Ranking the Best De La Soul Albums

I don’t know about y’all but celebrating De La Day on March 3 felt pretty bittersweet.

On one hand, it was a day decades in the making – after years (and years and YEARS) of delays, De La Soul’s legendary catalog finally hit streaming services in full. And while an old head like me can grouse and say “should have gotten the physical copies in 1996 like I did!” here’s why their availability on streaming so important:

I’ve long said that De La Soul is the most unappreciated act in rap history. Their sound, high-energy performances, willingness to constantly reinvent themselves and classics albums have established them as true pioneers in the industry. But a lack of consistent charting success and relative absence during hip-hop’s boom in the late 90s/early 00s means their legacy is largely overlooked by critics who didn’t live through their glory days.

Having their catalog absent from streaming services was yet another blow to their legacy. Y’all know how it goes in modern hip-hop, it’s a very “what have you done for me lately” mentality around here. Out of sight, out of mind.

But a huge wrong has been righted. Younger fans now have the opportunity to experience albums that established hip-hop’s foundation, while Day One fans can easily pull up these classics on their phones to relive history.

However, it hurts to know that David “Trugoy/Plug 2” Jolicoeur is not here to celebrate with us; the founding member of De La passed just a few weeks ago. Posdnuos and Maseo are still here to carry De La’s banner and, hopefully, receive the props they’ve been denied for decades.

Of course I’ve received lost of requests to rank De La Soul’s discography over the years, but resisted the urge to jump in. I elected to wait until all their albums were available on streaming so I could revisit their entire catalog with fresh ears and not rely on nostalgia and memory.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend De La Day than listening to all nine of their LPs.

So let’s look back at one of the most transformative groups in rap history. Hopefully they can finally get their due.

9. First Serve (2012)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: I feel kinda bad about clocking this album in at last place because I really dig the concept. First Serve is not an official De La Soul album but almost all the elements are there. In this case, it’s Plug 1 and Plug 2 in collaboration with French DJs Chokolate and Khalid. First Serve is a pretty intriguing concept LP: Posdnuos and Trugoy portray members of a fictional rap group and the album chronicles their rise, fall (complete with diss track!) and reunion. The album’s production often takes a backseat to the narrative, which can hurt things at times. Also, due to the structure of the album, the tracks work much better as a complete set than as individual cuts for your playlists. It’s a 5-star concept with 3 star elements, so we’ve gotta split the difference for the final score.

Forgotten favorites: “Pop Life,” “The Work,” “Pushin Aside, Pushin Along”

8. AOI: Bionix (2001)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: I expect to get some heat for this one, but it wouldn’t be a Soul in Stereo post without random death threats from strangers! Bionix is the second entry in a planned trilogy of albums under the AOI concept and, over the years, it’s received a lot of love as being a misunderstood masterpiece. Well, I guess I’m still misunderstanding two decades later because I don’t love it. Props where it’s due, though – it’s a lot more consistent than its predecessor and I dig the mature sound and outlook. And it also boasts some of the better tracks in latter-day De La’s catalog. But there’s a lethargic energy that’s hard to shake, dulling the spark of previous releases. Simply put, it’s the least fun De La album – a weird designation for a group known for their vibrance and energy.

Forgotten favorites: “Watch Out,” “Am I Worth You,” “Trying People”

7. Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Ahh, the turn of the millennium, when everyone was pretending to be an android. De La jumped into the digital age like everyone else and thankfully didn’t sacrifice too much of their sound while doing it. I remember “Oooh” getting a pretty mixed reception at the time but it’s the guiltiest of pleasures for me – it was an extension of the insanity that’s always been De La’s calling card. Admittedly many of the other tracks here don’t have that luxury, which gave Mosaic Thump the unfortunate designation of being De La’s first “not great” album and the beginning of a creative slump. There are still gems to be found here (as is the case for all their albums) but the overall project meanders on for too long.

