Album Review: De La Soul – Cabin in the Sky
ARTICLE: JB PRYOR
When De La Soul dropped the news of Cabin in the Sky, it felt less like a comeback and more like a heartfelt homecoming. This is their first full-length project since 2016’s And the Anonymous Nobody… and, more poignantly, the first since the passing of founding member Trugoy the Dove (David Jolicoeur) in 2023.
Tone & Theme: Grief, Celebration & Reflection
Cabin in the Sky lives in that bittersweet space “between loss and light,” as Posdnuos put it. Right from the opening, there’s a spirit of therapy — but not purely sorrow. De La Soul balances mourning with moments of pure joy, creating an emotional duality that feels deeply honest.
Production & Sound
If there’s one thing De La Soul have always nailed, it’s their eclectic, sample-rich sound — and Cabin in the Sky is no exception. The album features heavyweight producers: DJ Premier, Super Dave, and Pete Rock all contribute.
Tracks like the single “The Package”, produced by Pete Rock, lean into classic boom-bap while still feeling fresh. Meanwhile, other moments feel thoroughly seasoned — Posdnuos even calls it “adult hip-hop”: rooted in the culture, but speaking from where they are now.
Features & Collaborations
De La Soul bring some heavy hitters to the table: Killer Mike, Common, Nas, Black Thought, and Yukimi Nagano from Little Dragon are all featured. These collaborators don’t just feel like guest spots — they help De La Soul articulate the bigger themes of legacy, loss, and enduring hope.
Vocal Legacy
One of the most powerful aspects of the album is how it weaves in unreleased vocals from Trugoy the Dove. His presence grounds the work in memory — not as a haunting echo, but as a vivid thread in the group’s fabric.
Standout Tracks
“The Package” is a clear highlight — Pete Rock’s production is warm and soulful, and hearing Trugoy’s voice framed in those bars is deeply moving.
“Ya Don’t Stop” shows off De La Soul’s playful, optimistic energy while nodding to the more somber undercurrents. (As noted in press coverage.)
“Cruel Summers Bring FIRE LIFE!!” (featuring Yukimi) brings that sunshine-laced sample style they’ve always done so well, but feels more mature — like the sun after the storm.
Album Flow & Structure
At 20 tracks, Cabin in the Sky is ambitious in scope. Some may feel it slows in the second half, but that’s almost part of the design — grief isn’t linear, and neither is healing. The sequencing mirrors that: brighter, more buoyant songs early on, moving into reflective, introspective moments later.
The spoken-word intro (featuring Giancarlo Esposito) sets a contemplative tone right away, signaling that this isn’t just another rap album — it’s something meant to be felt as much as heard.
Emotional Weight & Impact
What makes Cabin in the Sky more than a nostalgic ride is its emotional honesty. De La Soul aren’t just remembering Trugoy; they’re talking about survival, community, legacy, and what they carry forward. It’s both a tribute and a celebration.
For longtime fans, this album is deeply resonant: familiar in sound, but grown in spirit. For newer listeners, it’s an accessible entry point to a group that has always defied simplistic categorization.
Verdict
Cabin in the Sky is a triumphant return — not in the sense of reclaiming past glories, but in re-affirming De La Soul’s commitment to growth, healing, and artistry. It’s a mature, reflective project that doesn’t shy away from grief but also refuses to be defined by it.
In the legacy of De La Soul, this is a record that honors the past, confronts the present, and looks forward with open arms. Validated gives it high marks — both as a powerful tribute to Trugoy the Dove and a beautifully crafted album in its own right.