De La Soul has announced their entire catalog will finally be available on streaming platforms in 2023.
The legendary Hip Hop group shared the news on Tuesday (January 3) with an announcement on their social media pages and official website. On Instagram and Twitter, the group shared a video of a giant billboard in Times Square — in partnership with Amazon Music — labeled with: “Alexa, what’s the magic number?”
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After a long delay and legal battle, De La’s first six albums — 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul Is Dead, Buhloone Mindstate, Stakes Is High, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump and AOI: Bionix — will debut on streaming on March 3, joining the rest of their discography.
Fans can look forward to an early appetizer this month as the group’s 1989 hit “The Magic Number” will be released on Spotify, Apple Music and TIDAL et al. on January 13.
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Reservoir Media and Chrysalis Records, the teams behind the releases, have a whole marketing plan lined up to support the group with a huge campaign that includes key events, activations and items that are now available for pre-order on wearedelasoul.com.
“We can’t believe this day is finally here, and we are excited to be able to share our music with fans, old and new,” the trio said in a statement.
Alexa, what's the magic number. Full catalog release 3.3.2023 #delasoul@amazonmusicpic.twitter.com/657U845cwf
— De La Soul (@WeAreDeLaSoul) January 3, 2023
De La Soul had a tough time getting its catalog up on DSPs thanks to sample clearance issues and a contractual dispute with their former label, Tommy Boy. Things looked up, however, after Reservoir Media acquired its discography as part of its $100 million acquisition of Tommy Boy in 2021. Reservoir Media will distribute De La Soul’s catalog via Chrysalis Records.
“The Reservoir and Chrysalis teams have worked with De La Soul, and their record label, AOI, to bring their music to digital streaming services,” the statement read. “Reservoir is pleased to share that De La Soul’s first six albums…will be available to fans everywhere March 3rd, 2023, on the 34th anniversary of the release of their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising.”
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De La Soul became a household name thanks to their groundbreaking debut album 3 Feet High and Rising, which many consider to be one of the greatest albums of all time. Songs like “Me Myself and I,” “The Magic Number” and “Plug Tunin'” helped propel the album to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart while, as well as platinum status.
The accolades didn’t stop there as 3 Feet High and Rising was also inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, a list of sound recordings deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Extensive issues with Tommy Boy from uncleared samples to the group’s contract with the label had prevented their music from being made available on streaming platforms. In 2019, the group stated that per their contract, they would receive just 10% of streaming revenue and declined to sign off.
De La Soul has released a total of eight albums and has been nominated for multiple Grammy awards, including Best Rap Performance in 1990 for “Me Myself and I” and Best Rap Album in 2017 for And the Anonymous Nobody…
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In 2006, the group won their first and only Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for their collaboration with Gorillaz, “Feel Good Inc,” which was also up for Record of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video.
