# 3 Feet High and Rising

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1989 studio album by De La Soul

3 Feet High and Rising Studio album by De La Soul Released February 6, 1989 Studio Calliope (New York City) Island Media (West Babylon, New York) Genre Art rap[1] progressive rap jazz rap psychedelic hip hop sampledelia Length 67:24 Label Tommy Boy Producer Prince Paul De La Soul chronology 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) De La Soul Is Dead (1991) Singles from 3 Feet High and Rising "Plug Tunin'" Released: June 1988 "Potholes in My Lawn" Released: November 1988 "Buddy" Released: December 11, 1988 "Me Myself and I" Released: March 21, 1989 "Say No Go" Released: August 24, 1989 "Eye Know" Released: September 1989 "The Magic Number" Released: December 11, 1989 "Tread Water" Released: 1990

***3 Feet High and Rising*** is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group [De La Soul](/source/De_La_Soul), released on February 6, 1989,[2] by [Tommy Boy Records](/source/Tommy_Boy_Records). It is the first of three collaborations with the producer [Prince Paul](/source/Prince_Paul_(producer)), and was the critical and commercial peak of both parties. The album title comes from the [Johnny Cash](/source/Johnny_Cash) song "[Five Feet High and Rising](/source/Five_Feet_High_and_Rising_(song))".[3] The album contains the singles "[Me Myself and I](/source/Me_Myself_and_I_(De_La_Soul_song))", "[The Magic Number](/source/The_Magic_Number)", "[Buddy](/source/Buddy_(De_La_Soul_song))", and "[Eye Know](/source/Eye_Know)".

The album was a critical and commercial success. It is consistently placed on lists of the greatest albums of all time by noted critics and publications, with [Robert Christgau](/source/Robert_Christgau) calling it "unlike any rap album you or anybody else has ever heard".[4] In 1998, it was selected as one of *[The Source](/source/The_Source_(magazine))*'s "100 Best Rap Albums"[5] and in 2020 was ranked 103 on Rolling Stone's [500 Greatest Albums of All Time](/source/Rolling_Stone's_500_Greatest_Albums_of_All_Time) list.[6] It was selected by the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress) as a 2010 addition to the [National Recording Registry](/source/National_Recording_Registry), which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[7] As of 2025, it is the only De La Soul album to be certified platinum by the [RIAA](/source/RIAA).[8]

Along with the rest of De La Soul's back catalog, *3 Feet High and Rising* was not made available for digital purchase or streaming until 2023, due to concerns about the legality of the samples for digital releases.[9]

## Musical style

Released amid the late-1980s boom in [gangsta rap](/source/Gangsta_rap), which gravitated towards hardcore, confrontational, violent lyrics, *3 Feet High and Rising* stood out from this trend by showcasing De La Soul's more positive style.[10] The mirth and intelligence of De La Soul's self-presentation led many observers to label them a "[hippie](/source/Hippie)" group, a characterization that De La Soul's members have consistently disputed.[11] On the album, De La Soul sought to explicitly distance themselves from gangsta rap by "lampoon[ing] emerging tropes" such as the growing materialism within the genre.[12] Their lyrics are instead characterized by a variety of "bizarre and surreal" choices of subject matter, such as dandruff, gardening metaphors, and "[Dr. Dolittle](/source/Dr._Dolittle)-esque interactions with animals".[13]

The album features a recurring lyrical motif of the "D.A.I.S.Y. Age", an acronym that stands for "Da Inner Sound, Y'all".[14][15] Group member [Posdnuos](/source/Posdnuos) has described the daisy motif as intended to indicate the group's "sunnier", more playful ethos.[15]

*3 Feet High and Rising* uses a sample-heavy production style; in addition to sampling from [funk](/source/Funk_music) and [soul](/source/Soul_music) tracks, as was popular in the hip-hop of the era, the album also draws from sources such as [doo-wop](/source/Doo-wop), [psychedelic rock](/source/Psychedelic_rock), and [children's music](/source/Children's_music).[12][11] It has been described as "the first [psychedelic hip-hop](/source/Psychedelic_hip-hop) record".[16] The album has also been noted for its use of unconventional song structures.[8] Posdnuos recounts that the group used [Casio](/source/Casio)'s RZ-1 drum machine and an [Eventide Harmonizer](/source/Eventide_H910_Harmonizer) to record, manipulate, and combine their samples on the album.[15]

