Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump

by De La Soul

Overview

De La Soul came storming back after four years of recording inactivity -- and practically a decade out of the hip-hop limelight -- with a promise to release three full albums in a series they dubbed Art Official Intelligence. From the first volume, Mosaic Thump, it's clear that despite laudable ambitions, comeback albums should be focused and lean, not as flabby as this one. Unfortunately, the trio of Posdnuos, PA Mase, and Dave (formerly Trugoy the Dove) fall into the same trap they did on 1991's De La Soul Is Dead; an inventive, intelligent group attempts to prove themselves flexible enough to survive in a changing music world, and subsequently loses most of their appeal in the process. Mosaic Thump begins with "U Can Do (Life)," a surprisingly weak attempt at hip-hop soul. Posdnuos' raps are occasionally thoughtful and clever, but he seems obsessed with being as hardcore as DMX or Jay-Z. Aside from a few solid productions by outsiders (Ad Lib's "My Writes," Jaydee's "Thru Ya City," Rockwilder's "I.C. Y'All." with Busta Rhymes), most of Mosaic Thump was produced by De La Soul themselves, and the music is just as limpid and flat as the rapping. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2023
Label:	Chrysalis Records
UPC:	0810098505123

Album Credits

Performance Credits

De La Soul   Primary Artist
Xzibit   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Busta Rhymes   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Freddie Foxxx   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
DV Alias Khrist   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Chaka Khan   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Tash   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Featured Artist
Hope Wilson   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
Indeed   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Chauncey Mason   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
Redman   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Ad-Rock   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Mike D   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Phife   Guest Artist
Pharoahe Monch   Guest Artist
J-Ro   Featured Artist
Ad Rock   Featured Artist
Beastie Boys   Guest Artist
Aiya Merier   Vocals
Busy Bee   Featured Artist
Pino Palladino   Bass
Maseo   Rap,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

George Joseph Porter Jr.   Composer
Norman Napier   Composer
Marvin R. Pierce   Composer
Malik Smart   Composer
James Yancey   Composer
Adam Horowitz   Composer
Lucious Mercer   Composer
Neal Forrester   Composer
Charles Miller   Composer
Luther Vandross   Composer
James Poyser   Composer
M. Miller   Composer
Jaydee   Producer
Lee Oskar   Composer
Walter Becker   Composer
Deaf 2 U   Producer
Antonio Jose Santana Martins   Composer
Chaka Khan   Composer,Lyricist,Performer
Erick Sermon   Composer
Jay Dee   Producer
John Sebastian   Composer
Trevor Smith   Composer
Peter Phillips   Composer
James Anthony Robinson   Composer
Ted Whiting   Composer
Marshall Eugene Jones   Composer
Albert Johnson   Composer
Odair Cabeca De Poeta   Composer
Walter Morrison   Composer
Kevin Bozeman   Composer
Hamilton Bohannon   Composer
Dana Stinson   Composer
Marcus Miller   Composer
William Griffin   Composer
Papa Dee Allen   Composer
B.B. Dickerson   Composer
Kejuan Muchita   Composer
Kelvin Mercer   Composer,Lyricist
Lalo Schifrin   Composer
Leroy Jordan   Composer
Ziggy Modeliste   Composer
Mark Sebastian   Composer
Adam Horovitz   Composer
Art Neville   Composer
Arthur Ross   Composer
Allen Toussaint   Composer
Leo Nocentelli   Composer
Dave Jolicoeur   Composer,Lyricist
Michael Diamond   Composer
Tajuan Perry   Composer
Vincent Mason   Composer,Lyricist
Trugoy the Dove   Arranger,Composer
Andrew Noland   Composer
Yvette Stevens   Composer
Paul Huston   Composer
Acklins Dillon   Composer
Morris "B.B." Dickerson   Composer
A. Ross   Composer
Thomas Sylvester Allen   Composer
Chauncey Mason   Composer
LaVerne Ware   Composer
Michael McBride   Composer
Jason Hunter   Composer
Mister Khaliyl   Producer
Rico Smith   Composer
Ricardo Brown   Composer
Ad Lib   Producer
Edward Anderson   Composer
Alvin Joiner   Composer
Roland Kirk   Composer
Ahmir Thompson   Composer
Pam Sawyer   Composer
Tariq Trotter   Composer
Tash   Composer
Troy Hightower   Mixing
Steve Boone   Composer
Supa Dave West   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Bernard Edwards   Composer
Kevin Bonners   Composer
Bill Laswell   Composer
J-Ro   Composer
James Brown   Composer
Karl Jenkins   Composer
Fred Brathwaite   Composer
Donald Fagen   Composer
Parrish Smith   Composer
De La Soul   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Assistant Producer
Rockwilder   Producer
Leon Ware   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner   Composer
Howard Scott   Composer
Prince Paul   Arranger,Producer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Jerry Goldstein   Composer
Ralph Middlebrooks   Composer
Nile Rodgers   Composer
l jordon   Composer
Michael Beinhorn   Composer
Dave West   Composer
Busta Rhymes   Performer
Harold Brown   Composer
Tim Latham   Mixing
Mr. Khallyl   Producer
Ad-Rock   Composer