewed as the stylistic beginning of 1990s alternative hip hop
(and especially jazz rap
).
"An inevitable development in the class history of rap, [De La Soul is] new wave to Public Enemy's punk," wrote critic Robert Christgau
in his Consumer Guide column's review of 3 Feet High and Rising. "Their music is also radically unlike any rap you or anybody else has ever heard — inspirations include the Jarmels and a learn-it-yourself French record. And for all their kiddie consciousness, junk-culture arcana, and suburban in-jokes, they're in the new tradition — you can dance to them, which counts for plenty when disjunction is your problem."
Rolling Stone magazine gave the album three stars and concluded that it was "(o)ne of the most original rap records ever to come down the pike, the inventive, playful 3 Feet High and Rising stands staid rap conventions on their def ear".
It was ranked 7 in Spins
"100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005", ranked 88th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4
to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. In 1998 , the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2003, the album was ranked number 346 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
. In 2006, Q magazine placed the album at #20 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s".
Electronica artist James Lavelle
cited 3 Feet High and Rising as one of his favorite albums "It was definitely a reaction to the slightly more hardcore area of what was going on in hip hop. As a concept record, it’s probably one of the best ever. It’s like the Pink Floyd of hip hop, their Dark Side of the Moon – the way it musically and sonically moves around, but also the use of language was so unusual and out there."
In 2011, 3 Feet High and Rising was among 25 albums chosen as additions to the Library of Congress’ 2010 National Recording Registry for being cultural and aesthetical and also for its historical impact. “America's recorded-sound heritage has in many ways transformed the soundscape of the modern world, resonating and flowing through our cultural memory, audio recordings have documented our lives and allowed us to share artistic expressions and entertainment. Songs, words, and the natural sounds of the world that we live in have been captured on one of the most perishable of all of our art media. The salient question is not whether we should preserve these artifacts, but how best collectively to save this indispensable part of our history." — James H. Billington from the Library of Congress
.
re-issued 3 Feet High and Rising on October 23, 2001, initial pressings included this compact disc as a companion. It mainly featured B-side tracks, alternate versions of album tracks and skits that would later impact other De La Soul
albums.
for 3 Feet High and Rising.
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
trio De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, released in 1989.
The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest albums' lists by noted music critics and publications. Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
called the record "unlike any rap album you or anybody else has ever heard." In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums..
A critical, as well as commercial success, the album contains the well known singles, "Me Myself and I
Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)
"Me Myself and I" is a single by De La Soul, released in 1989.It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop with humor and social commentary. The group's frustration concerning their forced-upon hippie label is addressed in the typically dry humor which became the De La Soul...
", "The Magic Number
The Magic Number
"The Magic Number" is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!", written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three...
", "Buddy
Buddy (song)
"Buddy" is the third single released by De La Soul from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.The song is often cited as an example of an effective remix; one that includes a change of song lyrics or beat. In this case, both the original song's lyrics and the musical bed received a make over...
", and "Eye Know
Eye Know
"Eye Know" is a single from De La Soul's landmark album 3 Feet High and Rising. It peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart. It was not released as a single in the United States....
". On October 23, 2001, the album was re-issued along with an extra disc of B-side tracks, and alternative versions. The album's title was inspired by a line in the Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
song "Five Feet High and Rising." The album is discussed in detail by De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique
Check the Technique
Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies is a book by music journalist Brian Coleman that covers the making of thirty-six classic hip hop albums, based on interviews with the artists who created them, also providing a track-by-track breakdown for each album entirely in the words of the...
. It was selected by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry
National Recording Registry
The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, which created the National Recording...
, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Background
Lyrically, the album was unusual for its time. Even beside its exhortations for peace and harmony, many of the songs are personal and heartfelt recountings of early sexual intercourseSexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
("Jenifa Taught Me"), love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
("Eye Know
Eye Know
"Eye Know" is a single from De La Soul's landmark album 3 Feet High and Rising. It peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart. It was not released as a single in the United States....