The album is also known for its [quiz show](/source/Quiz_show)-themed series of skits, leading it to be frequently credited with inventing or popularizing the [hip-hop skit](/source/Hip-hop_skit).[17]

## Artwork

The album's artwork was designed by [Toby Mott](/source/Toby_Mott) of the British art collective the [Grey Organisation](/source/Grey_Organisation) (GO),[18] who had relocated to New York City after their [attack on Cork Street's art galleries](/source/Cork_Street#Attack_on_Cork_Street) and subsequent prosecution.[19]

De La Soul's "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" concept inspired the design of the album cover, as Mott describes in his essay "Hip Hop in The Daisy Age":

We have come up with the 'Daisy Age' visual concept. De La Soul visit our loft where we lay them down on the floor facing up, their heads making a triangle. We photograph them whilst hanging precariously off a step ladder, one idea being that the cover would not have a right way up. CD's [*[sic](/source/Sic)*] have yet to be the dominant musical format so the vinyl album sleeve is our most effective way of making a statement. We layer the brightly-coloured hand drawn flower designs made with Posca paint pens on acetate over the black and white photographic portrait print, which is rostrum camera copied. This is well before the time of Apple Macs and scanning etc. [...] The intent of the design of De La Soul's, *3 Feet High and Rising* LP cover is to be new and bright, with the overlaying of the fluorescent flowers and text reflecting a synthetic pop cartoon look [...] This is a move away from the prevailing macho hip hop visual codes which dominate to this day.[20]

Group member [Trugoy](/source/Trugoy) has stated that De La Soul was not originally interested in the flower-adorned cover that the album ultimately featured; instead, he said the group had wanted an album cover that featured "an elevator halfway up with just our faces".[21]

## Reception and influence

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [22] Daily News [23] NME 10/10[24] Pitchfork 10/10[25] Record Mirror 5/5[26] Rolling Stone [16] The Rolling Stone Album Guide [27] Spin Alternative Record Guide 9/10[28] Uncut [29] The Village Voice A−[30]

*3 Feet High and Rising* received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. "An inevitable development in the class history of rap, [De La Soul is] [new wave](/source/New_wave_music) to Public Enemy's [punk](/source/Punk_rock)", wrote [Robert Christgau](/source/Robert_Christgau) of the album in his 1989 "Consumer Guide" column for *[The Village Voice](/source/The_Village_Voice)*. "Their music is maddeningly disjunct, and a few of the 24-cuts-in-67-minutes (too long for vinyl) are self-indulgent, arch. But their music is also radically unlike any rap you or anybody else has ever heard — inspirations include [the Jarmels](/source/The_Jarmels) and a learn-it-yourself French record. And for all their kiddie consciousness, junk-culture arcana, and suburban in-jokes, they're in the new tradition – you can dance to them, which counts for plenty when disjunction is your problem."[30] *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*'s [Michael Azerrad](/source/Michael_Azerrad) called *3 Feet High and Rising* "(o)ne of the most original rap records ever to come down the pike", and described it as an "inventive, playful" record which "stands staid rap conventions on their def ear".[16] When *The Village Voice* held its annual [Pazz & Jop](/source/Pazz_%26_Jop) critics' poll for 1989, *3 Feet High and Rising* was ranked at number one, outdistancing its nearest opponent ([Neil Young](/source/Neil_Young)'s *[Freedom](/source/Freedom_(Neil_Young_album))*) by 21 votes and 260 points.[31]

Sampling artists as diverse as [Johnny Cash](/source/Johnny_Cash), [Hall & Oates](/source/Hall_%26_Oates), [Steely Dan](/source/Steely_Dan) and [the Turtles](/source/The_Turtles), *3 Feet High and Rising* is often viewed as the stylistic beginning of 1990s [alternative hip hop](/source/Alternative_hip_hop) (and especially [jazz rap](/source/Jazz_rap)).[32] Writing in retrospect for *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*, [Nathan Rabin](/source/Nathan_Rabin) credits Prince Paul for helping "create [progressive hip hop](/source/Progressive_hip_hop)" with his production on *3 Feet High and Rising*,[33] while author John Riordan says "its comedy skits and positive lyrics established the group as a progressive hip-hop act at odds with the increasingly violent image of mainstream rap."[34] Phil Witmer of *[Noisey](/source/Noisey)* cites De La Soul's "[sampledelia](/source/Sampledelia)" on the album as an "old-school" example of sampling being applied to "jarring, collage-like effect".[35] *3 Feet High and Rising* is also credited with introducing the [hip hop skit](/source/Hip_hop_skit), a style of comedic sketch used both to introduce rap albums and as interludes between songs.[36]

On the [*Billboard* charts](/source/Billboard_chart), *3 Feet High and Rising* peaked at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts and No. 24 in the Top 200.

