De La Soul stopped by HOT 97 to talk to Nessa about their 10th studio album Cabin in the Sky, out November 21. They looked back on more than 30 years in hip hop, what longevity really feels like, and why they never actually took a “break” even when there were long gaps between albums. They opened up about the nine-year wait since the last project, label and catalog battles, almost doing a full album with Pete Rock and DJ Premier, and how COVID and real life slowed things down but also made them more intentional about quality. They also talked about the grind of touring, keeping their health in check on the road, and whether they feel more at home in the studio or on stage.
Nessa and De La got into the heart behind Cabin in the Sky—what the title means to them after losing Dave, how his voice and production are still woven into the project, and how grief, joy, and honest emotion shaped the songs. They discussed how they decide which tracks actually make an album, staying true to their sound while evolving, and what it’s like to see three generations of fans at their shows. They also touched on working with Mass Appeal and Nas, their influence on skits and album storytelling, the Marvel comic collab, the song dedicated to their moms, and the legacy they want people to remember when they think of De La Soul.
De La Soul’s new album, Cabin in the Sky, is out November 21.
Leave a Reply