") and insecurity regarding personal appearance and fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
("Can U Keep a Secret", "A Little Bit of Soap" "Take It Off"). With the exception of "Do As De La Does", there is very little profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
on the album, in contrast to most hip hop albums from the time period. Many of the lyrics are humorous and/or abstract, being both inventive and original; Posdnous compares the rhymes to dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
in "The Magic Number
The Magic Number
"The Magic Number" is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!", written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three...
" ("the phrasing Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
s"). Many of the listeners who compared the group to hippies criticized the album for a childlike, simple approach at complex issues, as on "Tread Water", where a series of animals exhort the listener to maintain a positive mental attitude. Supporters point to songs like "Say No Go
Say No Go
"Say No Go" is a single by De La Soul from their influential 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. It reached number 18 in the UK charts.-Background:...
" as a realistic portrayal of the pitfalls of drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
. The title, besides being a Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
sample, is a reference to Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
's "Just Say No
Just Say No
"Just Say No" was an advertising campaign, part of the U.S. "War on Drugs", prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s, to discourage children from engaging in recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. Eventually, this also expanded the realm of "Just Say No" to violence and...
" campaign; Posdnous criticizes Reagan, but applauds the sentiment.
The first track, entitled "Intro", is a skit
Hip hop skit
A hip hop skit is a form of sketch comedy that appears on a hip hop album or mixtape, and is usually written and performed by the artists themselves. Skits can appear on albums or mixtapes as individual tracks, or at the beginning or end of a song. Some skits are part of concept albums and...
that takes place at a game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
. The contestants (portrayed by the three members of De La Soul plus producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Prince Paul) are asked four questions by the host (Al Watts), and their attempts at answering are scattered about the album. The song "Ghetto Thang" is one of the few non-positive tracks on the album. It is a story about poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and other social ills, even though De La Soul is from middle-class suburb Amityville, New York
Amityville, New York
Amityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
(on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
). Its denunciation of ghetto violence can be summed up in the words "Ghetto gained a ghetto name from ghetto ways/Now there must be ghetto gangs and ghetto play/If ghetto thing can have its way and get arranged/Then there must be some ghetto love and ghetto change". "Description" describes each member of De La Soul, and a few others, in five lines each, the style reminiscent of a limerick
Limerick (poetry)
A limerick is a kind of a witty, humorous, or nonsense poem, especially one in five-line or meter with a strict rhyme scheme , which is sometimes obscene with humorous intent. The form can be found in England as of the early years of the 18th century...
.
Reception and influence
It is also listed on Rolling Stones' 200 Essential Rock Records and The SourceThe Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
's 100 Best Rap Albums (both of which are unordered). When Village Voice held its annual Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop
The Pazz & Jop critics' poll is a poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. It is compiled every year from the top ten lists of hundreds of music critics...
Critics Poll for 1989, 3 Feet High and Rising was ranked at #1, outdistancing its nearest opponent (Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's Freedom
Freedom (Neil Young album)
Freedom has received mainly positive reviews. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, explaining that it "was the album Neil Young fans knew he was capable of making, but feared he would never make again." He also stated that "there were tracks that harked...
) by 21 votes and 260 points. It was also listed on the Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. Released amid the 1989 boom in gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
, which gravitated towards hardcore, confrontational, violent lyrics, De La Soul's uniquely positive style made them an oddity beginning with the first single, "Me, Myself and I
Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)
"Me Myself and I" is a single by De La Soul, released in 1989.It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop with humor and social commentary. The group's frustration concerning their forced-upon hippie label is addressed in the typically dry humor which became the De La Soul...
". Their positivity meant many observers labeled them a "hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
" group, based on their declaration of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" (da inner sound, y'all). Sampling artists as diverse as Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
, Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
and The Turtles
The Turtles
The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
, 3 Feet High and Rising is often viewed as the stylistic beginning of 1990s alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
(and especially jazz rap
Jazz rap
Jazz rap is a sub-genre of hip hop which incorporates jazz influences, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The lyrics are often based on political consciousness, Afrocentricity, and general positivism...
