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
Love me some 3 Ft high and rising
Most definitely!! Peace 2 Rubox the beatbox machine!