Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat

08/11/2000 4:00 PM, LAUNCH
Billy Johnson Jr

De La Soul's Posdnuos represented for hip-hop's favorite underground trio during a recent stop at the LAUNCH chatroom. It's obvious that Pos, Dave, and Maseo have been together for 12 years, as Pos was clearly able to speak on the group's behalf.

When someone asked why Dave recently dropped his rap alias Trugoy for his birth name instead, Pos replied, "He's outgrown living as characters." Pos also explained that they all keep in touch with fellow Native Tongue members from the Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, and Queen Latifah. And if you've never heard the story of how the group came up with the title of their breakthrough smash, 3 Feet High And Rising, you got to read Pos's explanation. Surprisingly, it has something to do with Johnny Cash!

Just for diehard De La fans, Pos explained the group's feelings about being dissed by Tupac, plus the real reason why Samuel L. Jackson was not featured rapping on Art Official Intelligence's first release, "Mosaic Thump." Read on...

prettybrwneyes99: The new video is hype...whose idea was it?

launch_de_la_soul: The video was a combination of a joke. Me and Dave were trying to think of ideas. We came up with an idea, but J5 already did it. Dave had purchased The Wiz--we was like yo, I could be the scarecrow. We just started mapping it out from there. It was easy for us to see who would be which characters. Our first thought for Dorothy was Lil' Kim. We also thought of Digga, and Ananda from MTV. Tommy Boy thought maybe Aaliyah. We definitely went with Digga--she wasn't from Digga from the Flipmode trying to be a diva about it; it was really good that she was there to act it out.

youthdecay245: What artists do you like outside of hip-hop?

launch_de_la_soul: There's a large range--from Mary J. Blige to Sinead O' Connor. sSlum Village. Macy Gray. There's so many people.

shadanger: Maseo is dope on the mic. what took you so long to start rapping???

launch_de_la_soul: Mase on our earlier albums always rhymed here and there. We were like, "You do a great job at it." I was really happy for him to get on beyond being a great DJ and producer. He was ready. The space was always open for him to do something.

youthdecay245: I've always wondered how you came up with the name "De La Soul?"

launch_de_la_soul: I was trying to think up names that truly explained how we were as people. We always tried to concentrate from the heart and the soul. Everyone wanted something like "BDP Productions." I was then like, why don't we call ourselves "from the soul?" So it became "De La Soul."

winnipegboy22: You guys are rap pioneers....how is it that ya'll got such an intelligent outlook on issues, and other rappers is rappin about bitchez and hoes, but they'se from the same local as ya'll

launch_de_la_soul: I really feel there are a lot of MCs that are very intelligent. I know that from a first-hand basis from meeting them. Some rappers have a way of acting out their characters on the mic so they can keep their credibility. Our upbringing has been to always strive for me. I've always loved to read and sing. We are intelligent and there ain't nothing wrong with that.

shnugba: is it true u are gonna do a song with samuel l jackson rhyming on it on your next album?

launch_de_la_soul: No. Actually, he was supposed to be on the first album, rhyming on a skit. If anyone has heard the album, we have these skits...someone puffs the weed...and Sam was supposed to be a part of that. Unfortunately, he was shooting Shaft.

shadanger: How long did it take to come up with the beat for ooooh?

launch_de_la_soul: It only took me a day. When I was working on it, it took a day. I was working with a group, Medina Green--Mos Def is in that group--and I was working on music for them. and we decided to keep that track.

promodiva_2000: Why did Trugoy start going by Dave?

launch_de_la_soul: Personally he got tired of the name. He outgrew it. He's outgrown living as characters. He thought the name was just wack, and he got tired of it.

denmarkv: wasn't one of yall in the USMC?

launch_de_la_soul: No.

shnugba: have u checked out the hiphop scene in the uk and if so what do u think of the heads there?

launch_de_la_soul: De La Soul has been fortunate to travel the world since 1989, so we've seen the hip-hop scene grow. In the U.K., they live more by it than people in America, honestly. I think people here take it for granted, but they love it. They are what we were like when we were in the '80s. I think here now, living as a b-boy is in pockets, in certain parts of the States. But they love it, they respect it.

delasoul_2001: POS- WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SHORTY NO MAS

launch_de_la_soul: She's on crack. Just kidding, she's actually still doing her thing. She's part of jazzy jiff's production. I know that jazzy has been working with her. She's just been a product of unfortunate timing. Her deal didn't go through....her record company dropped the whole black music department....I hope everything goes well with her and Jeff.

phifer200: Do you still keep in touch with Native Tongue members?

launch_de_la_soul: Definitely. I was just with Tip yesterday. Talked to Fife...and Mike and Afrika came to the release. It's just that as individuals we just have our own priorities on what we have to do. But we all still have love for each other.

shadanger: are we gonna here a prince paul remix of oooh

launch_de_la_soul: Nah. Don't think that's gonna happen.

dime_piece2002: Any solo plans?

launch_de_la_soul: Nah. That's too much work man. Too much rhymes to write. I love doing it, my heart's really there, but just too much stuff.

delasoul_2001: OF ALL YOUR CD's WHICH ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF? BUHLOONE MIND STATE IS MY FAVE

launch_de_la_soul: I'm proud of them all, but nothing can top Three Feet And Rising.

