Maseo of De La Soul
About this episode
Maseo of De La Soul discusses his Hip-Hop journey and the creative process behind the group's music.
De La Soul’s Maseo sits down with Questlove for an unfiltered deep dive into his Hip-Hop journey, his approach to deejaying, and the making of a true original. From volatile days in Brooklyn and Long Island to early block parties and the creation of classics like “Me Myself and I,” “Afro Connections,” and the epic “Cool Breeze on the Rocks” splice session, Mase breaks down the art, risk, and innovation behind De La’s catalog. He explains how a skipping record sparked a 20-minute freestyle, how an eight-second guitar pedal became his first sampler, and how the same laugh he was once teased about eventually became a defining element of Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.” Plug 3 also opens up about the Nitro Tour, navigating music-industry politics, pioneering De La’s Kickstarter era, and processing the loss of Dave while keeping the group’s legacy alive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: Questlove
Guest: Maseo
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: De La Soul, Gorillaz
Places: Brooklyn, Long Island
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