Fun Fun Fun Fest Sunday Reviews

De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present:

Why didn't the world pay more attention to the new De La Soul? Because this isn't a De La Soul album at all. Released in April, First Serve is the conceptual work of De La Soul rappers Dave Jolicoeur and Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer (no sign of DJ Maseo), a rags-to-riches story that tracks the rise of old friends Deen Whitter and Jacob "Pop Life" Barrow. Spanning 16 tracks, the album comes drenched in De La Soul classicism ("Pushin' Aside, Pushin' Along"), with beats seemingly culled from Prince Paul's closet collection. The nexus comes via "Must B the Music," a "funky disco hip-hop classic" that serves as the narrative's turning point, when Whitter and Barrow move out of the basement. From there, it's all glitz ("The Book of Life") and "Pop Life." Basement to billboards, a story De La Soul brethren know well. (Sun., Blue stage, 7:55pm)