{"id":10822,"date":"2025-11-25T12:45:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.magazinehiphop.com\/?p=10822"},"modified":"2025-11-25T17:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T22:27:14","slug":"cabin-in-the-sky-of-the-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.magazinehiphop.com\/en\/cabin-in-the-sky-de-la-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"\"Cabin in the Sky\": De La Soul puts the key back in the door\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

De La Soul<\/a> <\/strong>come back like old friends you thought had been traveling for ten years, showing up at your door with a new album under their arm. Yes, in 2025. Yes, on Mass Appeal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, with a list of collaborators that would melt a vinyl record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to Cabin in the Sky<\/em><\/strong>, ninth album from the legendary trio and first since the departure of Trugoy the Dove<\/strong> in 2023. The emotion is real, but never heavy. It's typical De La Soul<\/strong> : it floats, it grooves, it makes you smile a little and think two seconds later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Legend Has It\u2026 and not just in the brochures<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mass Appeal<\/strong> launched its series earlier this year Legend Has It\u2026<\/em><\/strong> : a production line intended for New York monuments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same buffet: Nas<\/a><\/strong> & DJ Premier<\/a><\/strong>, Ghostface<\/a><\/strong>, Raekwon<\/a><\/strong>, Mobb Deep<\/a><\/strong>, Big L<\/strong><\/a>, Slick<\/strong> Rick<\/strong><\/a>\u2026 And De La Soul<\/strong>, who sign here the sixth chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A cabin, a sky, and a shower of guests<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the album dashboard, you'll find:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q-Tip<\/a><\/strong>, Nas<\/a><\/strong>, Black Thought<\/a><\/strong>, Bilal<\/a><\/strong>, Common<\/a><\/strong>, Slick Rick<\/strong>, Killer Mike<\/strong><\/a>, but also Giancarlo Esposito<\/strong> (Yes, Gus Fring<\/strong>, bro), Jay Pharoah<\/strong>, Yukimi<\/strong>, Gareth Donkin<\/strong>, Yummy Bingham<\/strong>, and other surprising voices that invite themselves into the booth as if Pos<\/a><\/strong> had texted them at 3 a.m.: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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"Yo, we're setting something up. Hop on board<\/em>. ''<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

On the production side, it's a veritable meeting of magicians: Pete Rock<\/a><\/strong>, Nottz<\/a><\/strong>, DJ Premier<\/strong>, Jake<\/strong> One<\/strong><\/a>, Supa Dave West<\/a><\/strong>, Sam Wish<\/a><\/strong>, more Pos<\/strong> who left his mark everywhere. c<\/strong>, True to form, he prowls behind the turntables like a spiritual guardian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singles: guaranteed delivery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before the official takeoff, De La Soul<\/strong> had already sent two signs into the sky:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Package<\/em><\/strong> released on November 6th. A title that proves the package always arrives intact, no matter the mishaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day in the Sun (Gettin' wit U) <\/em><\/strong>Released on November 14th. A track that smells of light, a little nod to the summer that refuses to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tribute, not a mausoleum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What's striking is how Trugoy<\/strong> literally lives in these tracks. His appearances are integrated with tenderness, without ever falling into the \"voice found in the attic\" effect. You can feel the touch of family, brothers, the collective; it's an album made with love, not with forced nostalgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A comeback that doesn't play museum games<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cabin in the Sky<\/em><\/strong> isn't another 3 Feet<\/em><\/strong> High<\/em><\/strong>. No. The album is different, mature, ethereal, funky when it needs to be, lucid when things get tough, and always perfectly De La Soul<\/strong> : a conversation between past, present and future, in a cabin that floats above all eras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And above all\u2026 it's alive. The kind of alive that makes you nod your head, smile, and say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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"Damn\u2026 they're really back<\/em>. ''<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Verdict for the fans<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you've ever screamed Stakes is high<\/em><\/strong>! in traffic, if you've ever thought that Pos<\/strong> would be an excellent therapist, if you've ever felt that Trugoy<\/strong> articulated the thoughts that you didn't know how to organize\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Cabin in the Sky<\/strong><\/em> is your new musical refuge.\nNative Tongues<\/strong>, once again, you nailed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n