Biography
The query 'De La Soul/ Nas' refers to two distinct pioneering hip-hop acts: De La Soul, an American hip-hop trio formed in 1988 in Amityville, Long Island, New York, by high school friends Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer), Trugoy the Dove (David Jude Jolicoeur, died 2023), and Maseo (Vincent Mason), and Nas (Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones), an American rapper born September 14, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York, who grew up in Queensbridge Houses, Queens. De La Soul revolutionized hip-hop with their 1989 debut album 3 Feet High and Rising, introducing eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and a laid-back vibe that contrasted macho gangsta rap, pioneering jazz rap and alternative hip-hop subgenres.[3][5][7] Nas, son of jazz trumpeter Olu Dara, started as 'Nasty Nas' in 1989, debuting on Main Source's 'Live at the Barbeque' in 1991, and exploded with his 1994 classic Illmatic, blending gritty street narratives with intricate, jazz-infused lyricism rooted in East Coast hip-hop.[1][2]
De La Soul's career evolved through innovative albums like De La Soul Is Dead (1991), challenging their 'hippie' image, while facing sampling disputes that delayed releases until Buhloone Mindstate (1993) and beyond, solidifying their legacy in expanding rap's boundaries.[5][7] Nas developed from Illmatic's raw Queensbridge tales through supergroup The Firm (1997), label battles with Jay-Z, and 17 studio albums, many certified gold or platinum, while venturing into entrepreneurship with Mass Appeal Records.[1] Both acts share jazz rap and East Coast roots, with Nas' style echoing De La Soul's genre fusion via his father's influence and early jazz-rap pioneers.[2][8]
Their legacies endure: De La Soul as architects of alternative hip-hop, influencing eclectic rap; Nas as one of the greatest rappers, with cultural impact via awards, collaborations like with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and business ventures.[1][5]
Fun Facts
- Nas dropped out after eighth grade but self-educated on African culture via Five-Percent Nation and Nuwaubian Nation.[1]
- De La Soul's debut 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) changed hip-hop by contrasting intense gangsta rap with eclectic, quirky vibes.[6][7]
- Nas and father Olu Dara's 'Bridging the Gap' explicitly traces music history from blues to jazz to rap.[2]
- Nas started as 'Kid Wave' before 'Nasty Nas,' recording unreleased material with Rakim and Kool G Rap in studio.[1]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Large Professor - Produced early demos and debut track for Nas (Live at the Barbeque (1991)) [1989-1992]
- Olu Dara - Father and jazz influence for Nas (Illmatic (1994), Bridging the Gap (2004)) [Ongoing from childhood]
- Prince Paul - Producer who shaped De La Soul's early sound (inferred from debut production context) (3 Feet High and Rising (1989)) [1988-1989]
Key Collaborators
- Olu Dara - Father-son musical partnership for Nas (Illmatic, Bridging the Gap) [1994-2004]
- MC Serch - Manager who secured Nas' record deal (Halftime (1992)) [1992]
- Foxy Brown, AZ, Nature - Supergroup members with Nas (The Firm (1997)) [1997]
Artists Influenced
- A Tribe Called Quest - Followed De La Soul's jazz-rap fusion model (Early 1990s albums) [1990s]
- Dave East, Run the Jewels - Signed to Nas' Mass Appeal Records (Various releases) [2010s]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
De La Soul/ Nas has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2025 | 23:14 | Run It Back | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman | |
| Oct 6, 2025 | 23:54 | Kicked out the house | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman | |
| Oct 2, 2025 | 07:54 | i be blowinfrom Buhloon Mind State | The Morning Setw/ Scott Borne |