De La Soul @ Old but Gold Ü30 Hip Hop Festival in Hamburg

About the artist

Formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York, De La Soul built their reputation on eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and a major contribution to the evolution of jazz rap and alternative hip-hop. When they burst onto the scene, their laid-back vibe and clever wordplay stood in sharp contrast to the macho bragging and intense beats that ruled the day — a gentler, weirder take on hip-hop that expanded the definition of what rap music could be. Their 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising, sounded like nothing else in hip-hop at the time — a colourful, neo-psychedelic collage of samples drawing not just from funk and soul, but also pop, jazz, reggae, and psychedelia, paired with low-key, clever rhymes and goofy humour. It made them prominent members of the Native Tongues Posse alongside A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, and the Jungle Brothers — a golden era collective that reshaped the culture. Over a career spanning nine studio albums, De La Soul never stopped evolving, but they never lost their soul either. Founding member David Jolicoeur — Trugoy the Dove — passed away in February 2023, a profound loss for hip-hop. Remaining members Posdnuos and Maseo carry the legacy forward, celebrating a catalogue that still sounds fresh and joyful decades on. Expect warmth, wit, and a crowd that knows every word.

Lineup

• KRS-One · headliner
• Next · headliner
• Onyx · headliner
• Ginuwine · headliner
• Queen Omega · headliner
• De La Soul · headliner
• Busta Rhymes · headliner
• Jeru the Damaja · headliner