### Retrospective opinion

*3 Feet High and Rising* has been included on numerous "best-of" lists. In 1998, the album was included in *[The Source](/source/The_Source_(magazine))*'s "100 Best Albums" list.[37] It was ranked number 346 on *Rolling Stone*'s 2003 list of the "[500 Greatest Albums of All Time](/source/Rolling_Stone's_500_Greatest_Albums_of_All_Time)",[38] maintaining the ranking in a 2012 revision of the list,[39] then rising to number 103 in a 2020 revision.[40] *3 Feet High and Rising* was voted number 138 in the 2000 edition of [Colin Larkin](/source/Colin_Larkin)'s *[All Time Top 1000 Albums](/source/All_Time_Top_1000_Albums)*,[41] while in 2005, it ranked 88th in a survey held by British television's [Channel 4](/source/Channel_4) to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.[42] The album was also included in the book *[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die](/source/1001_Albums_You_Must_Hear_Before_You_Die)*.[43]

In 2006, [*Q* magazine](/source/Q_magazine) placed the album at No. 20 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s".[44] In 2012, *[Slant Magazine](/source/Slant_Magazine)* listed the album at No. 9 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".[45] *[Spex](/source/Spex_(magazine))* listed *3 Feet High and Rising* at No. 5 on its list of the Top 100 Albums of the Century.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The album has also been ranked as among the top albums of 1989 by publications including *Rolling Stone*, *[The Face](/source/The_Face_(magazine))*, *[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)*, *[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))*, *[OOR](/source/OOR)*, and *[Melody Maker](/source/Melody_Maker)*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

An [NPR](/source/NPR) retrospective, published in 2023, stated that *3 Feet High and Rising* "reshaped the public imagination of what hip-hop could be", and that it "still sounds wondrous and weird" in the musical landscape of the 2020s.[11]

Electronica artist [James Lavelle](/source/James_Lavelle) cited *3 Feet High and Rising* as one of his favorite albums. "It was definitely a reaction to the slightly more hardcore area of what was going on in hip hop. As a concept record, it's probably one of the best ever. It's like the [Pink Floyd](/source/Pink_Floyd) of hip hop, their *[Dark Side of the Moon](/source/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon)* – the way it musically and sonically moves around, but also the use of language was so unusual and out there."[46]

[Macy Gray](/source/Macy_Gray) felt it was "the best record of the past 15 years" in *[Q](/source/Q_(magazine))*, describing De La Soul as "like the [Beatles](/source/Beatles) of hip hop".[47] *The Village Voice* described *3 Feet High and Rising* as "the *[Sgt. Pepper](/source/Sgt._Pepper's_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band)* of hip hop".[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 2011, *3 Feet High and Rising* was among 25 albums chosen as additions to the Library of Congress' 2010 National Recording Registry for being cultural and aesthetical and also for its historical impact.[48]

America's recorded-sound heritage has in many ways transformed the soundscape of the modern world, resonating and flowing through our cultural memory, audio recordings have documented our lives and allowed us to share artistic expressions and entertainment. Songs, words, and the natural sounds of the world that we live in have been captured on one of the most perishable of all of our art media. The salient question is not whether we should preserve these artifacts, but how best collectively to save this indispensable part of our history.

— James H. Billington from the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress)[48]

The track "The Magic Number" was used in the end credits of the 2021 film *[Spider-Man: No Way Home](/source/Spider-Man%3A_No_Way_Home)* as a reference to the [three iterations](/source/Spider-Man_in_film) of [Peter Parker](/source/Spider-Man) that appear in the film.[49] The song also appeared in the menu of the 2025 video game [MLB The Show 25](/source/MLB_The_Show_25), and in the game's intro.

