VIA PRESS RELEASE | To commemorate the 20th anniversary of De La Soul’s seventh studio album, The Grind Date, today the group releases a special package of the original album on vinyl and CD including bonus tracks and instrumental versions via BMG.
The Grind Date, originally released in 2004, showcases the platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning groups signature blend of clever lyrics, innovative production, and a mix of playful and introspective themes including a plethora of featured artists such as the late MF Doom, Ghostface Killah, Carl Thomas, and Common. CD/LP packages are available here for purchase.
The limited edition 140g splatter double vinyl includes the original album bolstered with four instrumental versions of the leading tracks. Meanwhile the CD, in addition to the instrumentals, also includes two never before released tracks, “Bigger” and “Respect,” both of which were recorded during the same sessions as The Grind Date.
“With the 20th Anniversary of Grind Date we just feel blessed in knowing that we put together this album that, right now, with its re-release feels fresh, it doesn’t feel outdated, the lyrics feel relevant,” says Posdnuos (Pos). “It really feels good to know that with the re-release of this album it takes myself and Mase back to knowing that this album was the first album done outside of our Tommy Boy relationship and it stands the test of time alongside that catalog, so yeah it’s a blessing.”
In addition, a brand new microsite has been built to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Grind Date. Fans are invited to jump online and send motivational words and/or personal thank you messages to those special to them who they appreciate for their hard work, grit, and daily grind! Messages will be posted to the De La Soul Grind Date calendar, and the first 100 people to post a message may also get a message from the band!
Furthermore, “Clear Lake Auditorium,” the highly coveted EP originally released in 1994 for select DJs, has been released digitally and on a limited edition CD and Vinyl in a sea green sleeve via A.O.I./Chrysalis. The album includes four tracks from De La Soul’s Buhloone Mindstate era, including a rare collaboration featuring A Tribe Called Quest and other hip hop legends. Listen/Buy here.
De La Soul is a New York-based trio composed of Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo, who created the hip-hop masterpiece 3 Feet High and Rising, initially released on March 3, 1989. Renowned for their eclectic and innovative sampling, quirky lyrics, and contributions to jazz rap and alternative hip-hop subgenres, the group garnered acclaim, including a Grammy win for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration for their song “Feel Good Inc.” with The Gorillaz in 2005.
In 2015, De La Soul raised over $600,000 on Kickstarter to independently release their album And the Anonymous Nobody…, which topped the Rap Albums chart and earned a nomination for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards.
