De La Soul announce special 20th anniversary edition of The Grind Date

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of De La Soul’s seventh studio album, The Grind Date, the hip-hop group have announced the release of special vinyl and CD packages of the original album, out March 21.

Originally released in 2004, The Grind Date showcased the platinum-selling rappers' signature blend of clever lyrics, innovative production, and a mix of playful and introspective themes. The record featured a plethora of featured artists too, including MF Doom, Ghostface Killah, Carl Thomas and Common.

The project was originally intended to be the final LP of the Art Official Intelligence (AOI) trilogy. De La Soul ultimately decided to release The Grind Date as its own work, putting plans for AOI III on the back burner.

Today, the group have also shared the first of two new songs with 'Bigger', along with  visualiser.

The New York-based trio, composed of Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo, had a criticallly-acclaimed hit with their 1989 debut LP 3 Feet High and Rising. De La Soul became renowned for their eclectic and innovative sampling, quirky lyrics, and contributions to the jazz rap and alternative hip-hop subgenre, winning a Grammy for their feature on Gorlliaz's 2005 hit 'Feel Good Inc. They earned another Grammy nomination for their Kickstarter-funded 2015 LP And The Anonymous Nobody...

“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blessed in knowing that we put together this album that, right now, with its re-release feels fresh, it doesn’t feel outdated, the lyrics feel relevant,” says Posdnous (Pos).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.”

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 which were recorded during the same sessions as The Grind Date. For more information click here.