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Music

Old souls

DE LA SOUL at the Phoenix (410 Sherbourne), Sunday (August 23). 9 pm. $31.50. 416-870-8000.


Few artists have had careers spanning three decades, and fewer have stayed relevant during that time.

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Seven albums deep, Long Island hip-hop ambassadors Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo – collectively known as De La Soul – are in the middle of a 20th-anniversary tour.

“It’s an honour to have been in the game this long,” says a hoarse Posdnuos from New York, “especially since many of the artists we respect and love are no longer active.”

The group’s success can be partly chalked up to the quirky influences – Tamla Records, calypso, Bill Cosby – each member brings to the project.

“We’re always trying to learn more and try different things,” he says. “Even with this album we put out with Nike in April called Are You In?” – an exercise mixtape – “we played with some live stuff. We’ve got a rock track on there, and there’s some laid-back stuff, too. It reflects where we are as individuals.”

The group has no intention of slowing down. In-progress projects include the forthcoming full-length album You’re Welcome, a Trugoy/Prince Paul side project called Modest Millionaires, another Trugoy project called Soda Boys and a solo venture for Posdnuos.

For the anniversary tour, the group originally planned to perform the entire 3 Feet High And Rising album, their groundbreaking 1989 debut, before coming to the conclusion that fans wanted more material.

“People aren’t going to accept not hearing tracks like Saturdays or Itsoweezee, so we decided to incorporate all of the albums.

“To live for 21 years in the rap world is a pretty big thing, so we’re celebrating in cool ways. We’re playing with a full backing band, for instance.”

As for the current state of hip-hop, Pos feels there’s a dearth of imagination.

“Creativity is lacking. When I was growing up and watching acts like KRS-One, everyone was rushing to get onstage so they could impress the ladies, DJs and other emcees who might be in the crowd.

“Nowadays, youths see the Jay-Zs and Drakes chilling in VIP, and that’s where they want to be. The goals are a bit different, like, ‘Why jump on the mic if you could make $100,000 instead?'”

He pauses momentarily.

“But it’s great that youths can get paid for it now.”

Interview Clips

Why do you think that De La has experienced the most success out of the Native Tongues camp?

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Tell us about some De La influences we might not know about

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It has definitely been a few years since we’ve been to Toronto

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