Newport Centre
Wed 3 Aug
Anyone with a long-standing enthusiasm for hip-hop are certain to have De La Soul on their radar. From the late 1980s they’ve been synonymous with the culture, the sounds, the language and the way of life that embodies the genre. As part of the highly influential Native Tongues collective (with Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest) they pioneered forward-thinking, open-minded lyrics pushing social commentary, wit and positivity to the mainstream and challenging the more superficial ideas developing elsewhere in the genre. De La are famous for their love of sampling, frequently repurposing favourite artists – particularly from their jazz collections. Since finding commercial and critical success with their first three albums (all produced by lauded DJ Prince Paul) 3 Feet High And Rising, De La Soul Is Dead and Buhloone Mindstate, they’ve gone on to produce themselves, as well as collaborating with a plethora of artists and continuing to redefine and innovate their sound.
Whilst they have not always maintained the commercial gain they once had, De La have consistently earned critical praise and kept a loyal fanbase making them the highly respected artists they are today. late August will see them release their ninth full-length studio album entitled And The Anonymous Nobody, so expect to hear plenty of fresh material amidst the classics.
Tickets: £29.50. Info: 01633 656757 (CPI)