GregK007: You had a song with Teenage Fan Club on the Judgment Night soundtrack which was way ahead of it's time. How was that arranged or thought of?

launch_de_la_soul: The people from Judgment Night were picking up different rappers and bands...Living Colour...we had to do our best to do something different for the record. We only had two days, and they said Teenage Fanclub, and we were like, "cool." The song came out good.

silks_17: I been trying to write my own stuff for about 8 months man, can u give me any tips on how to start off a rhyme?

launch_de_la_soul: You should never ever allow yourself or program yourself to have one way to start your rhyme. If you start from A to get to B, then you never get a way to get A to C. There's no one way you should do it. Whatever inspires you is one thing, but you should try to hook or be catchy.

djnino46: If you come to albany in the future to perform can you come onto my radio station for an interview?

launch_de_la_soul: No. Just kidding. Any outlet that can help people know what we're doing--that shouldn't be a problem. Just call the label, Tommy Boy.

rp_diesel: What new artists do you think are bringin it back to the real hip hop roots?!

launch_de_la_soul: There's a lot of artists that truly study hip-hop and continue to keep that going. Artists like Mos Def, Common Sense, Dilated Peoples, J5, the Roots...there's a lot of artists. These are cats that were younger, and look at us as their first. They know how to apply the energy when they're performing.

trapacero: how did you guys come up with 3 feet high and rising? there was nothing at the time like it and nothing since

launch_de_la_soul: There's really no set concept for vibe. We were just ready to try anything. Within the course of recording these songs, Dove had a Johnny Cash record, and we were looking for weird sounds. I think the song was called "Nine Feet High And Rising," on it. And that's how we got stuck to that title. Our heroes were Kane, Rakim--we didn't want to sound like them, but we were just trying to get the same energy, our way. The same thing just worded differently. It's like, what's the difference with Kane rhyming on this song, and us rhyming on a song by Hall & Oates? It was just trying to get the mission accomplished.

MC_Heist: Where did you guys find Truth Enola

launch_de_la_soul: He just appeared from around the way--from Shreveport, Louisiana. They let us hear a demo of them, and we was like, yo. We came up with "Pony Ride," and he was just there at the right time, and we was like, "Why don't we just let him rhyme with us?"

trapacero: did you guys really open a donut shop??

launch_de_la_soul: Naw. "Donuts" simply mean "records." We as a production just wanted to pump out records.

blp_2002: Do ya'll ever have time to relax without fans bum rushing you where ever you go?

launch_de_la_soul: Yeah, plenty of time. When we're at home, especially, but even in public. There's nothing so untouchable about us. It's more of a calm energy. It's like, we're not like the untouchable entertainers--we're just people's people.

meat_whistel: do you sign autographs? and if so where can I send to?

launch_de_la_soul: Never a problem with signing autographs. Unfortunately, we don't have a set fan club or anything, but just look out on our website...www.spitkicker.com.

youeatshlt: Whats the craziest thing that ever happened to you guys at a concert??

launch_de_la_soul: Man, too many to name. Um...I don't know...what do you consider crazy? It's all in fun. We've had out of the ordinary--someone comes up on stage and wants to play their violin.

austinp3333: I heard you were friends with kurt cobain

launch_de_la_soul: Never met the kid.

mimax118: hi guys. are any of you single?

launch_de_la_soul: Nope.

thebeatspecialist: So what made you guys stick with tommy boy all these years???

launch_de_la_soul: Contractually we were there. We always had other labels that were-- and are--interested in De La, but it was hard to find a label to allow us creative control. We always thought that anything that happened in our careers, it was our own fault. Other labels wanna be so a part of what you should say, what you should wear--and Tommy Boy has never been like that. Our record deal is pretty much up with them; this triple-album deal allows us to complete our contract with them, but with our new deal, we'll have three albums after.

trapacero: Who is dante (the scrub) who doesnt get a haircut??

launch_de_la_soul: That's Dante Ross. At the time he was working as an A&R person at Tommy Boy. Now he's at Def Jam. Just an ongoing joke, calling him "scrub."

