De La Soul's Cabin In The Sky lands with the kind of weight that comes from decades of history and a long pause between full releases. The group last dropped a project in 2016, and since then spent years fighting to bring their early work back to the public. Their full catalog finally showed up on streaming in 2023, shortly after the loss of Dave, which gives this release a strong emotional edge.
The record was completed before Dave’s passing, so his voice and production carry through the album with real presence. Q-Tip, Nas, Killer Mike, Slick Rick, Common, Black Thought, Bilal, and more join in, giving the project a wide circle of old friends and long-time supporters. DJ Premier and Pete Rock add production that fits right into the group’s classic approach without leaning on nostalgia too heavily.
Cabin In The Sky is part of the Legend Has It… 2025 series that highlights veteran artists returning with new material. The album keeps De La’s warm, slightly off-center style intact, mixed with small details like fourth-wall-breaking skits and transitions. On first listen, the whole thing feels grounded, reflective, and easy to replay.
