By Shanell Holback @nellywrites__
On March 3, Hip-Hop group De La Soul’s entire back catalog became available on digital streaming platforms for the first time.
While the three members of the legendary Hip-Hop group (Posdnuos, Dave, and Maseo) were inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011, they were also in the middle of an uphill battle for ownership and streaming rights to the same music that was being inducted.
At the time, sample clearances and a longstanding disagreement with their formal label Tommy Boy held up De La’s digital presence. Today, on the 34th anniversary of De La Soul’s debut album ‘3 Feet High and Rising,’ De La fans can rejoice and stream the tunes of the Native Tounge members on the platform of their choice.
After digital platforms such as Apple Music, and Spotify became the dominant way to consume music, CD, and cassette players became obsolete. Unfortunately, De La’s fans had to rely on physical copies, of classic albums such as ‘3 Feet High and Rising,’ ‘De La Soul Is Dead,’ and, ‘Buhloone Mindstate’ leaving the group’s legacy with a slim chance of rebirth amongst younger hip-hop consumers.
In June 2021 however, Tommy Boy was acquired by Reservoir media, giving new life to the group’s fight for the right to sell their music across digital platforms, unfortunately, one of the group’s founding members will not get a chance to celebrate the moment he and his bandmates waited over 20 years.
This comes not, Trugoy the Dove, real name Dave Jolicoeur passed away suddenly. The groups remaining two members wrote a heartfelt letter posted on Instagram to their fallen group member.
“Dear Dave, you were the heart of our group. You brought so much creativity, energy, and passion to our music, and your influence will be felt for years to come.”
“Your passing is a great loss not only to us but also to the entire hip-hop community. You were a true artist who used music to inspire and uplift others, and you will be deeply missed by all who knew you” the letter stated.
On the evening of March 2. hours before the group’s streaming debut, De La hosted “The D.A.I.S.Y Experience” at NYC’s Webster Hall. A celebration of Trugoy’s life and legacy along with the end of the fight for a digital legacy.
