"De La Soul were one of the most uniquely, defiantly nonconformist groups to emerge in the creative free-for-all of the late eighties, not just in hip-hop but in any genre that valued fearless creativity. Heaton's in-depth, career-spanning chronicle of their legacy doesn't just get at what made their music special, but what motivated it-their upbringings, their enthusiasms, their influences, their friends (and rivals)-and in the process, he pinpoints in fine detail every giant step they took in evolving both their art form and their own relationship to a record business that might not have been entirely ready for them. A must-have whether you're just starting to familiarize yourself with one of rap's most transformative groups, or are a longtime fan looking for a reminder of just how and why they meant so much."

-Nate Patrin, author of Bring That Beat Back: How Sampling Built Hip-Hop

"Since their debut, De La Soul has bridged a gap between the old school and the future. Dave Heaton's book takes us on a trip through the decades-long work they've done of carving their own path through the hip-hop landscape, influencing generations of artists and reflecting the very essence of the genre-regardless of the era."

- Lance Scott Walker, author of DJ Screw, Houston Rap Tapes

"As an early entry to the J-Card Press series, author Dave Heaton has written a brief, but meaningful, biography of the titular group in De La Soul, a read that will pull you in and leave you reaching for their records."

-Gerrod Harris, Spill Magazine

Publisher: J-Card

Pub date: 2024-07-11

Length: 184 pages