The Magic Number – De La Soul

De La Soul‘s “The Magic Number” is a Classic 1990 Hip-Hop ode to the Number Three (3), which is easily one of my favorite numbers, but this track is severely DOPE with a Bboy drum loop and the steadily Funky style of the Long Island homies (and Bboysounds favorites):

De La Soul (@wearedelasoul & @delasoulsdugout & @plugwondelasoul) draws samples from Syl Johnson, Fatback Band, Bob Dorough, and of course, James Brown’s “Funky Drummer”, among others.

Peep the source of the drums from Double Dee & Steinski:

And without a doubt, De La hits all over the lyrical map, with some lines that are quite pertinent today:

Speaking of which, a lyrical selection from the “The Magic Number” from MetroLyrics:

Everybody wants to be a deejay

Everybody wants to be an emcee

But being speakers are the best

And you don’t have to guess

De la soul posse consists of three

And that’s the magic number

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