De La Soul's latest offering, Cabin in the Sky, is a vibrant and eclectic celebration of the late Trugoy the Dove's legacy. The album feels like a full-colour dreamscape, with lush strings, effervescent samples, and playful wordplay that never fails to lift the spirits.
The concept of death and the afterlife serves as the overarching narrative, but it's not always clear how deeply this theme has been embedded in the music-making process. While Trugoy's vocals remain an integral part of the record, his absence is palpable, leaving some listeners wondering if he was simply a ghostly presence throughout.
That said, De La Soul's signature surrealist world remains firmly intact, with songs that defy easy categorization and push the boundaries of what's possible in hip-hop. Highlights like "Patty Cake" – a charming reinterpretation of classic schoolyard chants – showcase the group's boundless creativity and willingness to take risks.
If there's one drawback to Cabin in the Sky, it's its sometimes meandering pace. Clocking in at over 70 minutes, the album can feel overly long and indulgent at times, with some tracks lingering on past their welcome. The second half of the record never quite recovers from this slump, lacking the same infectious energy as the first.
However, there are moments of transcendent beauty to be found here. "Cabin in the Sky" itself is a standout track, a poignant tribute to Trugoy and others who've left an indelible mark on De La Soul's world. This one-liner: "It's pensive and world-weary, but never loses its sense of magic."
The concept of death and the afterlife serves as the overarching narrative, but it's not always clear how deeply this theme has been embedded in the music-making process. While Trugoy's vocals remain an integral part of the record, his absence is palpable, leaving some listeners wondering if he was simply a ghostly presence throughout.
That said, De La Soul's signature surrealist world remains firmly intact, with songs that defy easy categorization and push the boundaries of what's possible in hip-hop. Highlights like "Patty Cake" – a charming reinterpretation of classic schoolyard chants – showcase the group's boundless creativity and willingness to take risks.
If there's one drawback to Cabin in the Sky, it's its sometimes meandering pace. Clocking in at over 70 minutes, the album can feel overly long and indulgent at times, with some tracks lingering on past their welcome. The second half of the record never quite recovers from this slump, lacking the same infectious energy as the first.
However, there are moments of transcendent beauty to be found here. "Cabin in the Sky" itself is a standout track, a poignant tribute to Trugoy and others who've left an indelible mark on De La Soul's world. This one-liner: "It's pensive and world-weary, but never loses its sense of magic."
I gotta say, Cabin in the Sky is like a beautiful, psychedelic painting - it's got all these colours and textures that just draw you in. The problem is, sometimes I feel like the painting is so busy, you can't really see the details. It's like they're trying to fit too many ideas into one album. 
And yeah, Trugoy's absence is definitely felt - it's like he's still there, but not quite. Still, that "Patty Cake" track is pure genius! It's like they took this old schoolyard chant and turned it into something entirely new and amazing. 
... it's got all these crazy colors and textures going on. I love how they've woven together Trugoy's legacy with this concept of death and the afterlife - it's like they're taking you on a wild journey through his mind. 
... 70 minutes is a lot to digest! But when it all comes together, it's magic 
. 
... and De La Soul always delivers on that. They're like the masters of creating these surreal worlds that transport you to another dimension 
.
it's like they took all the colors of the rainbow and mixed them into a psychedelic dreamscape 
this album is giving me LIFE 
, but at the same time I can feel Trugoy's presence (or lack thereof 
) and it's weirdly sad knowing he's not here to experience it with us #RIPTrugoyTheDove 
but De La Soul's legacy lives on in this amazing album #DeLaSoulForever 
and let's be real, who doesn't love a good "Patty Cake" dance party 
the only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is the pacing issues, but overall it's a masterpiece 
- De La Soul's latest offering is a real trip, man! They've got this amazing way of crafting songs that feel like you're stepping into a weird dreamworld. The samples are on point and Trugoy's vocals still hold up even though he's not here... it's bittersweet, but I guess that's part of the magic 
. The concept of death and the afterlife is deep, but sometimes it feels like they're just exploring it for the sake of it rather than really getting to the heart of the matter. Still, songs like "Patty Cake" are pure genius - who else can make a schoolyard chant cool again? 
. Still, the moments of beauty and magic are worth sticking around for 
.
. 70 minutes is a long time to be listening to one record... it feels like they're stretching themselves a bit too thin sometimes 
. Still, when they get it right, oh man... "Cabin in the Sky" is just sublime 
but for real though trugoy's absence is like a ghostly vibe throughout u feel me? 
but trust me there r moments of transcendence 
u gotta listen 2 it! 
[listen to De La Soul - Cabin in the Sky on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/5T1W9fJQ3jBhEoGqC6Xx8g)
. The vibes are always on point, but sometimes you can feel like they're meandering through the forest 
, searching for that next big idea. And yeah, it's a little long 
... like "Cabin in the Sky" itself, which is just so pensive and beautiful 
.
Also, I'm still trying to get used to Trugoy not being on it - he was such an integral part of their history 
. But overall, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives and that last track "Cabin in the Sky" is straight fire 
. I did find myself getting lost in some of the longer tracks tho 
!
. It's all about finding that balance between being somber and uplifting at the same time. The album might get a bit slow in the middle, but trust me, it's worth slogging through for those magical moments 
. The way Trugoy's legacy is woven throughout the record is really special, even if it's not always clear how deeply his passing has influenced the music-making process 
! But, it seems like some albums need a slight nudge, just like "Cabin in the Sky". I mean, 70 minutes can feel like an eternity if the energy's not quite right... Still, it's all about finding that perfect mix of risk and reward.