De La Soul Crushes Label Over Streaming Deal

Sample issues have prevented De La Soul's music from ever appearing on streaming services.

Until now.

But the classic trio is not happy with their label's decision to finally put their music on the Internet for two reasons, which they spelled out on Instagram:

Hmmm... 👎🏽#bittersweet #delasoul #tommyboy @tommyboyrecords #threefeethighandrising #delasoulisdead #buhloonemindstate #stakesishigh #aoimosaicthump #bionix #respecttheculture #rule4080

A post shared by De La Soul (@wearedelasoul) on Feb 25, 2019 at 12:26pm PST

For our fans to finally be able to stream and/or download our music will be a dream come true! The reality for De La... what an ugly greedy nightmare. #threefeethighandrising #delasoulisdead #buhloonemindstate #stakesishigh #aoimosaicthump #bionix Tag and let @tommyboyrecords and @dodo_011.1 know how you feel #respecttheculture #respecttheart #respecttheartist More news to come on Sway In the Morning, tune in.

A post shared by De La Soul (@wearedelasoul) on Feb 25, 2019 at 6:16pm PST

Don’t feed the Vultures, support and respect the culture #30years If you wanna support De La Soul, cop the #grinddate and #anonymousnobody albums , Coming soon: #delasoul @realpeterock and @djpremier 2019!!!

A post shared by De La Soul (@wearedelasoul) on Feb 26, 2019 at 10:36am PST

We are being placed in the line of fire. @discogs @spotify @applemusic @tidal @googleplay @deezer @vinylmeplease @amazonmusic We understand respect and appreciate your support and business. We regret that you and fans have been place in the middle of this mess. De La Soul cannot afford negligent hurried business. We are fighting for our livelihood. Imagine trying to settle a #phantom2millionddollardebt and now possible lawsuits lurking??? There goes that 10% Thank you @tommyboyrecords #respectourlegacy #dorightbytheculture #tommyboycott #4080 #delasoul #30years

A post shared by De La Soul (@wearedelasoul) on Feb 27, 2019 at 8:47am PST

 “We are not happy about releasing our catalog under such unbalanced, unfair terms,” De La wrote on Instagram. “The music will be released digitally,” he continued. “After 30 long years of good music and paying their debt to hip-hop, De La Soul unfortunately, will not taste the fruit of their labor. Your purchase will roughly go 90% Tommy Boy, 10% De La.”

The band is also worried that Tommy Boy's reckless haste in putting their music out there may incur them legal liability.

“When confronted and questioned whether or not all samples had been cleared for our catalog’s streaming release, Tommy Boy felt that it would be better to move forward with the release and deal with all claims/lawsuits later on… really????” De La added. “That’s just not smart business. We don’t want to be sued.”