).
"An inevitable development in the class history of rap, [De La Soul is] new wave to Public Enemy's punk," wrote critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
in his Consumer Guide column's review of 3 Feet High and Rising. "Their music is also radically unlike any rap you or anybody else has ever heard — inspirations include the Jarmels and a learn-it-yourself French record. And for all their kiddie consciousness, junk-culture arcana, and suburban in-jokes, they're in the new tradition — you can dance to them, which counts for plenty when disjunction is your problem."
Rolling Stone magazine gave the album three stars and concluded that it was "(o)ne of the most original rap records ever to come down the pike, the inventive, playful 3 Feet High and Rising stands staid rap conventions on their def ear".
It was ranked 7 in Spins
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
"100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005", ranked 88th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. In 1998 , the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2003, the album was ranked number 346 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. In 2006, Q magazine placed the album at #20 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s".
- On the Billboard Music Charts, 3 Feet High and Rising hit #1 R&B/Hip hop and #24 in the Top 200.
- "One of the greatest albums ever made" – NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
- "The Sgt. PepperSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
of hip hop" – Village Voice - #5 on the top 100 Albums of the Century – SpexSpex (magazine)Spex is a prominent German rock and pop culture magazine located in Berlin, Germany. Besides music news, Spex also covers literature, cinema, fashion and contemporary social trends...
- Top album of 1989 – The FaceThe Face (magazine)The Face was a British music, fashion and culture monthly magazine started in May 1980 by Nick Logan.-1980s:Logan had previously created the teen pop magazine Smash Hits, and had been an editor at the New Musical Express in the 1970s before launching The Face in 1980.The magazine was influential in...
- At #2 – Record MirrorRecord MirrorRecord Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
- At #4 – SoundsSounds (magazine)Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
- At #5 – Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
- At #8 – OOR
- At #10 – Melody MakerMelody MakerMelody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
- At #2 – Record Mirror
Electronica artist James Lavelle
James Lavelle
James Lavelle is a DJ, electronic recording artist and record label boss.-Early years:Born into a family with a strong tradition of music, Lavelle first began by learning the cello with his grandmother in Oxford....
cited 3 Feet High and Rising as one of his favorite albums "It was definitely a reaction to the slightly more hardcore area of what was going on in hip hop. As a concept record, it’s probably one of the best ever. It’s like the Pink Floyd of hip hop, their Dark Side of the Moon – the way it musically and sonically moves around, but also the use of language was so unusual and out there."
In 2011, 3 Feet High and Rising was among 25 albums chosen as additions to the Library of Congress’ 2010 National Recording Registry for being cultural and aesthetical and also for its historical impact. “America's recorded-sound heritage has in many ways transformed the soundscape of the modern world, resonating and flowing through our cultural memory, audio recordings have documented our lives and allowed us to share artistic expressions and entertainment. Songs, words, and the natural sounds of the world that we live in have been captured on one of the most perishable of all of our art media. The salient question is not whether we should preserve these artifacts, but how best collectively to save this indispensable part of our history." — James H. Billington from the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.
Miscellaneous
- The album's artwork was designed by radical British art collective The Grey OrganisationGrey OrganisationThe Grey Organisation were an Artist collective active from 1983 to 1991. GO worked in several mediums including film and video and participated in over 20 international exhibitions....
- Though the idea was quickly abandoned, the original concept behind the group was that Mase was PA and Posdnuos and Dove were the microphone plugs, transmitting messages from MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. This is the origin of the nicknames for Posdnuos and Dave, Plug One and Plug Two, respectively. - The Turtles sued De La Soul and Tommy Boy over the allegedly unauthorized sampling (the original is looped, slowed down and played backwards) of "You Showed Me" on "Transmitting Live from Mars". An out of court settlement was reached without admission of liability by the defendants.
