De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate

De La Soul's Buhloone Mindstate is the trio's most underrated triumph, a loose, jazz-soaked third album that sounds richer with every passing year.

This was the last record the group made with producer Prince Paul, and in 1993 it found Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo shrugging off the daisy-age image of their debut for something warmer and more grown. It did not repeat the commercial splash of their debut, but critics rallied, voting it among the year's best, and the album has only gained admirers since. Its return to vinyl followed the long-awaited arrival of the group's catalogue on streaming services in 2023.

The musicianship is the secret weapon. James Brown horn legends Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis turn up on "I Am I Be," one of the most introspective songs the group ever recorded, adding rich live brass to its meditative groove. "Breakadawn" flips Smokey Robinson and Michael Jackson samples into a breezy, sunlit single, while "Ego Trippin' (Part Two)" pokes fun at rap bravado with deadpan wit.

Every corner rewards close listening, from the skits to the sly in-jokes tucked between verses.

If 3 Feet High and Rising is the famous one, this is the one the faithful quietly rate even higher, and its grooves sound wonderful on wax.