RSD Black Friday 2023: 3 Feet High and Rising is the debut studio album by hip-hop trio De La Soul, and was released on March 3, 1989. It marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It contains the singles, “Me Myself and I”, “The Magic Number,” “Buddy,” and “Eye Know”. The album title came from the Johnny Cash song “Five Feet High and Rising”. It is listed on both Rolling Stone’s 200 Essential Rock Records and The Source’s 100 Best Rap Albums. When Village Voice held its annual Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for 1989, 3 Feet High and Rising was ranked #1. It was also listed on Rolling Stone’s The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Released amid the 1989 boom in gangsta rap, which gravitated towards hardcore, confrontational, violent lyrics, De La Soul's uniquely positive style made them an oddity beginning with the first single, “Me, Myself and I.” Their positivity meant many observers labeled them a “hippie” group, based on their declaration of the “D.A.I.S.Y. Age” (Da. Inner. Soul. Yall). Sampling artists as diverse as Hall & Oates, Steely Dan and The Turtles, 3 Feet High and Rising is often viewed as the stylistic beginning of 1990s alternative hip hop (and especially jazz rap). 3 Feet High & Rising was chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance and general excellence.
This special boxset release of De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising includes twelve 7” custom singles pressed on splatter vinyl and housed in custom sleeves, housed in a box that includes a 7” pinup and a double-sided 7” slipmat, and is available first at record stores as part of RSD Black Friday. "
1A. Intro
1B. The Magic Number
2A1. Change in Speak
2A2. Cool Breeze on the Rocks (The Melted Version)
2B. Can You Keep a Secret
3A. Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin’s Revenge)
3B. Ghetto Thang
4A. Transmitting Live from Mars
4B. Eye Know (feat. Otis Redding)
5A1. Take it Off
5A2. A Little Bit of Soap
5B. Tread Water
6A. Potholes in My Lawn
6B. Say No Go
7A. Do as De La Does
7B. Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)
8A. De La Orgee
8B. Buddy (With Jungle Brothers and Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest)
9A. Description
9B. Me Myself and I
10A1. This is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.)
10A2. I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)
10B. D.A.I.S.Y. Age
11A. What’s More (From the Movie Soundtrack Hell on 1st Avenue)
11B. Jenifa (Taught Me) (12” Mix)
12A. Buddy (Native Tongue Decision Part 1) [feat. Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah & Monie Love]
12B. Buddy (Native Tongue Decision Part 2) [feat. Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah & Monie Love]