This week, De La Soul publicly revealed that their first six albums are becoming digitally available for the first time in history. Reportedly, the plan was for the catalog to go live today (March 1), part of a 30th-anniversary celebration for the group’s highly-acclaimed debut, 3 Feet High And Rising.
De La has used social media and a Sway In The Morning interview to vocalize unhappiness with their former label, Tommy Boy Music.
De La Soul’s members believe they should receive more revenue from their digital catalog than the label’s planned accounting for 3 Feet High And Rising, 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead, 1993’s Buhloone-Mindstate, 1996’s Stakes Is High, 2000’s Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump, and 2001’s AOI: Bionix.
On Instagram, De La alleged that their former label Tommy Boy would take 90% of the digital revenue for this catalog, which includes one platinum and one gold LP. De La says Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy owner) is claiming De La Soul owes a $2 million debt surrounding this catalog. The conversation also examined potential concerns surrounding the innovative sampling on the albums. Dave and Maseo got personal about the Hip-Hop cultural merits behind the executive whose label was their home for nearly 14 years. The interview also unpacked some complicated history with the catalog, which Tommy Boy sold in 2002 (De La members allege that it was used to repay a Tommy Boy Records debt). For 15 years, the Warner Music Group was unable to release these albums digitally, even as the group reportedly tried to acquire their own art. In response to lack of action, and as a gift to fans, De La Soul gave away the catalog to fans through a 24-hour free download in 2014. In 2017, Tommy Boy reacquired its catalog from Warner.
The Sway In The Morning conversation about music, ownership, and 30-year-old contracts in the digital age has sparked protest and action. A social media hashtag #BoycottTommyBoy circulated in the Rap community, reportedly started by The Roots’ Questlove. Nas and Pete Rock are among the artists who shared this call to action. Meanwhile, De La Soul revealed that Tidal will not post the albums for streaming “until this matter has been resolved” on Wednesday (February 27). In the post, they thanked JAY-Z and Elliott Wilson for the support. De La, who has not found itself in much controversy the last 20 years, pushed on. Yesterday (February 28), the trio told fans that Tommy Boy was attempting to negotiate. However, the group also alleged that the label wanted a confidentiality agreement in place to do so. De La Soul apparently declined, wanting to reach an agreement first, before agreeing not to discuss.
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