Bobby Carter | March 3, 2026
The humor of De La Soul has always been one of its calling cards. When DJ Maseo tells the Tiny Desk crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re a new group called De La Soul,” he means it as a joke. But, in so many ways, one of the most influential groups in hip-hop is new: the duties have been reassessed, the focus has shifted and the newness of The Plugs is laid plain here at the Tiny Desk.
De La Soul came to us to celebrate a few milestones: its latest album, Cabin in the Sky, and year three of the De La catalog back under the members’ control. This Tiny Desk releases on March 3, which is known as De La Soul Day. It’s all a bit bittersweet as David Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy the Dove, aka Plug Two) isn’t here with Pos and Maseo. Dave passed away in 2023, just weeks before the group’s music was finally made available on streaming platforms after a decades-long legal battle.
Throughout the planning process for this show, both remaining members were candid about what Dave would and wouldn’t approve of creatively, but remained open to ideas to honor him. The result was a thoughtful balance of classics like “Stakes is High” and “Breakadawn” with highlights from Cabin in the Sky.
SET LIST
“YUHDONTSTOP”
“Will Be”
“Much More”
“Stakes is High”
“Sunny Storms”
“Different World”
“Breakadawn”
“Pony Ride”
“A Quick 16 for Mama”
“Me Myself and I”
MUSICIANS
Pos: vocals
Maseo: vocals, DJ
Daru Jones: drums, music director
Aaron Hardin: keys
Ephraim Dorsey: sax
Omari Forman: trumpet
Lelia-Michelle Walker: viola
Yummy Bingham: background vocals
Gina Loring: background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Joshua Bryant
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Director/Mix: Josh Newell
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Mitra I. Arthur, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Michael Zamora
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton
#nprmusic #tinydesk #delasoul
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NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts is a popular video series featuring live, intimate music performances by diverse artists, from major stars to up-and-coming musicians, recorded in the small workspace of Bob Boilen’s NPR office in Washington, D.C.brought to you by SloppBoxx.Com.
I think I’m crying
Luv this but where was “saturday” roller skates..de la, much love 🤙
Stunning back-up singer
Amazing how they can sound so good after all these years.
These my guys Amityville standup. Coolingles Dave, you and maybe 2 others in the physical get that PD the original one. Rest easy my dude.
I grew up with those guys. Musically. Back in my youth, it was a discovery and a breath of fresh air to see and hear people perform hiphop in this way: playful, with humour and colour, the funky roots, displaying none of that gangsta, mysogynist violent cheap poser stuff. They showed there was room for something else in the big world of hiphop. Their music accompanied me through my youth, it has been part of so many beautiful moments in my life.. Now a litttle over 50, still a hiphop head, it´s just great to see them flowin and rappin, still on such a high level, displaying their musical world of beauty. Thank you De La, thank you NPR and tiny desk! ☮🔆🥰
Remember when MTV made classic, timeless recordings during “Unplugged”? This is that league.
Me myself and if ❤
THE GREATEST HIP HOP GROUP OF ALL TIME!!!