The surprising '80s album that never leaves our hi-fi test rooms

De La Soul
(Image credit: De La Soul, Resevoir Media)

Apple Music recently named Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill as the greatest album of all time, and while it wouldn’t have been my personal choice (I’m more of a Nevermind or The Bends kind of guy), such accolades are so subject to the vagaries of opinion and taste that it’s barely worth getting het up over. There is no one greatest album of all time, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is likely to have a very big tantrum over a very small issue.

So let’s get it out of the way right now: this is not a dismantling of Lauryn Hill or a bid to change the rulings of yet another inane poll or ranking. Rather, it’s a chance to thrust into the spotlight another gem of a hip-hop album that you may want to add to your collection as you search for your system’s next treat to dive into (after you've finished Billie Eilish's latest). It is, of course, De La Soul's peerless 1989 masterwork 3 Feet High And Rising

You may already own the seminal record, in which case you can look smug, close your laptop and go outside for some vitamin D. You may be a hip-hop fan who hasn’t got around to listening to it yet, or you may be a seasoned headbanger who won’t countenance anything beyond Slayer and Slipknot. Whatever the case, I urge you to give 3 Feet a chance, speaking as someone who used to have his metaphorical tent pitched firmly in the latter camp. 

As an album to enjoy or use as a test record, it truly is one of the finest genre examples I can think of. Read one of our product reviews and time and again you’ll notice the inclusion of the Long Islanders’ works peppered across our pages, with the bulk of those tracks coming from the acclaimed 1989 release. De La Soul are test room staples, and 3 Feet High is their most well-stacked treasure trove of classic hits.

Why? Well, it’s beautifully constructed and put together for a start, with a soft yet clean production style that leans heavily on samples, skits and slightly off-the-wall genre incorporations. Hip-hop artists were often defiantly and understandably dogmatic in using musical styles of the same type in their mixes, but De La Soul were one of the first groups to integrate classic tracks from eclectic (and often quite traditional) bands or artists. Steely Dan on a rap record? Why not!

De La Soul album cover

We'd recommend practically anything from DLS, but 3 Feet remains the pick of the bunch. (Image credit: De La Soul, Tommy Boy)

Such experimentation only served the quality of the tracks that resulted. When '80s hip-hop was becoming aggressive, hard-hitting (NWA, Public Enemy) and focused on a sort of encroaching materialism, 3 Feet High felt like an oasis within a storm of angry beats and angrier lyrical polemics. Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back may be great for testing bass, punch and dynamism, but the near-childlike innocence and simplicity offered by De La Soul's The Magic Number, say, provides a quirkier test of purity, organisation, timing and texture.

Alternative offerings have produced ample test fodder within our hallowed halls. Eye Know is my personal go-to, melding that same simple, easy quality with the sort of sharp, intuitive production that really makes a track click. Nothing here is overly complex, yet the various textures and tones – soulful guitar, assertive drums and rising horn samples – combined with that effortless lyrical dexterity make it a winner. Many systems can do numerous things well, but Eye Know offers a change of pace and style that some will latch on to and others will utterly allow to pass by. In that sense, it’s a track that speakers and set-ups either ‘get’ or they don’t, and with a little practice, you’ll quickly begin to figure out which is which.

Ultimately, for all this talk of testing, let’s not forget that music was meant to be enjoyed rather than analysed, and by these parameters, 3 Feet High only shines brighter. Its breezy blend of soul, easy listening, funk, psychedelic and soft rock influences marry to create an album that draws you in with its charms gently rather than barrelling you over with self-importance or sonic insistence, and while it may be a cliché, a warm summer night, a Bluetooth speaker (sorry, hi-fi aficionados), a chilled beverage and some soothing De La Soul will always ease the pain.

It can be tiresome to hear music bores (wait, is that...me?) evangelise over their favourite records, but trust me on this one. 3 Feet High And Rising pulls off that remarkable trick so indicative of the greatest albums ever, in that it effortlessly evokes the time and place in which it was made while sounding as fresh and timeless as a newly pressed release. Looking for your new test examiner or just the perfect summer record? It’s time you boarded the De La Soul train.

MORE: 

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Is Final’s personalised earbud service the future of wearable audio? I tried it to find out

12 of the best Dolby Atmos tracks on Tidal, Amazon and Apple Music (and 5 to avoid)

Harry McKerrell
Senior staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands, and major industry events including IFA, High End Munich and, of course, the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs. 

  • Friesiansam
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    It's a gem of a hip-hop album that should be in every music fan's collection
    That's a ridiculous generalization. There are people who use this site who only listen to classical music, I mostly listen to prog/psychedelic rock.

    I never have and, never will have any desire to listen to hip-hop so, it definitely should not be in my collection.
    Reply
  • daveh75
    Friesiansam said:
    That's a ridiculous generalization. There are people who use this site who only listen to classical music, I mostly listen to prog/psychedelic rock.

    I never have and, never will have any desire to listen to hip-hop so, it definitely should not be in my collection.

    A bit of an overreaction methinks... And a snobby one at that!
    Reply
  • Friesiansam
    daveh75 said:
    A bit of an overreaction methinks... And a snobby one at that!
    I don't like hip-hop. If you think that's snobby, that's your problem, not mine...

    I don't criticise other people, for not liking certain kinds of music.
    Reply
  • daveh75
    Friesiansam said:
    I don't like hip-hop.

    Sounds like you've written off an entire genre because of a ridiculous generalized view

    Did you actually read past the click-bait headline before reacting, incidentally?
    Reply
  • Rui
    sorry ,but i know well DeLaSoul and it never took me as a great hip hop band but just a english way of , makin`rap music sell like in mainstream channels only ,i know they were considered by many as the band from The U.K. but listen to it well, doesn´t seem to me any hip hoping to be by luck so many times refered, i know real hip hop bands that didn´t achieve any major laqbel as they were really hip hop i remenber some guys that have an album by Alternative Tentacles records ,maybe the only band of this so kicked style of expression but they sure desereved it ,but why ?with so many great groups that made it great and forgotten in time . incovenient truth?maybe? for sure!
    Reply