De La Soul - and the Anonymous Nobody…

The 2016 return of La Soul does not appear to be a simple comeback, but rather a structural reinvention of the group. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign that surpassed its $110,000 goal in less than ten hours, and the Anonymous Nobody… is built around 17 tracks for 1 hour and 8 minutes, with 11 featuring guest appearances. This fragmented architecture, edited by AOI Records and supervised by executive producer Jordan Katz, seeks to broaden the sonic spectrum of hip-hop by relying on the diversity of external voices rather than a monolithic rhythmic identity.

A mosaic of eleven collaborations as its backbone

The particularity of this album lies in its assumed porosity with other musical universes. Of the 17 tracks, 11 host one or more guests, creating a sonic fabric where each track explores a distinct register. The opening track, Genesis, immediately places the listener in an introspective tone thanks to Jill Scott's soul voice, setting up a lyrical framework that contrasts with the more direct energy expected from a group born in New York during the 1980s. This strategy of diversity continues until the closing track, Exodus, but it is at the heart of the album where the palette expands most significantly, blending soul, rock, and classic hip-hop without a brutal break between styles.

The improbable dialogue between Damon Albarn and David Byrne

One of the most defining dimensions of this work is its ability to weave connections with the rock and alternative scenes. On Here in After, Damon Albarn's presence introduces a vocal texture that moves beyond traditional rap codes to embrace a melodic sensitivity drawn from other musical horizons. This openness is confirmed on Snoopies with the arrival of David Byrne, a historical figure in experimental rock. These two collaborations illustrate La Soul's refusal to remain confined within a closed circle of hip-hop peers, but instead to explore the genre's boundaries by welcoming artists whose artistic trajectories are radically different. This eclecticism is not merely juxtaposition; it is an active pursuit of new sonic colors serving the group's message.

Anchoring in Hip-Hop Tradition with Estelle and Pete Rock

Facing this outward opening, the album maintains a solid anchor in the foundational codes of hip-hop. The track Memory of... (US) is its most accomplished example: Estelle's presence brings a melodic and vocal dimension typical of urban soul, while Pete Rock's contribution reinforces the rhythmic legitimacy of the song. This pairing creates a precious balance between modernity and tradition, reminding us that De La Soul remains a pillar of the genre it helped define as early as 3 Feet High and Rising (1989). On this track, the collaboration serves not only as commercial appeal but reaffirms the group's belonging to a specific artistic lineage where melody and beat dialogue without hierarchy.

The commercial validation of a collaborative approach

The reception of and the Anonymous Nobody… confirms that this vocal diversification strategy has found its audience. The album reached number one on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart and was streamed two million times during its first week, figures that attest to sustained interest in an unconventional artistic approach. This commercial performance is bolstered notably by the lead single Pain, released in May 2016 featuring Snoop Dogg. The presence of this latter, a major figure in American hip-hop, offers a direct bridge between the Californian heritage and the New York sensibility of La Soul, enhancing the visibility of the track without altering its identity. The nomination for the 2017 Grammy Awards in the Best Rap Album category validates both critical and popular success, showing that the density of collaborations can constitute a fully legitimate artistic force.

Verdict: A return that reinvents hip-hop album codes

The structure of the album, which runs 1 hour and 8 minutes, is driven by eclectic collaborations that go beyond the simple framework of rap. These choices reflect an assumed commitment to sonic hybridation throughout all 17 tracks. The narrative dimension of the project is further strengthened by Damon Albarn's contribution on the track Here in After, a central figure in the British alternative scene, and David Byrne's work on Snoopies, creating an intergenerational dialogue with New York hip-hop pioneers. These guests join others such as Roc Marciano or 2 Chainz, illustrating an artistic mosaic that allowed the album to reach number one on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. This commercial performance, accompanied by two million streams in its first week and a Grammy Awards nomination in 2017, validates the group's collaborative approach. This release follows a long creative silence since The Grind Date (2004) and directly precedes the album FIRST SERVE (2020), thus anchoring the album within a precise chronology of the collective's career. The genesis of the project is also marked by specific editorial events: initially scheduled for April 2016, the launch was delayed in favor of the EP For Your Pain & Suffering, before the final date was set in August. This transition period was accompanied by favorable critical reception, with an average score of 77 on Metacritic based on twenty-eight reviews, and press praise qualifying the work as one of the most stimulating rap albums of the year. Commercially, the album reached number twelve on the Billboard 200 with 23,000 units sold, confirming its relevance to the general public while remaining an ambitious project. The album and the Anonymous Nobody… occupies a pivotal place in La Soul's discography, marking their eighth studio opus and the first since The Grind Date (2004). The album thus fits into a lineage that goes back to their debut with 3 Feet High and Rising (1989), followed by De La Soul Is Dead (1991) and Buhlo͞one Mind State (1993). By integrating figures such as Justin Hawkins on Lord Intended, USHER on Greyhounds, or Little Dragon on Drawn, the group extends a hybridation approach already visible in their previous work, while distancing themselves from the darker period of Stakes Is High (1996) and the electronic experiments of Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000). This artistic continuity shows that eclecticism is not new to the collective but a founding principle reactivated after more than ten years away from the scenes. By associating these guests with hip-hop classics like Snoop Dogg or Pete Rock, De La Soul creates a bridge between different generations and styles without ever losing sight of their own identity. This strategy allows the album to stand out in the contemporary rap landscape while remaining faithful to the values of openness and experimentation that have defined their career since 1989. and the Anonymous Nobody… distinguishes itself by its ability to transform what could be perceived as fragmentation into a strong narrative coherence. By foregoing a single producer signature in favor of a mosaic of external voices, De La Soul offers a vision of rap that is more open and less hierarchical than the dominant one of the 2010s. The album does not seek to impose a unique sound but rather explores the richness of interactions between artists from different horizons. This approach, validated by its commercial performance and critical recognition, marks an important step in the group's evolution after the long silence post-2004. It demonstrates that the identity of a collective can be renewed not by isolating itself, but by broadening its circle of artistic dialogue.

Technical Details

- Release: August 16, 2016 - Label: AOI Records - Tracks: 17 (1 h 08 min) - Opening / Closing: Genesis / Exodus - Guests: Jill Scott, Snoop Dogg, Roc Marciano, Estelle, Pete Rock, Justin Hawkins, David Byrne, Usher, Little Dragon, 2 Chainz, David Goldblatt, Damon Albarn - Previous Album: The Grind Date (2004)