## Digital release

*3 Feet High and Rising*, along with the rest of De La Soul's catalogue up until their 2004 release, *[The Grind Date](/source/The_Grind_Date)*, was not made available for digital purchase or streaming until March 3, 2023, due to concerns about the legality of the samples for digital releases. Tommy Boy enlisted the music licensing company [DMG Clearances](/source/DMG_Clearances) to secure clearance for the samples, but talks failed with many of the copyright holders, as they were reticent to become involved with ongoing conflicts between De La Soul and Tommy Boy. After Tommy Boy was acquired by Reservoir Media, DMG Clearances restarted talks in January 2022 and negotiated licenses for most of the samples. De La Soul [interpolated](/source/Interpolation_(popular_music)) or replayed samples that could not be cleared.[50]

An instance of a track being altered for the album's streaming release is "Cool Breeze on the Rocks", which was replaced with "Cool Breeze on the Rocks (The Melted Version)". Whereas the original was a 48-second collage of dozens of samples in which the word "rock" is used followed by part of the quiz show skit that appears throughout the album, the "Melted Version" is only 18 seconds long, and the collage is replaced with the sound of a record being spun very fast (as if fast forwarding), followed by the quiz show skit. In 2009, Trugoy said of "Cool Breeze on the Rocks", "We weren’t thinking legalities at that time. We were just thinking about putting good music together, and although there was a process — even at that time, we did have clear samples, and turn in information — but our label didn’t think that really had to clear the samples because they only expected the album to sell a couple of thousand anyway."[51]

## Track listing

All tracks are written by [Kelvin Mercer](/source/Kelvin_Mercer), [David Jolicoeur](/source/David_Jolicoeur), [Vincent Mason](/source/Vincent_Mason), and [Paul Huston](/source/Prince_Paul_(producer)), with additional writers noted. All tracks are produced by [Prince Paul](/source/Prince_Paul_(producer)) and [De La Soul](/source/De_La_Soul), except "Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)", additionally produced by Michael Fossenkemper, and "Description", additionally produced by [Q-Tip](/source/Q-Tip_(musician)).

3 Feet High and Rising track listing No. Title Writer(s) Length 1. "Intro" Al Watts 1:41 2. "The Magic Number" Robert Dorough James Brown Johnny Cash 3:16 3. "Change in Speak" Patrick Patterson Steve Scipio Estelle Axton Randle Catron Linda Andrews Willia Parker 2:33 4. "Cool Breeze on the Rocks" 0:48 5. "Can U Keep a Secret" Tony Churchill James Baker Robin Russell Austin Lander Robert Jackson Leroy Taylor Charlie Hearndon Leslie Wilson Melvin Wilson Londee Wiggins Allen Frey 1:41 6. "Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)" Bob Crewe Sandy Linzer Denny Randell Brown 3:25 7. "Ghetto Thang" Kevin Toney Keith Killgo Joe Hall Orville Saunders Stephen Johnson 3:36 8. "Transmitting Live from Mars" 1:12 9. "Eye Know" Otis Redding Steve Cropper Walter Becker Donald Fagen Booker T. Jones John Gary Williams 4:13 10. "Take It Off" 1:53 11. "A Little Bit of Soap" Ahmet Ertegun Betty Nelson Bert Berns 0:57 12. "Tread Water" Frank Brunson 3:46 13. "Potholes in My Lawn" Sylvester Allen Harold Ray Brown B.B. Dickerson Lonnie Jordan Charles Miller Lee Oskar Howard E. Scott Jerry Goldstein Ruth Copeland 3:50 14. "Say No Go" Daryl Hall John Oates Sara Allen Abrim Tilmon 4:20 15. "Do as De La Does" 2:12 16. "Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)" Linzer Randell Crewe Manzel Bush 4:07 17. "De La Orgee" 1:14 18. "Buddy" (featuring Jungle Brothers and Q-Tip) Nathaniel Hall Michael Hall Jonathan Davis Lionel Richie Thomas McClary Odetta Gordon 4:55 19. "Description" Sylvester Stewart Bush 1:32 20. "Me Myself and I" George Clinton Philippé Wynne Edwin Birdsong 3:50 21. "This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.)" George Godfrey Jerry Barnes Katreese Barnes Sal Abbatiello Joseph Saddler 3:10 22. "I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)" 0:41 23. "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" Felix Cavaliere Eddie Brigati 4:43 24. "Plug Tunin'" (Original 12" version[52]) 3:43

**Track listing notes:**

- On the original issues, "Plug Tunin' (Original 12" version)" is exclusive to CD releases; UK releases move "Potholes in My Lawn" to the final track.

