A few weeks ago, I wrote an article highlighting the work of my favorite hip-hop groups from the ’80s and ’90s. One of these groups, De La Soul, were pioneers in the subgenres of jazz rap and progressive rap. The trio (made up of Kelvin “Pos” Mercer, Vincent “Maseo” Mason and David “Trugoy the Dove” Joliceur) covered important social issues in their verses and produced some of the best beats of all time by layering samples in intricate ways. On Nov. 21, De La Soul released A Cabin in the Sky, their ninth studio album. The album marked their first major release since 2016 and their first release since Joliceur’s tragic death in 2023. Boasting 20 tracks and a total length of over 70 minutes, A Cabin in the Sky presents impressive work that likely results from the group’s renewed collaboration with former producer Prince Paul.
On the album intro, Giancarlo Esposito takes a roll call of the many impressive guest features on the album, such as Q-Tip, Nas, Black Thought, Common and Slick Rick. The intro ends with Esposito calling out to Trugoy the Dove to no avail, representing the profound loss the group has experienced as a result of his death.
On “YUHDONTSTOP” and “Sunny Storms,” Pos presents an optimistic outlook on life even in the face of struggle and loss, with orchestral string sounds in the tracks conveying a sense of ethereal beauty and peace. “Good Health” features an impressive verse by Trugoy the Dove on top of a beat with a unique industrial sound.
“Will Be” and “The Package” both stand out as incredibly catchy tracks, with an upbeat funk-inspired beat taking the spotlight in the former and a piano-based beat reminiscent of Kanye’s early work in the latter. Though less catchy, “A Quick 16 for Mama” stands as one of the most lyrically powerful tracks on the album; Pos and guest feature Killer Mike deliver touching verses highlighting the important roles their mothers played in their lives.
An extremely smooth hook from Jay Pharoah and Gareth Donkin helps save an otherwise mediocre track on “Just How It Is (Sometimes).” Luckily, “Cruel Summers Bring FIRE LIFE!” helps the album regain momentum, as the producers masterfully blend samples from Banarama’s “Cruel Summer,” Quincy Jones and Patti Austin’s “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me” and Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.”
Supa Dave West and Yummy Bingham provide sweet vocals for the chorus of “Day in the Sun (Gettin’ Wit U),” one of the best tracks on the album. Smooth verses from Pos and guest rapper Q-Tip elevate the track to greatness. “Run It Back!!” stands as another album highlight, with a memorable sample from The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and a guest verse from rap legend Nas.
“Different World” and “Patty Cake” continue the run of impressive tracks. “Different World” features one of the most infectious beats the album has to offer, which Pos navigates masterfully. Trugoy the Dove and Pos provide intricate verses on “Patty Cake” that pair beautifully with a catchy clap-based beat which alludes to the titular children’s game.
Unfortunately, “The Silent Life Of A Truth” and “EN EFF” end the album’s hot streak, with relatively unremarkable beats and verses in each track. De La Soul finds better footing in “Believe (In Him),” a song with gospel inspirations and beautiful vocals from guest artist STOUT.
The beat in “Yours” is built around a hypnotic sample from German prog rock band Eloy. Pos is joined by Common and Slick Rick, predictably resulting in a song full of impressive verses. After a mediocre showing on “Palm of His Hands,” Pos provides impressive verses on the titular track “Cabin In The Sky.” The song’s beat features a sample from “Ode to an African Violet,” a track from Mort Garson’s electronic masterpiece Mother Earth’s Plantasia, to great effect.
Finally, “Don’t Push Me” functions as a perfect end to the album. On top of featuring a beat with impressive chops and synth parts, Trugoy the Dove provides all of the song’s vocals and Esposito thanks him for his work at the very end. In this way, Pos and Maseo honor Joliceur’s memory perfectly, making sure his name and work shows up throughout the album from start to finish.
In all, A Cabin in the Sky stands as a moving tribute to Joliceur as well as the enduring legacy of ’90s hip-hop at large. Though not every track is a standout hit, the album engages listeners from start to finish with impressive beats and smooth rhyming at almost every step. For lovers of De La Soul and the hip-hop world at large, A Cabin in the Sky is easily worth a listen.
Matthew Rentezelas is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at mmr255@cornell.edu.
