Some days ago I came across a book which caught my attention:
High and Rising – A book about De La Soul
by Marcus J. Moore
De La Soul brings back memories, so a book that tells their story naturally seemed interesting. I vividly remember watching the video for “Me, myself and I” way back in the day and thinking not only was the track catchy, but their true-to-self and joyful attitudes also resonated with me.
The book itself covers the group from their early days in New York to present day. It includes some interesting tidbits about them, such as them always opting for a more frugal and modest lifestyle, even at the height of their popularity. At times the writing takes some detours on seemingly repetitive themes, but it is worth a read if you are a fan of hip-hop.
Various interesting excerpts are sprinkled throughout the book, beginning with a passing reference to a place that is near and dear to me…
El Salvador is a tiny nation and in recent years, it or its people are more likely to be referenced within the context of Bitcoin, CECOT or Mara Salvatrucha. I don’t think I ever imagined finding a reference to El Salvador in a book about a hip-hop group. These little things always touch my heart, reminding me that although it is a small country, the reach of its people extends to many corners of the world.
Quite often in my reading adventures I also encounter excerpts which resonate with me for other reasons, such as the following…
It reminded me of some wise words from Colonel Hadfield, found in his book An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, in which he states something to the effect that it must be terrible to leave a lasting impression of oneself of one being a jackass, jerk, etc. In other words, be nice to others.
The following passage also says a ton in just a few sentences, speaking to the manner in which De La Soul was true to themselves and what it means in the greater context.
One last excerpt, touching on a theme I strongly believe in: be yourself, don’t compare yourself others. It was very cool to see how the author got that out of listening to De La Soul.
Overall, the book was a fun read and it intrigued me to read how De La Soul has impacted others.