After years of legal battles over uncleared samples and contracts, De La Soul’s catalog is finally available on streaming services. The group had a decade-long dispute with their former label Tommy Boy over streaming rights, which was resolved when Tommy Boy was acquired by Reservoir Media. You can listen to De La Soul’s classic albums below.
The bittersweet return comes just weeks after the death of Trugoy the Dove at age 54. Surviving memebers Maseo and Posdnuos paid tribute to their late bandmate and friend on social media. “I remember your mom calling you Dove, so you’ve always had wings, so go on and fly into the light, Merce and I will make sure your legacy is well preserved,” Maseo wrote. “‘We Are De La Soul’ for life and after life, but obviously, it will never be the same. On one end I’m happy you no longer have to suffer the pain of your condition but on the other hand I’m extremely upset at the fact that you’re not here to celebrate and enjoy what we worked and fought so hard to achieve.”
In a press statement, Posdnuos said: “We are excited to finally have our full back catalog available on all streaming platforms. At the same time, we are deeply saddened by the loss of our brother, Dave. His unique voice and talent will be missed, but his spirit will always live on through our music.”