- Some copies of the bonus disc reissue contain "The Magic Number (Chad Jackson Hip Hop Version)" as track 15 on disc two.

- Otis Redding is only credited as a featured artist on "Eye Know" on 2023 digital releases.

- Songwriting credits sourced from 2023 digital release; original release only officially credited sampled artists as songwriters for "Change in Speak" (Patterson & Scipio), "Eye Know" (Becker & Fagen), "Say No Go" (Hall, Oates, & Allen), and "Me Myself & I" (Clinton & Wynne)

- The 2023 reissue replaces "Cool Breeze on the Rocks" with "Cool Breeze on the Rocks (The Melted Version)", which substitutes the sample collage with a tape winding sound, reducing it to a run time of 0:17.

## Personnel

Information taken from [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic).[53]

- [De La Soul](/source/De_La_Soul) – arrangers, production assistance

- [Prince Paul](/source/Prince_Paul_(producer)) – arranger, mixing, production

- [Trugoy the Dove](/source/Trugoy_the_Dove) – arranger

- [Al Watts](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Al_Watts&action=edit&redlink=1) – mixing, engineer, game show host

- [Sue Fisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sue_Fisher&action=edit&redlink=1) – engineer

- Bob Coulter – engineer

- [Dan Miller](/source/Dan_Miller_(guitarist)) – engineer

- [Greg Arnold](/source/Greg_Arnold) – assistant engineer

- [Steven Miglio](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_Miglio&action=edit&redlink=1) – layout design

- [Jungle Brothers](/source/Jungle_Brothers) – performer

- [Q-Tip](/source/Q-Tip_(musician)) – performer

## Charts

Weekly charts 1989 weekly chart performance for 3 Feet High and Rising Chart (1989) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[54] 129 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[55] 20 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[56] 28 UK Albums (OCC)[57] 13 US Billboard 200[58] 24 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[59] 1 2007 weekly chart performance for 3 Feet High and Rising Chart (2007) Peak position Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[60] 65 2023 weekly chart performance for 3 Feet High and Rising Chart (2023) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[61] 74 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[62] 121 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[63] 22 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[64] 95 Scottish Albums (OCC)[65] 4 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[66] 80 UK Albums (OCC)[67] 9 UK Independent Albums (OCC)[68] 1 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[69] 1 US Billboard 200[70] 15 Year-end charts 1989 year-end chart performance for 3 Feet High and Rising Chart (1989) Position UK Albums (OCC)[71] 68 US Billboard 200[72] 86 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[73] 17

## Certifications

Certifications for 3 Feet High and Rising Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Platinum 300,000^ United States (RIAA)[75] Platinum 1,000,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## See also

- [List of *Billboard* number-one R&B albums of 1989](/source/List_of_Billboard_number-one_R%26B_albums_of_1989)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Harrington, Richard. ["De La Soul's Mind-Bending Rap"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/05/18/de-la-souls-mind-bending-rap/af8f9493-1894-41e2-88f2-ed2057247d0b/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200822014340/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/05/18/de-la-souls-mind-bending-rap/af8f9493-1894-41e2-88f2-ed2057247d0b/) from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Lindsey, Darryl (January 30, 1989). Armstrong, Graham (ed.). ["Rap Up"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/R%26B-Report/1989/R%26B-Report-1989-01-30.pdf) (PDF). *The R&B Report*. **2** (21). Burbank, California, USA: The Rhythm And Blues Report, Inc.: 32. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220401194803/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/R%26B-Report/1989/R%26B-Report-1989-01-30.pdf) (PDF) from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2024. Coming from Tommy Boy, February 6, is the debut album from the group critics have called Psychedelic Hip-Hop--De La Soul. 3 Feet High And Rising was produced by Prince Paul

