De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising
Genre: Rap (Native Tongues Clique)	Dates: 1989

When this whacky, experimental, intelligent, Afrocentric, and violence-free platter hit the stores in 1989, Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove, and Pasemaster Mase (plus their secret weapon, producer and co-conspirator Prince Paul, who has since become an innovator on his own) seemed to see, to even be, the future of rap music. Not only that, but so did their "friends" in Tribe Called Quest and The Jungle Brothers, soon to be known collectively as The Native Tongues Clique. That's right: a humanistic, witty, creative, unpredictable outgrowth of hip hop seemed poised for world takeover. And even today, the best songs here ("Eye Know," "Me Myself and I," "Buddy") don't sound dated—unlike most rap subgenres. So…what happened? Gangsta, gangsta…. See also The Hip Hop Box (below).

Playlist:
1. Intro
2. Magic Number, The
3. Change In Speak
4. Cool Breeze On The Rocks
5. Can U Keep A Secret
6. Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)
7. Ghetto Thang
8. Transmitting Live From Mars
9. Eye Know
10. Take It Off
11. Little Bit Of Soap, A
12. Tread Water
13. Potholes In My Lawn
14. Say No Go
15. Do As De La Does
16. Plug Tunin' (Last Chance To Comprehend)
17. De La Orgee
18. Buddy - (with Jungle Brothers/Q-Tip)
19. Description
20. Me Myself And I
21. This Is A Recording 4 Living In A Full Time Era (L.I.F.E.)
22. I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)
23. D.A.I.S.Y. Age
24. Plug Tunin' - (original 12" version)