- The title 3 Feet High and Rising comes from a Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
song called "Five Feet High and RisingFive Feet High and RisingFive Feet High and Rising is a compilation album of songs performed by country singer Johnny Cash released in 1974 by Columbia Records. It is also the name of a short film by Peter Sollett and Eva Vives that was later made into a feature length film entitled Raising Victor Vargas.The album is made...
" ("How high's the water, Mama?/It's three feet high and rising"). This song is sampledSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
on the album. Some have interpreted the title as a reference to recreational drug useRecreational drug useRecreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
; De La Soul has not commented on this interpretation. - The members of the group have said that the only thing they would change about 3 Feet High and Rising is the cover, because the light-hearted colors do not mesh well with their somber faces.
- De La Soul in collaboration with Nike SkateboardingNike SkateboardingNike Skateboarding, also known as Nike SB, is the Nike brand for its line of shoes, clothing, and equipment for skateboarding.-History:...
created two SB DunksDunk (footwear)The Dunk was first introduced by Nike, Inc. in 1985. As the Nike Terminator’s "fraternal twin", originally having numerous colors in most sizes for various Universities and Colleges...
(one low, one high) based on the 3 Feet High and Rising album cover. - In 2011, the album was named to the 2010 registry of the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. Coincidentally, Steely DanSteely DanSteely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
’s album AjaAJAAja or AJA may refer to:In anthropology:*Aja people, a people living in Benin**Aja language , the language of the Aja people, part of the Gbe dialect continuum*Aja , an ethnic group living in Sudan...
, from which it samples, was also named to the registry the same year.
Track listing
All songs written by De La Soul and Prince Paul except where stated.| # | Title | Writer(s) | Samples | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer Kelvin Mercer Kelvin Mercer is a rapper, producer, and one-third of the hip hop trio De La Soul. He is known more famously by his alias Posdnuos, or simply Pos. He was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up in East Massapequa, New York.Mercer and David Jude Jolicoeur were childhood friends... , David Jolicoeur David Jude Jolicoeur David Jude Jolicoeur , also known under the stage name Trugoy and more recently Dave, is an American rapper, producer, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop trio De La Soul.... , Vincent Mason Vincent Mason Vincent Mason , is a rapper, producer, DJ, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop trio, De La Soul. He is also known as Maseo.-Career:... |
1:41 | |
| 2 | "The Magic Number The Magic Number "The Magic Number" is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!", written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three... " |
Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
|
3:14 |
| 3 | "Change in Speak" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, Steve Scipio, Patrick Patterson, Steve Allen |
Cymande Cymande are a British funk band, who released several albums throughout the early 1970s. The group was formed in 1971 in London, England by musicians from Guyana and Jamaica... The Monkees The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,... |
2:33 |
| 4 | "Cool Breeze on the Rocks" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets... Run-D.M.C. Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C... Fearless Four The Fearless Four was an old school rap crew from Harlem, New York, best known for their 1982 single "Rockin' It", which was based on the Kraftwerk track "The Man-Machine" and was featured in the 1983 documentary Style Wars. Originally The Fearless Four was a two-member group called the... MC Lyte MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:... LL Cool J James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor... Rock Steady Crew Rock Steady Crew is a b-boying crew and hip hop group that was established in the Bronx, New York City in 1977. The group was initially formed by b-boys named Jimmy D and Jojo. In subsequent years, Rock Steady Crew became a franchise name for groups in other locations. The Manhattan branch was... Beastie Boys Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar.... Cerrone Marc Cerrone is a French disco drummer, singer-songwriter and record producer.Marc Cerrone has sold over thirty million albums and has often performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people at huge concerts and events such as The 2005 Dance Party Live in Versailles and The 2000 Los Angeles... Planet Rock (song) "Planet Rock" is a 1982 song by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force. In the background and hooks featured Marvella Murray, Yvette Murray, Melissa Johnson and Sandra Wheeler. Although it was only a minor hit in the US, Canada, and UK, it helped change the foundations of hip-hop and dance music... " by Afrika Bambaataa Afrika Bambaataa Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal... and the Soulsonic Force Soulsonic Force The Soulsonic Force are an American electro-funk and hip-hop ensemble led by Afrika Bambaataa who helped establish hip-hop in the early 1980s with songs such as "Planet Rock"... Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... Shake You Down "Shake You Down" is the title track from Gregory Abbott's debut album, released in 1986. As a single, it became Abbott's biggest hit and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Abbott went on the chart with several other songs as well.-Origin:... " by Gregory Abbott Gregory Abbott Gregory Abbott is an American soul musician , singer, composer and producer. He currently lives in both New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.- Biography :... Treacherous Three The Treacherous Three was a pioneering hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee , with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie... Vaughan Mason & Crew Vaughan Mason & Crew was an American funk and post disco based group, best known for their single "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll", which reached #5 on the US Billboard Black Singles chart in 1980. In 1981, the band released the single "Jammin' Big Guitar", which charted at #65. "Bounce, Rock, Skate,... The Real Roxanne The Real Roxanne was an American female hip hop emcee who recorded for Select Records. In the 1980s she, Roxanne Shanté, and others were engaged in the Roxanne Wars, a series of answer records inspired by UTFO's hit song "Roxanne, Roxanne," being the officially sanctioned artist in response to all... featuring Hitman Howie Tee Crash Crew Crash Crew was an early hip-hop group who recorded for Sugar Hill Records. The group, based in New York City, consisted of members DJ Daryll C. , G. Man, La Shubee, Barry Bistro, Ek Mike C., and Reggie Reg. According to JayQuan.com, the six met at a talent show sometime in 1977... Night of the Living Baseheads "Night of the Living Baseheads" is the third single released by hip hop group Public Enemy, from their critically acclaimed album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. The lyrics deal with the effects of crack cocaine on African-Americans during the 1980s crack epidemic, referring to the... " and "Terminator X Speaks with His Hands" by Public Enemy Steady B Warren McGlone , known by the stage name Steady B, was an American rapper and emcee who, along with Schoolly D, the Fresh Prince, and Three Times Dope, was one of the first wave of Philadelphia-area rappers to gain notoriety in the mid to late 1980s... Jefferson Starship Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name... |
0:46 |
| 5 | "Can U Keep a Secret" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
New Birth (band) New Birth is an American funk and R&B group, originally conceived in Detroit, Michigan by former Motown songwriter/producer and veteran musician Vernon Bullock, and co-founded in Louisville, Kentucky by Vernon, with former Motown songwriter/producer Harvey Fuqua, and music industry veterans, Tony... |
1:38 |
| 6 | "Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
Think (About It) "Think " is a funk song recorded by Lyn Collins and released as a single on James Brown's People Records in 1972. The recording was produced by Brown and featured instrumental backing from his band The J.B.'s... " by Lyn Collins Lyn Collins Lyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins.... Take the Money and Run (song) "Take the Money and Run" is a song recorded in 1976 by the Steve Miller Band. A song about two young bandits, it was one of the many hit singles produced by the Steve Miller Band in the 1970s and featured on Fly Like an Eagle. The song peaked at #11 on the U.S... " by Steve Miller Band Steve Miller Band The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and... Maggie Thrett Maggie Thrett, born Diane Pine, was a singer and stage, movie and television actress in the 1960s. Aged fifteen, she made her Off-Broadway debut in 1962 in Out Brief Candle. By the age of eighteen she was regularly performing as a dancer at Trude Heller's in Greenwich Village, New York, as noted... |
3:25 |
| 7 | "Ghetto Thang" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
Kraftwerk Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008... The Blackbyrds The Blackbyrds were an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973.-History:The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney , Keith Killgo , Joe Hall , Allan C. Barnes , and Barney Perry... |
3:35 |
| 8 | "Transmitting Live from Mars" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
The Turtles The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965... Wilson Pickett Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100... |
1:06 |
| 9 | "Eye Know Eye Know "Eye Know" is a single from De La Soul's landmark album 3 Feet High and Rising. It peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart. It was not released as a single in the United States.... " |
Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, Walter Becker Walter Becker Walter Carl Becker is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writer of Steely Dan.-Career:... , Donald Fagen Donald Fagen Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan .... |
