LP
Chrysalis (2023) EU
De La Soul's transitional third studio release, 1993's Buhloone Mindstate, saw the group evolve into a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically. There were several moments on the record which proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone by Maceo Parker.
The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La Soul at their most self-referential to date. "Long Island Wildin'" was a collaboration with Japanese hip hop artists Kan Takagi (Major Force) and trio Scha Dara Parr (SDP). The album's first single, "Breakadawn", used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" and Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm". De La Soul collaborated for the first time with Gang Starr's Guru on "Patti Dooke", and female MC Shortie No Mas who was prominent on many tracks on the album and showcased particularly on "In The Woods".
The album ends with the old school Biz Markie collaboration "Stone Age". Buhloone Mindstate was also a critical darling with Rolling Stone listing it as one of the best hip hop albums of all time.