MUSIC
De La Soul rolls into Pipeline
More than 15 years after first plugging into hip-hop with their alternative rap style, De La Soul performs Saturday at Pipeline Cafe.
De La Soul
» Place: Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St.
» Time: 8 p.m. Saturday
» Tickets: $25 to $50
» Call: 589-1999
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Sometimes referred to as "Plug One," "Plug 2" and "Plug 3," the trio from Long Island, N.Y., attended high school together before attracting the attention of producer Prince Paul. He worked with Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, Dave "Trugoy" Jolicoeur and Vincent "Maseo" Mason to produce De La Soul's 1989 debut, "3 Feet High and Rising."
Despite the popularity of gangsta rap in the early '90s and the "Gettin' Jiggy with It" sound of the mid-'90s, the group attracted top 40 success with the singles "Me Myself and I" and "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays.' " They also scorned any attempt to classify their music, taking different creative paths with 1993's "Buhloone Mind State" and 1996's "Stakes Is High."
In 2000, De La Soul returned with "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump," following up with "AOI: Bionix" in 2001. Last year, they released "The Grind Date," which some critics hailed as the group's return to mainstream success.
Music isn't the only business the group is involved in, either. Mercer and Jolicoeur are co-founders of the SpitKicker Tour and Web site, and all three De La Soul members were featured in a pair of commercials for Apple Computer. They also recently helped design a limited edition "De La Dunk" sneaker for Nike.
De La Soul arrives in Honolulu after a gig Friday in Los Angeles; the Pipeline show is 18-and-over and will be followed at midnight by another concert featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Rupee.