The Grind Date

by

De La Soul

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It would be all too easy to compare albums when a group has dropped over 7 in their career. Personally I only had Stakes Is High before this album, so for me I've taken this album as is, coming out strong in 2004.

The title of the album is so appropriate, because De La Soul was defiantly working hard on their trade to deliver a quality product. The liner notes even include a full calendar, each song representing a month of the year as you can follow De La's grind to put out this album.

De La Soul, who typically do not use a variety of producers through out the course of an album, do an excellent job by bringing in various talent for this effort. Jay Dee (J-Dilla) puts his signature sound early on the album. "Verbal Clap" is has a hard-edge feel to it as Dave matches the intensity ("We present these flares to put fire to your ears to lay smoke like rusty exhaust pipes"). Jay-Dee follows this with his other credit, "Much More" which may be familiar to Chappelle's Show fans, as it was their guest spot for Season 1. This is just an incredible track, smooth samples, hard hitting base... Dave & Pos just kill it. Even the DJ Premier intro speaks volumes ("Micro-wave pop-corn ass ******! We give you much more!!"). One of my favorites.

Super Dave West, is not my favorite producer. For me his beats are hit or miss. While "The Future" is ok, the title track and "No" are forgettable, yet "It's Like That" is great and of Course "He Comes" is incredible. I can see why people will like his tracks, and but regardless certainly all of his tracks on this album are worth a listening too when De La continues to drop gems left and right.

De La also as always taps into the underground scene, with its current greatest beat-makers. Madlib produces the single sounding yet anti-jiggy "Shopping Bags." I'll admit that it took a while to grow on me, but it did eventually. It's sure to convict a lot of heads. Madlib also handles "Come On Down" featuring the original hype man Flava Flav. 9th Wonder follows with Church, it's what you'd expect from this guy sounding similar to a track he produced for God's Stepson. De La's lyrics match the soul & gospel elements of the track making this a definite highlight of the album.

The second half of the album is highlighted by guest appearances and everyone of them only adds to the album. "It's Like That" features a reflective look for De La and Carl Thomas without sounding cheesy or R&B. "Days of Our Lives" features Common & "No" features new comer Butta Verses. "He Comes" is seriously straight out of the Pretty Tony album, not just in it's soul sample production but actually featuring the Ghost himself. He's verse is tremendous, yet like all the other guests he never outshines De La.

I'm sorry that's not true, cause MF Doom absolutely slaughters the mic on "Rock Co.Kane Flow" a dark track by Jake One sampling "Deliverance" (don't think the banjo either). This is an absolutely sick song, and while Posdonus rips it, he & Dave are just outmatched by Doom. Not that it's a bad thing, Doom's inclusion is more than welcome:

"Doom brung that bum, there goes that news van again/ Act like you knew like Toucan Sam and 'em/ He eat rappers like part of a complete breakfast/ Your rhymes ain't worth the weight of they cheap necklace"

Nuff said, Doom just rips it.

Despite reviewer claims that De La's rhymes have gotten weak or don't hold up in today's world, a listener who picks out more than just a blatant punch lines or cliché buzz words will be pleased. Check out Posdonus's final verse on the album:

"You go lights, camera, action with no makeup/ We De La to the death, or at least until we break up/ Here's a couple of nice guys who finished first/ So nice try, but the prize is ours dispersed/ They say the good die young, so I added some/ bad-ass to my flavor to prolong my life over the drum/ Everyone cools off from being hot/ It's about if you can handle being cold or not!!"

De La does their best on every track to drop as many quotables as they can, you can't front on their skills, De La has defiantly still got it.

To true De La fans, I'd also recommend getting a hold of their "Days Off" promotional CD to accompany this album. Featuring a Pete Rock track & an incredible, much better remix of "The Grind Date" are among some of these tracks left off the final version really should have been included.

This album is an outstanding effort, and even though it clocks in at about 50 min, its replay ability will make it seems twice as long. This would be a solid album for any group, and for De La Soul it only builds to their legendary status. Those in search of refreshing rap music in 2004, look no further.

I liked the colab's on this piece y'all! This album was the much needed retribution on emcees who clowned the De La Sages after a mediocore AOI. Thanks to this crew of Supa Emcees from NY for making the joint positive with plenty of brainbustin' messages and tantalizing rhythmic wordplay. These Kats are truly amazin' y'alll. But c'mon now Childrens! We All know The Plugs are dope, and so was The Grind Date Album, dope indeed! And can't nobody say that thier legacy will outlast De La Soul's. (and don't forget, This ain't no HIP-POP 'n you know they don't flip-flop). However....Folks comparing this this album to STAKES or even 3 FEET have got one foot on ledge and one in goofy-land. Now I feel y'all on the Madlib hype and praise...that's due. And Even MF DOOM's piece is dope but'yo: MF kinda stole the stage on that track (don't y'all think)....it's probably why that cut was last. But on the strength, De La themselves are probably brewin somethin even Hyper than what we've heard thus far. I'm feelin somethin positive about it. Do your thang De La! I'm just bein' picky!