The Source had the pleasure of catching up with De La Soul’s Dave and Pos for a conversation about their upcoming project, First Serve. The project has the duo pairing with French producer pair Chokolate & Khalid. Pos also opens up on the importance of The Source’s 5 Mic system and today’s Hip-Hop.
The Source: Lets get a little bit of a background on First Serve.
Dave: We met two great guys that were interested in doing a project with us, Chokolate and Khaled. They wanted to make a concept record and for the music they produced they felt like De La was the people that they wanted to be apart of this project. For them to approach us with a challenge is the reason why this happened because it we’re always up for a challenge. They literally were like we want to do this project with fictional characters here is the music can we do it?
It was a great idea and great music as well. It took us about 3 weeks to make this happen and it turned out to be an amazing project. It’s something that is important to us in our career with all of our success, sometimes that runs dry when there is no challenge. We were looking for something of a breaking point and this just came at the right time. It meant everything in our career to do something we’ve never done before. Obviously the importance for the producers is to be apart of something that has potential of being historic and classic in a sense.
The Source: Explain the overall sound from a production stand point.
Chokolate: Khaled and I were listening to a lot of funk and soul as well as french music. I think that its all that with a Hip-Hop and Pop edge. Definitely more modern music there is no samples everything is live. We made 3 records in one because we got the instrumentals went back to the study played it live and resampled everything.
The Source: What’s De La Soul’s love for creating and experimenting with different sounds?
Pos: We’ve been recording since 88′ so we’ve seen what its gone through. We still remain students of the music, we’ve never felt accomplished with just. We enjoy being apart of different projects for example The Gorillaz. We have a real appreciation for new music and different music. With Chokolate and Khaled the feel and sound is old soul and R&B even disco, but it still feels new.
The Source: Explain the move to create a project as a duo of De La Soul rather than a trio?
Pos: The project’s producers are also DJ’s. So when the idea came about they wanted the vocalist of De La Soul. It wasn’t anything personal.
The Source: Is there aspirations to connect with a new younger generation?
Pos: We never make music to connect to a certain audience. We make music to connect to who wants to enjoy it. With this project that we are promoting thats all that we hope for is that people enjoy it whether it be new fans or old fans.
We’re looking forward to getting it in live. Chokolate and Khaled have a great band and after recording the music it would really be great live. The album is different with a lot of different feels. Really what we were going through at the moment, there is songs that are different from the single. With our pairing with these producers I’m sure people will enjoy it.
TheSource: What’s De La Soul’s perspective on the importance of the 5 Mic system?
Pos: The importance is there. We were one of the first artists to be featured in The Source when it was a news letter. So to see the magazine come a long way and be highly regarded and have something we produced be appreciated, it’s a blessing. Those mics mean something it shows that appreciation.
The Source: What future projects are in store?
Dave: We’re working on two projects. One is more beat driven the other is band driven. Despite what some may think or say De La Soul has not broken up. We’re constantly recording music. Even our DJ is working on a project with some great MC’s and beats he’s made, so we’re still out here working.
The Source: Any new cats out of New York grabbing your attention. Outside of New York?
Pos: There’s not a bunch of albums I like. There’s definitely songs I appreciate. Outside of New York I enjoy Kendrick Lamar or a Tyler The Creator
Dave: Action Bronson
Pos: Action’s dope coming out of Flushing, Queens. Even A$AP Rocky, it’s not about where they’re from but more of how the music grabs you.
TheSource: What are your thoughts on today’s artists attempting to reach an Electric-Hip-Hop sound?
Pos: We’ve been touring over seas since 1988, so we been up on the trends and whats going on out there. I think the artist need to stick by what they feel. We’ve done music the way we love to do music. Being opened and appreciative to the way our music is receipted and interpreted. The audience knows, they know when someones just jumping on something. Unfortunately some artist only do it because they feel its where they have to take their music. Not disrespect to her but even Madonna’s seeing what she can do to stay current. So you can see the difference between the genuine and the abrasive.
– Sean Lynch (@Kiddfuture)