Forgotten favorites: “U Can Do (Life),” “Set the Mood,” “With Me”

6. And the Anonymous Nobody (2016)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: De La’s 2016 reunion album was a cause for celebration; it was their first outing as a trio in over a decade. And the didn’t come alone – everyone from Snoop Dogg to Usher to Little Dragon shows up. The large array of guests felt pretty random at the time (De La and 2 Chainz????) but they all played their parts well. Due to its mellow vibe it takes a lot longer to get going that most De La projects, but once things pick up it’s a very solid experience. In hindsight, the loss of Trugoy makes this album an even more bittersweet experience, as it’s likely the last time we’ll have the full lineup on wax.

Forgotten favorites: “Greyhound,” “Memory of … (Us),” “Trainwreck”

5. Buhloone Mindstate (1993)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: The third time was most definitely the charm for De La. Of the group’s first four releases, Buhloone Mindstate seems to get least convo but it’s absolutely holds it own. Its production is the most jazzy – and the most sparse – of any album to date but that works in its favor. The result is one of the most addictive grooves you’d experience. Coming off two legit rap classics is not an easy task but De La handled the pressure effortlessly here, showing needed growth and evolution of their sound.

Forgotten favorites: “Area,” “En Focus,” “I Am I Be”

4. The Grind Date (2004)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Often considered to be the last great De La album, The Grind Date still hits hard today. An all-star array of production from heavyweights like J. Dilla, Madlib, Jake One, 9^th Wonder and more gives this one life and, thankfully, it’s a lot leaner release than most of their hour-plus LPs. Y’all know I like a slim and trim album. A lack of standout singles keeps this one from breaking through to the upper echelons of this list but it’s still an incredible return to form after a so-so start to the decade. They even got me to like a song that featured Sean Paul – trust me, if you knew 2000s Edd that’s a miracle in itself.

Forgotten favorites: “Much More,” “The Grind Date,” “He Comes”

3. Stakes is High (1996)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: By 1996 the landscape of hip-hop had drastically changed since their 1989 debut, and De La was more than happy to evolve with it. Stakes is High pivots from the playful nature of previous releases to an unfiltered approach hip-hop. And it works, SO so well. Stakes is High feels like a masterclass of MCing, the type of album that should be dissected and analyzed in college-level courses. Their outspokenness about gangsta rap and the commercialization of hip-hop ruffled a lot of feathers (and even made a few enemies) but time has proved that they were on the right side of history. Stakes is High is bold, brilliant and one of the most important albums of its era.

Forgotten favorites: “The Bizness,” “4 More,” “Sunshine”

2. 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: I could flip a coin for the No. 1 and 2 spots on this list because, in terms of quality, they’re neck and neck. And when it comes to legacy, De La Soul’s landmark debut may make a stronger case for the top spot. We’re more than three decades past its birthday and it’s still one of the most groundbreaking records in rap history. Hip-hop was still in its formative years by 1989, so one could say that every big release of that era was shaping the landscape. 3 Feet High and Rising was different though. Backed by Prince Paul, it was a fresh, exuberant and positive take on the Black experience in the 80s, sounding like nothing before it and, frankly, not much after it either. No, I’m still not a fan of the goofy skits but that’s a minor nitpick of an album that would transform rap as we knew it.

Forgotten favorites: “This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.),” “Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin’s Revenge),” “Ghetto Thang”

1. De La Soul is Dead (1991)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: I feel like I’ve spent the last decade complaining about overexposed artists who are in dire need of reinvention. De La Soul knew better. Instead of coasting on mediocrity for years on end, they gave themselves a complete makeover just two years into the game. De La Soul is Dead represents the burial of the group’s original hippie image for a more mature, grounded sound. But don’t miss the message: Their initial optimism hasn’t been completely overtaken by newfound cynicism. They’re still fun and hopeful, just a bit more aware of the world around them. The result is more heavy subject matter like gun crime and drug abuse, but the personality still remains. And in case you forgot, they can still hold their own against the best MCs of the era. The rumors of De La’s death were greatly exaggerated – in fact, they were growing up before our eyes. The irony of De La Soul is Dead is that it made De La’s legacy immortal.

Forgotten favorites: “Talkin Bout Hey Love,” “Bittie in the BK Lounge,” “Pass the Plugs”

What’s your favorite De La Soul album? Should Stakes is High or 3 Feet High gotten the top spot instead? Let us know below.