Peg (song) "Peg" is a song by rock group Steely Dan that was released as a single from their 1977 album Aja. In G Major, it, like many Steely Dan songs from the period, blends rock with jazz and R&B elements. The song became a big hit in 1978.... " and "FM" by Steely Dan Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop... Patrice Rushen Patrice Rushen is a Grammy Award-winning African American R&B and jazz vocalist, composer and pianist.-Biography:... Lee Dorsey Lee Dorsey was an African American pop/R&B singer during the 1960s. Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint with instrumental backing provided by the Meters.-Career:... Sly & the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music... (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay " The Dock of the Bay" is a song co-written by soul singer Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper. It was first recorded by Otis Redding in 1967, just days before his death. It was released posthumously on Stax Records' Volt label in 1968, becoming the first posthumous number-one single in U.S... " by Otis Redding Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B... |
4:06 |
| 10 | "Take It Off" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
The Headhunters The Headhunters are an American jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded as a backing band of jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock during the 1970s. Hancock's debut album with the group, Head Hunters, is one of the best-selling jazz/fusion records of all time.-History:Herbie... |
1:53 |
| 11 | "A Little Bit of Soap" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
The Jarmels The Jarmels are a doo wop/rhythm and blues group officially formed in 1959 in Richmond, Virginia. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff , Paul Burnett , Ray Smith , Earl Christian , and Tom Eldridge .They met while attending Armstrong High School and while some sang at nearby Mount Olivet Baptist... Stand by Me (song) "Stand by Me" is the title of a song originally performed by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller, based on the spiritual "Lord Stand by Me,", plus two lines rooted in Psalms 46:2-3... " by Ben E. King Ben E. King Benjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S... |
0:47 |
| 12 | "Tread Water" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
The People's Choice (band) The People's Choice was an American funk band formed in 1971 in Philadelphia by Frank Brunson. While they had several vocalists, their biggest hits were instrumentals.-Career:... |
3:54 |
| 13 | "Potholes in My Lawn Potholes in My Lawn "Jenifa " is the second single by hip hop group De La Soul, released in 1988 from their album 3 Feet High and Rising. The songs were mastered by record mixer and engineer Herb Powers Jr... " |
Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
Parliament (band) Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:... Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance... and War War (band) War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae... |
4:14 |
| 14 | "Say No Go Say No Go "Say No Go" is a single by De La Soul from their influential 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. It reached number 18 in the UK charts.-Background:... " |
Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, Steve Scipio, Daryl Hall Daryl Hall Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers... , John Oates John Oates John William Oates is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates .... , Sara Allen |
Best of My Love (The Emotions song) "Best of My Love" is a disco song by the band The Emotions released as a single from their album Rejoice . The song was composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire. Earth, Wind & Fire would later team up with the Emotions for the 1979 hit "Boogie Wonderland"... " by The Emotions The Emotions The Emotions are an American all female soul and R&B singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of Chicago, Illinois originally consisting of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson.... I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) "I Can't Go for That " is a 1981 song recorded by Daryl Hall and John Oates.It was the fourth number-one hit single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100 and the second hit single from their album Private Eyes... " by Hall & Oates Hall & Oates Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."... |
4:20 |
| 15 | "Do as De La Does" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason | 1:58 | |
| 16 | "Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend) Plug Tunin' "Plug Tunin" is a 1988 single by the influential hip hop trio De La Soul released as the second single from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.... " |
Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur |
Liberace Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned... Billy Joel William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to... Bar-Kays The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group who began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. The group had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group... |
