Which 1989 album by De La Soul introduced the Native Tongues collective to a wide audience?

De La Soul’s 1989 debut album 3 Feet High and Rising introduced the Native Tongues sound to a wide audience.

Released on March 3, 1989, the album was produced by Prince Paul and built around playful wordplay, unconventional structures, skits, and dense sampling. Its bright, surreal style contrasted with the harder image associated with some late-1980s rap, although its lyrics also addressed identity, relationships, and social expectations.

The album’s songs include “Me Myself and I,” “Buddy,” and “Say No Go.” “Buddy” brought together members of the Native Tongues movement, including A Tribe Called Quest, the Jungle Brothers, and Queen Latifah. The collective emphasized creativity, Afrocentric ideas, and an alternative approach to hip-hop.

The title refers to the fictional idea that De La Soul’s musical message came from a higher level of consciousness. The album’s extensive unauthorized samples later caused legal and licensing problems, which kept it unavailable on many streaming platforms for years before its catalog became more widely accessible.