De La Soul is an influential American hip-hop trio from Amityville, New York, formed in the late 1980s by Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove, and Maseo. Celebrated for their inventive sampling, witty wordplay, and pioneering use of jazz and funk influences, they redefined hip-hop with their 1989 debut *3 Feet High and Rising*. As key members of the Native Tongues collective, De La Soul helped bring positivity, creativity, and social awareness to the genre. Their enduring legacy continues to shape contemporary hip-hop and alternative music worldwide.