Overview

A stunning cultural biography of De La Soul, the era-defining hip-hop trio that touched millions of lives and changed rap forever. De La Soul burst onto the scene with the release of their groundbreaking 1989 album 3 Feet High & Rising, an ""anything goes"" hip-hop masterpiece hailed as a new masterwork from a bygone era of Black experimentation. Formed in Long Island in 1988 by Kelvin ""Posdnuos"" Mercer, Dave ""Trugoy the Dove"" Jolicoeur, and Vincent ""Maseo"" Mason, De La Soul rebuked classification and appealed to the Black alternative. Their music was positive and psychedelic, their imagery full of flowers and peace signs. It was rap with a broad sonic palette which set the blueprint for an entire generation of artists who followed. But as quickly as De La ascended, they were faced with the pressures of a changing industry and bitter legal battles. Completed in the wake of Dave's passing and the group's arrival on streaming platforms after years in digital purgatory, High and Rising tells the story of one of the most influential rap groups of all time. In the process, acclaimed music journalist Marcus J. Moore braids in a deeply personal coming-of-age story about his journey through life with De La as a backdrop. The first book about De La Soul, High and Rising shows that De La Soul is Black history, American history, world history, our history. This is a tale about staying the course, and how holding true to your virtue can lead to dynamic results.

Full Product Details

9780358494881

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""High and Rising is equal parts passion and history. Marcus J. Moore seamlessly weaves a narrative that not only details the journey of De La Soul, but places their legendary story within the context of Hip-Hop as a whole. The result is a work that--much like De La themselves--will stand the test of time. For the true De La heads, this story is just as informative as it is heartwarming (and aching) in parts. And for those who don't know the story behind one of the most influential groups in music history, this is an excellent start."" -- Kathy Iandoli, author of God Save The Queens: The Essential History of Women In Hip-Hop"

Author Information

Marcus J. Moore is a music journalist, editor, curator, pundit, professor, and author of The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America. He has co-led the jazz-focused ""5 Minutes That Will Make You Love..."" series at the New York Times. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, NPR, Pitchfork, TIME, TIDAL, GQ, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available