3 Feet High and Rising Review: Hip-Hop's Daisy Age
9.5/10 — De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
Pros
- Inventive sampling
- Playful wordplay
- 'Me Myself and I'
Cons
- Hit-and-miss skits
3 Feet High and Rising was produced by Prince Paul and introduced a gentle, jokey alternative to the aggression of late-1980s rap. It’s full of skits, samples and silly in-jokes.
What works
‘Me Myself and I’, ‘The Magic Number’ and ‘Eye Know’ are bright and inventive, and the sample palette ranges from Steely Dan to French language lessons. The group’s wordplay is clever and affectionate.
Where it falters
The skits are hit-and-miss, and sample-clearance problems kept it off streaming for years.
Verdict
A colourful, witty and influential debut.