de_la_soul123: I have a band and they suck and it sucks cause I cant write what I want. do you write the kind of music you like to listen to or does it just come and you go with he flow?

launch_de_la_soul: I definitely wanted a group, and that's never been a problem. That's the definition behind De La Soul. if I'm Rastafarian and Dave's a Buddhist, that's how our lyrics are gonna come out. Not forced direction. Two people may feel more strongly, but we need to make sure that the street is involved with what we do. Ideas should be expressed by everyone.

delasoul_2001: when will the 2nd cd be out

launch_de_la_soul: Right now, we're looking at March, 'cause fortunately, there seems to be a lot of demand for singles on the album. We were gonna put out each album three months apart. If we put out the album in December, then we're looking at putting out the second one in March.

phifer200: Did you guys ever battle A Tribe Called Quest?

launch_de_la_soul: We always battle each other...not in a sense of rhyming, but there was always a battle between us in a positive way. They would make this beat, and it would be so stupid, and we was like "yo, we gotta make something better." We battled to make the crew tighter. We feel that that's what's missing from hip-hop today. We feel that there's no room for correction, to improve yourself.

shadanger: IS OOOH A PARODY OF WHOA?????

launch_de_la_soul: Not at all. After I made the beat, this song was like something I could hear Redman on. For the next couple weeks, I was just trying to think of a different chorus. It sounded like it should just be "Oooh." We was like, "Why don't we make it that?" We tried it and it worked.

GregK007: What do you miss about home when you're on the road and what do you miss about the road when you're at home?

launch_de_la_soul: What I miss about home is my girl and my children--that's the main thing. My family. What I miss about the road is a clean room--I get room service and I don't have to worry about cleaning up when I leave.

phifer200: Pos, where did you get that name from?

launch_de_la_soul: I used to DJ--my name was Sop Sounds. My parents being from the South, one of the expressions was "sop"...sop some bread, etc. So I was "Sop." When we joined up, since we were going in a reverse direction, I changed it to "Pos."

shnugba: what did u make of tupac's diss on u as well as many other east coast artists before he died?

launch_de_la_soul: It was shocking. It didn't really disturb me--we never had beef with Pac, nothing but love. We never had any problems with him. We didn't get a chance to speak with him. His people thought we were trying to dis him when we had the pool scene in our video. But we never had any known beef with each other. We was like, "Wow, that's interesting," and that was it.

carlos_d_bustamante: Do you guys have any political tendencies...Certain issues that are important to you ?

launch_de_la_soul: Personally, it's hard for me to get into the whole political mindframe. Life is politics. It's trying to get into what's right for life. It is good to encourage people to vote and know it exists, but there's got to be a higher forum to take place after all the talking and the actions put forth. They need to make a new word--"DO-itics." Put issues in our face, and be like "What can we really do?" Not just have people watch TV and listen to shows. We're wasting time and still not doing anything.

shadanger: where is dave and mase?

launch_de_la_soul: Dave is actually with the web company that we deal with. We're performing tomorrow on Conan, and introducing what we're doing, and performing with flash cards. He's finishing up with the song "Oooh." Mase has a label--DV Alias Khrist is on it.

shadanger: are you gonna be on lyricist lounge show???

launch_de_la_soul: Definitely. We've been asked to be a part of it. It's just our schedule--we missed a lot; we were shooting the video for "Oooh." We're just trying to schedule for next season.

tonesteroc: what sort of sortware/hardware did you use for this album? it sounds so clean compared to the previous dela albums

launch_de_la_soul: There's a lot more experience that can be applied to our music. Our engineer, Troy Hightower--his skills have complemented what we've done and executed on our album. We have been using a lot more software to go along with the analog stuff we use. We're still big fans of analog recording, but we've been using programs like Cream, and other programs used for movie editing. There's a lot of things we've applied that we've learned. Hanging out with Tip from Tribe, to learn what we've enhanced throughout the years. Whatever we've got on the table, we're trying to use technology where we can.

blp_2002: What did your parents think of your career before you made it big?

launch_de_la_soul: I've always been into music. My parents understood why, but they didn't really understand rap. But they trusted me. They knew I was a person to think things through. Knowing that I knew what I wanted to do, they never had any qualms about the rap thing. They were very supportive.

promodiva_2000: what groups/rappers would de la PAY to see?

launch_de_la_soul: I would pay to see anyone who's going to put on a incredible show. N.W.A., Dr. Dre, KRS-One. I would pay to see Sade, because who would not want to? D'Angelo, definitely. And Prince.

launch_de_la_soul: Any last words? Buy my album--I have three children. I truly love the things I provide for them. Please help them!