Hearing Aide: De La Soul “Cabin in the Sky”

De La Soul’s Cabin in the Sky feels like a gift. It’s warm, soulful, and full of life, but also heavy in the best way because it includes unreleased verses from Dave (Trugoy). Hearing his voice again hits you right away. It feels natural, not forced, like these songs were always meant to see the light.

The album brings in a ton of legendary producers—DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Nottz, Jake One, and Supa Dave West—and every one of them brings something that matches De La’s style without sounding stuck in the past. The beats are rich, layered, and full of personality.

It’s also packed with features, and none of them feel random.
Nas, Q-Tip, Common, Slick Rick, Killer Mike, Bilal, Yummy Bingham, Yukimi Nagano, Roy Ayers, Jean Carn, Jay Pharoah, and more show up and add something real to the songs.

Track-by-Track Highlights (and the Features That Hit Hardest)

“Cabin Talk (Intro)” – feat. Giancarlo Esposito
A cinematic opening with Esposito narrating like he’s setting the tone for a modern hip-hop folktale. You feel like you’re stepping into De La’s world, not the other way around.

“Yuhdontstop” – unreleased Trugoy verse
One of the emotional anchors of the album. Hearing Dave glide on this is chilling in the best way. The group’s chemistry is untouched.

“Sunny Storms” – produced by DJ Premier, with Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh & Jean Carn
Premier laces a track that somehow balances smooth and rugged. Slick Rick floats. Jean Carn adds warmth. Doug E. Fresh gives energy. It’s a dream combo that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.

“Will Be” – with Yummy Bingham
Short but sweet—Pos and Mase over a soulful groove while Yummy’s voice smooths out the edges.

“The Package” – produced by Pete Rock
Classic Pete Rock horns and dusty drums. It feels like something that could’ve lived on AOI in the best way.

“A Quick 16 for Mama” – with Killer Mike (prod. Nottz)
Killer Mike comes in with that sermon-style intensity he’s mastered, and Nottz gives him a beat that stomps.

“Just How It Is (Sometimes)” – with Jay Pharoah & Gareth Donkin
Jay Pharoah surprises here—not a parody, not a joke—just a solid performance. Gareth Donkin’s smooth vocals tie it together.

“Cruel Summers Bring Fire Life!!” – with Yukimi Nagano (Little Dragon) + Roy Ayers
This is one of the album’s most beautiful textures. Yukimi brings that ethereal energy. Roy Ayers? Pure class.

“Day in the Sun (Gettin’ wit U)” – with Q-Tip & Yummy Bingham
A Tribe x De La moment always feels like home. Tip and Pos trade warm, sunny verses over a breezy Supa Dave West beat.

“Run It Back!!” – featuring Nas
One of the album’s centerpieces. Nas sounds locked-in, sharp, like he knew this verse mattered. The Sting interpolation tucked into the credits is a clue: this is a big-feel record.

“Different World” – with Gina Loring (prod. Pete Rock)
A soulful, poetic moment. Gina Loring brings spoken-word elegance.

“Patty Cake” – produced by Jake One
Jake One gives them a modern bounce without sacrificing soul. A sleeper banger.

“En Eff” – featuring Black Thought (prod. DJ Premier)
Black Thought + Premo + De La Soul. That’s the review.

“Yours” – with Common & Slick Rick (prod. Pete Rock)
Common gives a grown-man verse, Slick Rick adds charisma, and Pete Rock ties it with a bow. One of the album’s smoothest grooves.

“Palm of His Hands” – with Bilal
Bilal always brings the spirit and the strange, and he elevates this track into something cosmic.

“Don’t Push Me” – unreleased Dave verse
A powerful closer. Dave’s voice feels like a message from the sky—urgent, reflective, and full of life.

Overall, Cabin in the Sky sounds like De La Soul doing what they’ve always done—being themselves. It’s soulful, honest, and creative without trying too hard. The production is top-tier, the features all make sense, and the presence of Dave throughout the album adds a deeper emotional pull.

This feels like a proper next chapter for De La Soul, and a beautiful way to keep Dave’s voice alive.