De La Soul’s Cabin in the Sky is a deeply emotional yet joyful album—both a loving tribute to the late Trugoy the Dove (Dave Jolicoeur) and a powerful continuation of the group’s legacy. It wrestles with grief, legacy, faith, and life itself, while sounding unmistakably like De La Soul: vibrant, layered, playful, and deeply human. With stellar production from legends like DJ Premier and Pete Rock, and the poignant integration of Dave’s unreleased verses, the album honors the past while confidently embracing the future. This is a triumphant, life-affirming project full of warmth, wisdom, and artistic integrity.

The album arrives as part of Mass Appeal Records’ ambitious 2025 Legend Has It… series, a major campaign featuring seven new albums from legendary New York hip-hop artists: Nas & DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Mobb Deep, De La Soul, Big L, and Slick Rick. The series celebrates hip-hop’s pioneers through posthumous releases and new material, culminating in projects like Supreme Clientele 2, Emperor’s New Clothes, and Light-Years. Cabin in the Sky stands as one of the most emotionally resonant releases in the campaign.

To understand the weight of this album, one must acknowledge De La Soul’s legacy. Their 1989 debut 3 Feet High and Rising—from the trio of Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer, Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, and Vincent “Maseo” Mason—is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Released at a crucial moment in hip-hop’s rise, De La Soul, alongside contemporaries like A Tribe Called Quest, permanently reshaped the genre’s creative possibilities.

Cabin in the Sky opens with “Cabin Talk,” a skit that immediately establishes the album’s tone. Actor Giancarlo Esposito plays the host of a conference exploring “perceptions of life and the hereafter,” conducting a roll call of featured producers and guests. The list—Nas, Q-Tip, Slick Rick, Common, Killer Mike, Black Thought, Yukimi Nagano, Bilal, and others—feels less like a flex and more like a gathering of friends who understand the emotional gravity of this project. It’s De La Soul’s sense of humor and sincerity perfectly intertwined.

“YUHDONTSTOP” directly confronts the loss of Dave, grappling with absence while emphasizing perseverance. The message is clear: if De La Soul slows down or stops, “Dave stops.” The orchestral outro subtly weaves in flashes of “Me, Myself, and I” and “Stakes Is High,” grounding the song in the group’s long history.

“Sunny Storms” explores grief, personal growth, and wisdom through weather metaphors, emphasizing perspective shifts, letting go, and finding strength through connection. The inviting production—complete with scratches and samples from Jean Carn’s “Completeness,” New Edition’s “Can You Stand the Rain,” and The Soulful Strings’ “Never Gonna Give You Up”—makes it one of the album’s standout moments.

“Good Health” balances minimalism and maximalism, delivering sun-soaked boom-bap that rattles with urgency. Posdnuos and Maseo sound energized and sharp, their chemistry fully intact. “Will Be,” produced by Pos, is a short but infectious disco cut sampling Sylvester, Secret Weapon, and Natalie Cole. Featuring Yummy Bingham on the hook, it recalls De La’s most danceable classics like “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays.”

“The Package” focuses on authenticity, resilience, and honoring Trugoy’s memory. Built on a booming beat sampling The Impressions’ “Seven Years,” it reinforces De La Soul’s commitment to staying true to themselves rather than chasing trends. Legacy here is not a burden—it’s a gift.

“A Quick 16 for Mama” featuring Killer Mike is a heartfelt tribute to motherhood, set against soulful, neo-soul-leaning production reminiscent of Roy Ayers. “Just How It Is” provides levity, offering a tongue-in-cheek look at modern digital breakups, angry texts, and social media drama—classic De La humor serving as an accessible entry point into the album’s heavier themes.

“Cruel Summers Bring FIRE LIFE!!” blends Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer” with Roy Ayers’ “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” to explore love under pressure. Passion, conflict, and endurance collide as love fights to survive criticism and hardship. “Day in the Sun (Gettin’ wit You)” continues the warmth, celebrating peace, rebirth, and gratitude. Yummy Bingham’s chorus shines again, while Q-Tip’s guest verse elevates the track even further.

Nas delivers one of his strongest recent performances on “Run It Back!!,” sounding energized and conversational over production that samples The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” “Different World,” featuring Gina Loring, is a moving tribute to Trugoy, envisioning the afterlife as a peaceful place while shifting the group’s grief toward gratitude. The track samples Jermaine Jackson’s “I’m in a Different World,” reinforcing its theme of transcendence.

“Patty Cake” uses a playful nursery rhyme to explore generational gaps, cultural observation, and artistic integrity, blending childlike wonder with introspection. “The Silent Life of a Truth” personifies truth as a quiet but enduring force, standing firm amid lies and distractions—especially poignant in the context of loss.

Black Thought demolishes DJ Premier’s production on “EN EFF,” delivering effortless dominance. “Believe (In Him)” leans into gospel-tinged soul, exploring faith and perseverance. “Yours,” featuring Common and Slick Rick, updates “Hey Young World” with wisdom and hope for the next generation, each MC delivering with grace and authority.

“Palm of His Hands” reflects on mortality, purpose, and legacy, finding peace through faith and self-reflection. The title track, “Cabin in the Sky,” feels quintessentially De La Soul—both comforting and familiar—while reminding listeners why their style remains timeless. The album closes with “Don’t Push Me,” built on Stevie Wonder’s “Talkin’ Bout Hey Love,” serving as a heartfelt farewell and a final meditation on loss, resilience, and love.

The production throughout Cabin in the Sky is warm, soulful, and vibrant, with a lineup of beatmakers guaranteed to excite any East Coast hip-hop fan. The guest appearances never feel like features; they feel like family members showing up during a moment of transition.

Cabin in the Sky does not behave like a farewell. It behaves like a continuation—where loss does not erase vitality, evolution does not erase history, and two surviving members carry the third with purpose and affection. It is patient, layered, and full of craft.

By the end of the album, it is abundantly clear: De La Soul remains one of the greatest groups hip-hop has ever produced. Their influence is unparalleled, and they still sound as fresh now as they did in 1989. Cabin in the Sky is a celebration of life, art, and legacy.

One Love - Todd R. Judd