4:13 |
| 17 | "De La Orgee" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
Barry White Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring... |
1:11 |
| 18 | "Buddy Buddy (song) "Buddy" is the third single released by De La Soul from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.The song is often cited as an example of an effective remix; one that includes a change of song lyrics or beat. In this case, both the original song's lyrics and the musical bed received a make over... " (featuring Q-Tip Q-Tip (rapper) Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest... and the Jungle Brothers Jungle Brothers The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house-music producer. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released its first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in July 1988... ) |
Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, Michael Small, Nathaniel Phillip Hall, J. Davis |
Bo Diddley Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor... Commodores The Commodores are an American funk/soul band of the 1970s and 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour... |
4:56 |
| 19 | "Description" | J. Davis |
Manzel Manzel was an American instrumental funk band from Lexington, Kentucky, which formed in 1973 and disbanded in 1978. They consisted of Manzel Bush , John L. Van Dyke and Steve Garner... |
1:24 |
| 20 | "Me Myself and I Me Myself and I (De La Soul song) "Me Myself and I" is a single by De La Soul, released in 1989.It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop with humor and social commentary. The group's frustration concerning their forced-upon hippie label is addressed in the typically dry humor which became the De La Soul... " |
Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, Phillip E. Wynn, George Clinton George Clinton (musician) George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost... |
Doug E. Fresh Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box... Ohio Players The Ohio Players were an American funk and R&B band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their double #1 hit songs "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster".- Biography :... (Not Just) Knee Deep " Knee Deep" is a funk song running 15 minutes, 21 seconds on side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.-Song information:... " by Funkadelic Loose Ends (band) Loose Ends was a successful British R&B band that had several urban contemporary hits. The trio was formed in London in 1980, initially comprising vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player, writer and founder Steve Nichol... Edwin Birdsong Edwin Birdsong is a keyboard/organ player who was known in the 70's and 80's for his experimental funk/disco music. He never achieved chart success, but developed a strong fan base, and has also been sampled by other artists many times, most famously by Daft Punk who sampled "Cola Bottle Baby" in... |
3:41 |
| 21 | "This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.)" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
The Sequence The Sequence is a former female old school hip hop trio signed to the Sugar Hill label in the early-1980s. The group consisted of Cheryl Cook , Gwendolyn Chisolm , and lead singer/rapper Angie Brown Stone... Treacherous Three The Treacherous Three was a pioneering hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee , with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie... |
3:16 |
| 22 | "I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason | 0:40 | |
| 23 | "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
The Rascals The Rascals were an American blue-eyed soul group initially active during the years 1965–72. The band released numerous top ten singles in North America during the mid- and late-1960s, including the U.S. #1 hits "Good Lovin'" , "Groovin'" , and "People Got to Be Free"... |
3:58 |
| 24 | "Plug Tunin'" (original 12" version) | Paul Huston, Kelvin Mercer, David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason |
|
3:41 |
Bonus disc
When Tommy Boy RecordsTommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
re-issued 3 Feet High and Rising on October 23, 2001, initial pressings included this compact disc as a companion. It mainly featured B-side tracks, alternate versions of album tracks and skits that would later impact other De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
albums.
- "Freedom of Speak (We Got Three Minutes)" – 2:59
- "Strickly Dan Stuckie (Interlude)" – 0:42
- "Jenifa (Taught Me)" (12" version) – 4:42
- "Skip to My Loop (Interlude)" – 1:12
- "Potholes in My Lawn" (12" version) – 3:46
- "Me Myself and I" (Oblapos Mode) – 3:31
- "Ain't Hip to be Labeled a Hippie" – 1:50
- "What's More (From the Soundtrack Hell on 1st Avenue) (Interlude)" – 2:05
- "Brain Washed Follower" – 2:49
- "Say No Go" (New Keys Vocal) – 4:45
- "The Mack Daddy on the Left" – 2:31
- "Double Huey Skit" – 3:52
- "Ghetto Thang" (Ghetto Ximer) – 3:52
- "Eye Know" (The Know It All Mix) – 7:12
Samples
The following lists songs and sounds sampledSampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
for 3 Feet High and Rising.
