Album Review: De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky

Rest in Peace to Trugoy The Dove aka Dave
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I never want to rush music or reviews, but sometimes unfortunately I have to try to keep up with new releases in a timely manner. That said, I knew right away this De La Soul album was going to need ample time for me to comb over and gather my thoughts on. I know a lot of people are super high in this and I totally understand. Personally it’s an album I really really like, but I’m not sure it’s one I LOVE.
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First that Cabin Talk intro, when I first heard they wanted Ben Stein to do Ike he did in Ferris Bueller I was disappointed. But the more I heard it the more I think Giancarlo Esposito not only did a great job but brought life that Ben wouldn’t, and maybe couldn’t have in my opinion. And an intro that pulls at your heart for sure. “YUHDONTSTOP” and that beat from Trugoy feels so good, Pos’ flow and cadence is amazing. One of my only problems with this album does start right away though. I love Pos’ flow and especially his lyrics, but I don’t always love the way he actually rhymes and his scheme. This is something that echos across this album fot me unfortunately, it’s never something that ruins a song or brings things down past the greatness throughout though.
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“Sunny Storms” and “Good Health” are good songs but “Will Be” was consistently the song that fully reeled me in and for me is when the album shifts into a higher gear. Hard to not love the sample and how it’s flipped and the song it gets flipped into. “The Package” is similar, another song that if you like the sample, I’d imagine you’ll enjoy this track. “A Quick 16 For Mama” is an ode to mothers and Killer Mike delivers as expected. “Just How It Is”, “Cruel Summer” and “Day In The Sun” are all great on different levels and for different reasons but the end of the day De La makes beautiful, uplifting and positive music. It’d be tough not to enjoy it.
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“Run It Back” is good, maybe some of the best rhyming Pos does with his verse and Nas gives us a great feature. “Different World” hits strong for a such a calm track, that sample and beat are perfect. “Patty Cake” is a song where I like the lyrics and vibe but can’t really get into the patty cake cadence personally. Somewhat similarly to “The Silent Life Of A Truth”, it’s a beat I like and lyrics I love but I’m not into the flow from Pos. “EN EFF” is a great track all around, DJ Premier, Pos, Black Thought featured. A standout track for sure.
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As the album starts to wrap up, “Believe” was a song I thought was decent but the concept of the song is less for me. As much as I love this album I do think it’s a little long, especially if this isn’t the last album like De La has said.“Yours” is good, a song I like but don’t love. The hook and verses are good but the beat I’m slightly mixed on. “Palm Of His Hands” is similar to “Believe”, one I like more than “Believe” but very similar type of songs. “Cabin In The Sky” and “Don’t Push Me” are both great and fantastic final songs to end on. It was both great and sad to hear Dave on this album, but I’m glad De La Soul realized continuing on is the best way to celebrate Dave and his legacy.
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This is an album that not only needs the time to digest properly but deserves it. It’s not perfect but I don’t need perfect. I’d rather have as much amazing music from an amazing a group like De La Soul. I think they could have cut a few tracks and didn’t need quite as many features, but I get why everything was how it was and it’s not an album that needs adjusting. Like I said, De La alluded to this not being the final album and I’m thankful for that and can’t wait to see more from these legends!

Standout Tracks: YUHDONTSTOP, Will Be, The Package, Day In The Sun (Gettin’ wit U), Run It Back!!, Cabin In The Sky

9/10