Rap icons De La Soul headline shred mag release

(this piece was published by Planet JH Weekly)If you grew up with a trusty jam box like I did, it’s likely that De La Soul flowed from the speakers at some point. Twenty-five years ago, De La Soul's seminal debut LP, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released. The album is considered one of the most influential rap albums of all time, rivaled only by albums like Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. It’s laidback cool while lyrically striving for peace and harmony, headlined by the hit “Me Myself and I.” What a score of an act to celebrate the annual release of Jackson Hole Snowboarder Magazine.The era of 1989 hip-hop was busting at the seams with aggressive acts like Public Enemy and N.W.A., and radio-ready tracks from MC Hammer and Young MC. De La Soul fell in the middle of this spectrum by offering a sample-heavy product that was at once comedic, playful and thoughtful. Variety in the form of syncopated drums, horns, mini skits within songs, children’s stories and counterculture symbolism all added up to instantaneous success for the Long Island trio. They were labeled the first hip-hop hippies.Remarkably, group members Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Maseo met in high school and continue to produce quality output. The trio has released eight studio albums through 2009. In 2006, after previously being nominated for three Grammys throughout their career, De La Soul collaborated with Gorillaz for the Grammy-winning single, “Feel Good Inc.” This past Valentine’s Day, they delighted the world in the best of ways by putting their entire Tommy Boy-released discography up for free download for 24 hours.Brace yourself for an exceptional, old school rap party. De La Soul and Jackson Hole Snowboarder Magazine Release Party, 9 p.m. Sunday at the Pink Garter Theatre. $40-$60. PinkGarterTheatre.com.