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Brian Coleman (March 12, 2009). [*Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QuOBbFeg0JIC&pg=PA152). Random House Publishing. p. 152. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780307494429](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780307494429).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Playboy Feb. 1989"](http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1989-02.php). Robert Christgau. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110703045737/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1989-02.php) from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Source Magazine's 100 Best Albums"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110724062424/http://www.raquenel.com/hipland/album.html). Raquenel.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.raquenel.com/hipland/album.html) on July 24, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/de-la-soul-three-feet-high-and-rising-1063130/). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. September 22, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232229/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/de-la-soul-three-feet-high-and-rising-1063130/) from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The National Recording Registry 2010"](https://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/nrpb-2010reg.html). Library of Congress. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110410130541/https://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/nrpb-2010reg.html) from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Exclaim_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Exclaim_8-1) Ayiku, Vernon (March 7, 2023). ["De La Soul's Albums Ranked from Worst to Best"](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/de_la_souls_albums_ranked_from_worst_to_best). [Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230309033017/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/de_la_souls_albums_ranked_from_worst_to_best) from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["De La Soul's music catalog makes streaming debut"](https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2023/03/03/de-la-souls-music-catalog-makes-streaming-debut/). March 4, 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230326131322/https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2023/03/03/de-la-souls-music-catalog-makes-streaming-debut/) from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising 30th Anniversary Mixtape mixed by Chris Read - Wax Poetics"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190619231020/https://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/music/mixtape/de-la-soul-3-feet-high-and-rising/). Archived from [the original](https://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/music/mixtape/de-la-soul-3-feet-high-and-rising/) on June 19, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NPR_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NPR_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NPR_11-2) Wang, Oliver (March 3, 2023). ["De La Soul Is Streaming"](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/1160667344/de-la-soul-streaming-guide). [NPR](/source/NPR). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230308000916/https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/1160667344/de-la-soul-streaming-guide) from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Vulture_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Vulture_12-1) Jenkins, Craig (March 7, 2023). ["De La Soul's Music Is Here to Stay (For Now)"](https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/de-la-soul-music-streaming-3-feet-high-and-rising.html). [Vulture](/source/Vulture_(website)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230308014921/https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/de-la-soul-music-streaming-3-feet-high-and-rising.html) from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** As stated by [Maseo](/source/Maseo), "the stereotype and the stigmatism [...] was put on us with the hippy concept when D.A.I.S.Y. just was an acronym for Da Inna Sound." Hernandez, Victoria (May 11, 2016). ["De La Soul Reflects On Da Inna Sound For 25th Anniversary Of "De La Soul Is Dead""](http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38762/title.de-la-soul-reflects-on-da-inna-sound-for-25th-anniversary-of-de-la-soul-is-dead). *[HipHopDX](/source/HipHopDX)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230929071451/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38762/title.de-la-soul-reflects-on-da-inna-sound-for-25th-anniversary-of-de-la-soul-is-dead) from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** ["Features | Baker's Dozen | Baker's Dozen: UNKLE'S James Lavelle On His 13 Favourite Records"](http://thequietus.com/articles/06129-james-lavelle-unkle-favourite-records?page=7). *The Quietus*. April 20, 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240520101225/https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/james-lavelle-unkle-favourite-records/) from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2011.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-49)** Turner-Williams, Jaelani (December 28, 2021). ["Gen-Z is Learning About De La Soul Due to 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'"](https://www.okayplayer.com/music/spider-man-no-way-home-de-la-soul-song.html). *Okayplayer*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220105153337/https://www.okayplayer.com/music/spider-man-no-way-home-de-la-soul-song.html) from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-51)** Serpick, Evan (June 3, 2009). ["'3 Feet High and Rising': De La Soul's Track by Track Guide to Groundbreaking 1989 LP"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210217022450/https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/de-la-soul-1989-lp-3-feet-high-rising-track-by-track-guide-69292/). *Rolling Stone*. Archived from [the original](https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/de-la-soul-1989-lp-3-feet-high-rising-track-by-track-guide-69292/) on February 17, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-52)** [3 Feet High and Rising](https://archive.org/details/cd_3-feet-high-and-rising_de-la-soul-jungle-brothers-qtip) Internet Archive

