The 100 Greatest Native Tongues Songs
By Complex Magazine | Dec 15, 2010 | 1:23 pm | Permalink
#19. De La Soul "I Am I Be"
Year: 1993
Produced By: Buhloone Mindstate
Album: Prince Paul and De La Soul
Label: Tommy Boy
It's doubtful that "I Am I Be" would convert any non-believers to the De La Soul cult, but for die-hard fans this is a shining moment. There isn't a single concession made to anyone outside of the group here; this is a song that will either captivate your full attention or repel you entirely. De La knew this, and it makes the song even better. Pos hits a sweet spot between abstraction, technical perfection, and heartfelt emotion that most rappers will never effectively achieve, and Dave keeps up with him. A challenging, beautiful record.
Rel December 15th, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Wait no God lives through, are you serious.
R. Poole December 15th, 2010 at 12:59 PM
ha-ha... remember PM Dawn thought they were dissin' them with this?
Eloh December 15th, 2010 at 01:14 PM
Ya'll should post a download link.It is Christmas you know!
joe December 15th, 2010 at 01:47 PM
my mental is excelling cause i dabble in the books
seymour glass December 15th, 2010 at 02:48 PM
Little low. Jimbrowski for president.
ox December 15th, 2010 at 06:50 PM
#63 used to be my joint...bumped it in the whip constantly...that is an example of a hip-hop song that is perfected, stripped down beats and rhymes....crazy
FTW December 15th, 2010 at 07:46 PM
I don't care who you are—if you were even remotely curious about the process of producing hip-hop music, your mind was blown the second you realized that Tribe had turned Minnie Ripperton's whistle-pitch vocals into an instrument ^^^^^ This.
Madlib December 15th, 2010 at 08:38 PM
Greatest Complex List EVER
Madlib December 15th, 2010 at 08:40 PM
the greatest complex list ever created.
Slick Savage December 16th, 2010 at 03:31 AM
Simply classic... But yo, WTF iz,"Subbups, subbups..."???