Bonus disc
- "Freedom of Speak (We Got Three Minutes)"
- "Funky PresidentFunky President"Funky President " is a funk song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1974, it charted #4 R&B. It also appeared on the album Reality. According to Brown the "funky president" of the song's title was meant to refer to U.S...
" by James Brown - "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown
- "Funky President
- "Strictly Dan Shuckie"
- "Schoolboy Crush" by The Average White Band
- "Skip to My Loop"
- "13 (Death March)" by Wes Montgomery & Jimmy Smith
- "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Wes Montgomery & Jimmy Smith
- "Ain't Hip to Be Labeled a Hippie"
- "Hard Times" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah BandDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah BandDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was a big band and swing influenced disco band, formed in the Bronx, New York. They are best known for their #1 US dance hit, "Cherchez La Femme"/C'est si bon, from their self-titled debut album....
- "Hard Times" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
- "What's More"
- "You Baby" by The TurtlesThe TurtlesThe Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
- "You Baby" by The Turtles
- "Brain-Washed Follower"
- "Booty Butt" by Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
Orchestra - "Funky President" by James Brown
- "So This Is Our Goodbye" by The Moments
- "You Made a Believer (Out of Me)" by Ruby Andrews
- "Booty Butt" by Ray Charles
- "The Mack Daddy on the Left"
- "Hector" by the Village Callers
Personnel
Information taken from Allmusic.- arranger – De La Soul, Prince Paul, Trugoy the Dove
- assistant production – De La Soul
- engineering – Bob Coulter, Sue Fisher
- assistant engineering – Greg Arnold
- layout design – Steven Miglio
- mixing – Prince Paul, Al Watts
- performers – Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip
- production – Prince Paul
Album
| Charts (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
13 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
24 |
| U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | Dance Music/Club Play Singles | ||
| 1988 | "Plug Tunin' Plug Tunin' "Plug Tunin" is a 1988 single by the influential hip hop trio De La Soul released as the second single from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.... " |
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989 | "Potholes in My Lawn Potholes in My Lawn "Jenifa " is the second single by hip hop group De La Soul, released in 1988 from their album 3 Feet High and Rising. The songs were mastered by record mixer and engineer Herb Powers Jr... " |
— | — | — | 22 | — | — |
| "Me Myself and I Me Myself and I (De La Soul song) "Me Myself and I" is a single by De La Soul, released in 1989.It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop with humor and social commentary. The group's frustration concerning their forced-upon hippie label is addressed in the typically dry humor which became the De La Soul... " |
34 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| "Say No Go Say No Go "Say No Go" is a single by De La Soul from their influential 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. It reached number 18 in the UK charts.-Background:... " |
— | 18 | 32 | 11 | 13 | 3 | |
| "Buddy Buddy (song) "Buddy" is the third single released by De La Soul from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.The song is often cited as an example of an effective remix; one that includes a change of song lyrics or beat. In this case, both the original song's lyrics and the musical bed received a make over... " |
— | — | 18 | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | "Buddy Buddy (song) "Buddy" is the third single released by De La Soul from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.The song is often cited as an example of an effective remix; one that includes a change of song lyrics or beat. In this case, both the original song's lyrics and the musical bed received a make over... " |
— | 8 | — | 2 | 11 | 27 |
| "The Magic Number The Magic Number "The Magic Number" is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!", written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three... " |
— | 7 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Eye Know Eye Know "Eye Know" is a single from De La Soul's landmark album 3 Feet High and Rising. It peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart. It was not released as a single in the United States.... " |
— | 14 | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
External links
- 3 Feet High and Rising Accolades at acclaimedmusic.net
- 1989 Video Presskit for 3 Feet High and Rising