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-ARIA_history_pages_(albums)_54-0)** ["De La Soul ARIA chart history (albums) to 2024"](https://imgur.com/a/FvoGyX9). ARIA. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Netherlands_De_La_Soul_55-0)** "[Dutchcharts.nl – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=De+La+Soul&titel=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&cat=a)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_New_Zealand_De_La_Soul_56-0)** "[Charts.nz – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=De+La+Soul&titel=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&cat=a)". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_UK2_De_La_Soul_57-0)** "[Official Albums Chart on 21/1/1990 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19900121/7502/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bb200_58-0)** "[De La Soul Chart History (*Billboard* 200)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/De-La-Soul/chart-history/TLP)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_De_La_Soul_59-0)** "[De La Soul Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/De-La-Soul/chart-history/BLP)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Spain_De_La_Soul_60-0)** "[Spanishcharts.com – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=De+La+Soul&titel=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&cat=a)". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Flanders_De_La_Soul_61-0)** "[Ultratop.be – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=De+La+Soul&titel=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&cat=a)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Wallonia_De_La_Soul_62-0)** "[Ultratop.be – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](https://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=De+La+Soul&titel=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&cat=a)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Germany_De_La_Soul_63-0)** "[Offiziellecharts.de – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-45593)" (in German). [GfK Entertainment charts](/source/GfK_Entertainment_charts). Retrieved March 24, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-64)** ["Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2023/03/08 公開"](http://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2023&month=03&day=13). *[Billboard Japan](/source/Billboard_Japan)* (in Japanese). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230308042322/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2023&month=03&day=13) from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Scotland_65-0)** "[Official Scottish Albums Chart on 7/4/2023 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20230407/40/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved October 11, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Switzerland_De_La_Soul_66-0)** "[Swisscharts.com – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising](http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=De+La+Soul&titel=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&cat=a)". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_UK2_67-0)** "[Official Albums Chart on 7/4/2023 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20230407/7502/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved April 7, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_UKIndependent_68-0)** "[Official Independent Albums Chart on 7/4/2023 – Top 50](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20230407/131/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved April 7, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_UKR&B_69-0)** "[Official R&B Albums Chart on 24/3/2023 – Top 40](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-albums-chart/20230324/115/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 24 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Billboard200_De_La_Soul_70-0)** "[De La Soul Chart History (*Billboard* 200)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/De-La-Soul/chart-history/TLP)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved March 13, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-71)** ["Year End Albums"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/90s/1990/Record-Mirror-1990-01-20-OCR.pdf#page=42) (PDF). *[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)*. January 20, 1990. p. 42. Retrieved August 21, 2025 – via World Radio History.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-72)** ["Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/top-billboard-200-albums). *Billboard*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180921185040/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/top-billboard-200-albums) from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-73)** ["Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1989"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums). *Billboard*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200726083753/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums) from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_KingdomDe_La_Soul3_Feet_High_and_RisingalbumCertRef_74-0)** ["British album certifications – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising"](https://www.bpi.co.uk/page/certified-awards). [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry). Retrieved August 21, 2025. *Select*albums*in the Formats field.* *Type*3 Feet High and Rising De La Soul*in the "Search:" field.*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-riaa_75-0)** ["American album certifications – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=De+La+Soul&ti=3+Feet+High+and+Rising&format=Album&type=#search_section). [Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America).

## External links

- [1989 Video Presskit for *3 Feet High and Rising*](http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/03/de_la_soul_vide.html)

- [Audio segments](https://www.wnyc.org/story/122544-de-la-soul-makes-library-congress-national-registry/) [about the album](https://www.wnyc.org/story/124534-de-la-souls-debut/) [on WNYC](https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/124538-3-feet-high-and-rising)

v t e De La Soul Posdnuos Maseo Trugoy Studio albums 3 Feet High and Rising De La Soul Is Dead Buhloone Mindstate Stakes Is High Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump AOI: Bionix The Grind Date Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve And the Anonymous Nobody... Cabin in the Sky Other albums Clear Lake Audiotorium The Best of De La Soul De La Mix Tape: Remixes, Rarities and Classics Live at Tramps, NYC, 1996 The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1 Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run Singles "Plug Tunin'" "Potholes in My Lawn" "Me Myself and I" "Say No Go" "Eye Know" "Buddy" "The Magic Number" "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"" "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa" "Breakadawn" "Ego Trippin' (Part Two)" "Fallin'" "Stakes Is High" "Itzsoweezee (Hot)" "4 More" "Oooh." "All Good?" "Baby Phat" "Say "I Gotta Believe!"" "Shoomp/Much More" "Shopping Bags (She Got from You)" "Rock Co.Kane Flow" "Feel Good Inc." "Superfast Jellyfish" "Pain" Related articles Discography Native Tongues Prince Paul Tommy Boy Records

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [3 Feet High and Rising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Feet_High_and_Rising) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Feet_High_and_Rising?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.