Subscribe

* indicates required
Okayplayer News

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

De La Soul Announce New Single + Paid Dues Interview

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

A year after teasing us with the possibility of a return during an interview with OKP TV at The Roots Picnic in 2012, De La Soul is back. The group comes bearing a bunch of goodies as they prep to drop "Get Away" - the first new single and video from the group in nine years - next week. The song and video - shot in March - commemorate 25 years since the group's inception on Long Island. The track features "the spirit of Wu-Tang" with a sample of a skit from the Staten Island group's 1997 LP Wu-Tang Forever. De La Soul favors the idea of dropping potent one-off singles into the cluttered rap atmosphere - a move they feel is more effective than dropping albums at this point in history. They are saving their long-awaited LP You're Welcome for a later date. Don't fret. It is indeed coming. Maseo commented on the forthcoming project:

"It's about trying to just creatively have a bunch of songs in the stable. You have to consider a lot from the administrative standpoint in the release of a project. I see the song that we're putting out being the perfect B-side – with a video this time." "It's long overdue. Trust me, man, it disgusts me how long it takes for us to make a record," Maseo said with a laugh. "Out of all the time we take, we are always happy with the finished product."

The group is also interested in doing soundtrack recordings similar to the seminal releases of the blaxploitation 70s - think Isaac Hayes' Shaft and Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man. Paging Adrian Younge! It looks like it may be time for a Long Island/Los Angeles collab. One can dream. Back at the ranch De La Soul is gearing up for The Kings Of The Mic tour with L.L. Cool J, Ice Cube and Public Enemy - an event they insist will be a great time. There may or may not be a Native Tongues reunion tour on the horizon as well. In the meantime keep your eyes peeled for tour dates and check the track. Scroll down for interview footage of De La Soul backstage at the Paid Dues Festival. Part two of their interview with Hard Knock TV drops next week!

Spotted at RS