De La Soul

De La Soul is a groundbreaking hip-hop trio from Amityville, New York, known for their innovative sampling, eccentric lyricism, and influence on jazz rap and alternative hip-hop. Formed in 1988 by Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove, and Maseo, they rose to prominence with their 1989 debut 3 Feet High and Rising, often hailed as a hip-hop classic. Their creative style and contributions earned them critical acclaim and a Grammy in 2006 for their collaboration with Gorillaz. Despite years of digital unavailability due to sampling issues, their catalog was finally released in 2023—the same year Trugoy passed away.