De La Soul's Legacy Grows, "Good Problems" Keep Piling Up as AOI:3 Nears Completion

De La Soul will never die, no matter what they struggle through. Since the devastating death of Trugoy the Dove in February 2023, Maseo and Posdnuos, his bandmates, have continued their brother's legacy, even as they work through their grief and seek new creative heights. It's been a bittersweet journey, but they've got a lot of "good problems," as Maseo puts it.

Trugoy is sorely missed, but the duo honors him by continuing to keep the music alive. De La Soul's first six albums finally appeared on streaming services two weeks after the rappers' passing, ending a long-fought battle with Tommy Boy Records. What was intended as a jubilant celebration became an emotional memorial at Webster Hall, a night of remembrance drizzled and cloaked in the beats and rhymes that defined a time?

The group reissued the rare Clear Lake Auditorium EP on March 7, a lost gem from the sessions for 1994's Buhloone Mindstate. Limited to just 500 copies, the project now stands as an indispensable cornerstone of their legacy, carrying a verse by yet another late great, Phife Dawg. The release was a bittersweet reminder of the band's timeless power and ability to root out hidden gems.

There's been talk of a third Art Official Intelligence installment (AOI:3) for years, and Maseo said he's ready to release it but won't rush the perfect album. "I want that s### to be fire, so as fast as I would love to have it come out, I can't really rush the creative process," he said. De La Soul has been riding many opportunities, each more affirming their staying power than the last.

And as far as making new music, Posdnuos is laser-focused. "I talked to Pos yesterday," Maseo said, "because there's a few great things coming up and that's support that people have, but he's like, 'Mase, man, you handle that s### 'cause I just wanna rap right now.'" His hunger for the mic, alive and well, is an encouraging sign for fans starving for new verses.

Aside from AOI:3, De La Soul has been enlisted for a Mass Appeal "legends" project that will likely feature hip-hip luminaries such as Slick Rick, Raekwon, Pete Rock, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and DJ Premier. The lineup is enough to turn heads, even with the details under wraps.

The New Jersey hip-hop group was also in the studio with Prince Paul, whose vision animated their first three albums and who built an enduring reputation as one of rap music's most adventurous producers and for pushing their music into exciting new territory. "I'm dead ass," Maseo went on, laughing. "Prince Paul reached out back in September. It feels right." That chemistry, the spark behind some of hip-hop's most boundary-pushing records, is making a long-awaited comeback.

And the momentum doesn't stop there. A stand-out performance in Switzerland, a gig headlining Lincoln Center, and a Grammy nomination for Posdnuos' guest appearance on Common and Pete Rock's "When the Sun Shines Again" proves De La Soul isn't through yet. They even impacted the Peloton Artist Series, and on February 6, they released a remastered "Say No Go remix" collection, putting a fresh spin on an old-school classic.

In the midst of all of this, Trugoy's presence is undeniable. Like the words from their 2016 song Here In After say: "Gone for now but here to stay." He may be gone, but his presence is woven into the fabric of hip-hop. With AOI:3 and collaboration with Prince Paul looming, De La Soul is not preserving their legacy but expanding it.