De La Soul and Tommy Boy Records have been locked in negotiations over the trio’s musical catalog for years.
On Monday (February 25), Pos, Maseo and Dave revealed via Instagram they’d been on the phone with the label, trying to settle on a deal that would finally allow their early albums to be streamed on all digital platforms.
“Dear fans…just got off the phone with Tommy Boy Records…negotiations (or lack there of) to release our catalog on all streaming platforms..uh oh.”
De La followed up with, “Dear fans … just got wind that Tommy Boy was not happy about our last post. Touché. We are not happy about releasing our catalog under such unbalanced, unfair terms. #respecttheartist.”
On Tuesday (February 26), De La revealed just what those terms are in another Instagram post and didn’t seem particularly pleased with the outcome.
“Dear Fans…The music WILL be released digitally,” the post reads. “After 30 long years of good music and paying their debt to Hip Hop, De La Soul unfortunately, will not taste the fruit of their labor. Your purchases will roughly go 90% Tommy Boy, 10% De La. Thank you. Sincerely Yours, #thephantom2milliondollardebt.”
The caption reads, “Don’t feed the vultures, support and respect the culture #30years if you wanna support De La Soul, cop the #grindate and #anonymousnobody albums. Coming soon: #delasoul @realpeterock and @djpremier 2019!!!”
De La released six albums with Tommy Boy, including the 1989 classic 3 Feet High and Rising, 1991’s De La Soul is Dead, 1993’s Buhloone Mindstate and 1996’s Stakes Is High. The group’s last album with the label, AOI: Bionix, dropped in 2001.
Since then, Pos, Mase and Dave have been on the independent grind under their own A.O.I. imprint. Maseo recently confirmed to HipHopDX they are working on the follow-up to 2016’s And The Anonymous Nobody as well as a third installment in the Art Official Intelligence series.
DX has reached out to Tommy Boy for comment.
What the heck is going on with them and the label ?
I don’t know what’s going on but I’m sure Tommy Boy will say the issue has something to do with all the samples used, which btw weren’t a problem until later down the line.
30 years in the game and still cant sign a good contract.
They were under the same contract for a minute. If you read the article, their on their own label now.
Release their music already…stop the bs… We are fans of their music since the 80’s…We the DE LA SOULIANS DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THIS GROUP
i remember a freestyle from like 99 or 2000 NORE sayin fuck tommy boy they suck
I NEED my damn Buhloone Mindstate already! Do right by these hip-hop legends TB!
Tommy aint my muthfuuuckin Bou!
“Industry Rule #4080…..Record Company People are SHADY!” Didn’t the Homie Q-Tip drop that Gem on “Check The Rhime”??? #PayAttention #TommyBoyCultureVulturesSince1981 #PayDeLaSoulFairly
And you wonder why so many hip hop artist who had hits in the 80s and 90s are out here grinding 9 to 5. These artist put these leech ass label owners kids through college and set them up with generational wealth. To have to beg for equal portions of your talent is and was what it always was when dealing with the labels, new wave slavery. #paydelasoul.
Tommy ain’t my mother fucking boy….
my second fav hip hop group……
They’ve always been kinda wack. I respect their longevity and their place in history, and don’t give me the “go listen to Migos” speech, because I’m a old school head and I am familiar with their entire catalogue. I just always thought they were weak. Peace.
Respect your opinion, it’s trash.. but respect to your opinion.
Their career has been a long, safe, boring ride through hipsterville NY, let’s be honest.
While I myself don’t think too highly of their music, I can definitely respect that they (along with Tribe and others) give us fans a lane to vibe in. Not having to be stuck with only gangsta/street rap.
I never liked De La Soul, because they always gave me the feel of 3 tats from the ale house. I know some of their songs, but I’ve always prefered Tribe, Black Sheep, LONS or Naughty over them. It’s really interesting that they can be fucked over thus. Like they were some naive newcomers. On the other side even my man Noreaga told Tommy Boy sucks.
Your not a hip hop fan lol
Your reading comprehension is F.
Hopefully all the singles, b-sides and remixes will be available for streaming too. I wonder if this opens the door for other Tommy Boy releases that aren’t available for streaming. Above the law and digital underground.
Tommy ain’t my motha fuckin Boy