Nadya Nataly
De La Soul member Posdnuos detailed the making of their song and official music video for their 1989 single “Me, Myself and I” off their debut 3 Feet And Rising in the new Vevo Footnotes episode.
Thirty-four years ago, on March 3, 1989, the iconic hip-hop trio, De La Soul, released 3 Feet And Rising on Tommy Boy Records.
“Me, Myself and I” is regarded as one of the most influential tracks that led to the development of alternative Hip-hop. It also established De La Soul’s unique sound and style.
Detailing the making of “Me, Myself and I,” Posdnuos is featured in a words on-screen interview on Vevo Footnotes which premiered March 6th.
The making of “Me Myself and I” involved the creative input of the three members of De La Soul: Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo.
According to Posdnuos the song was written quickly. Pos explained how the cadence was taken from “Black Is Black” by The Jungle Brothers featuring Q-Tip.
The sample, “(Not Just) Knee Deep” was a song by Funkadelic that Maseo, the group’s DJ sampled. The song came together after Maseo and Prince Paul “pulled the bulk of it together,” Posdnuos noted.
The Twilight Zone In Hip-hop — The Making Of The Video
The video’s opening segment was inspired by the then-popular show, Twilight Zone, Posdnuos shared.
Determined to include their producer and comrade, Paul Prince, the first few seconds of the video feature the producer dressed and setting up the video similar to television host Rodman Edward Serling.
“I’m a big ‘Twilight Zone’ fan,” Posdnuos said, “So when it was time to figure out how to include [producer] Prince Paul in the video, we went with him being a Hip-hop Rod Serling to set up the story.”
Different When Different Wasn’t Different
The lyrics of “Me Myself and I” were inspired by De La Soul’s desire to distance themselves from the braggadocious bravado and materialism that had become prevalent in hip-hop at the time.
De La Soul sought to promote a more positive and introspective message that encouraged listeners to focus on their own personal growth and development.
The group’s approach to music-making at the time was heavily influenced by the burgeoning hip-hop and sampling culture of the late 1980s. They sought to create a sound that was both eclectic and innovative.
The song’s music video, directed by the acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Charles Stone III, featured the trio dressed in a range of colorful and eclectic outfits, performing the song against a series of vibrant backdrops and dynamic scenes that capture the essence of Hip-hop in 1989.
“Me Myself and I” was an immediate commercial and critical success upon its release, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and helping to establish De La Soul as one of the most innovative and influential hip-hop groups of their era.
Posdnuos performed at the Grammys in January 2023 minus Trugoy and Maseo, who both fell ill and were unable to attend. A week later, Trugoy died at 54 of congestive heart failure.
De La Soul’s 6 Albums Finally On Streaming Services
De La Soul’s six iconic albums finally arrived on streaming services after years of a music “hostage” situation with former label, Tommy Boy Records. On March 3, their music catalog dating back to the late 1980s to the early 2000s was made available for all fans to access at their leisure.
