The D.A.I.S.Y. age

Having been brought to the attention of good rap last year as a result of a friend's visit, I've always wanted to write on this genre for ages. More specifically, I wanted to write something about rap's golden age. Old skool they say it. And one of the best to write on would be De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising.

The reason for that is because this album represents all the things I like about hip hop as I never was particularly interested in the genre due to consant bombardment from the mainstream media on wankers such as 50 cent et al. Although De La Soul's debut album doesn't really brings us the party feel of ol' skool rap, it does feature a very cheery feel with extremely clever lyrics (with a large dose of comedy and irony) and not the doom and gloom of gangsta rap of the 90's. It also has all the cool elements of scatching, impressive sampling, funk, psychadellia and most of all, wit. Although the album clearly shouts peace and love (a novelty in rap), it also discusses drug use (do not use, De La Soul say), ghetto life (but of course) and sex amongst others (the album does boast 24 tracks). All these factors justify 3 Feet High and Rising's billing as Rap's Sgt. Peppers. It's success with the critics upon its release in 1989 also proves succesfull hip-hop doesn't always have to rely on topics like hoes, pimps, guns and loads and loads of dosh.

So there you are, hip-hop at its best with all the essential ingridients of scratching, sampling, clever wordplay, comedy, and being from New York.