Maseo What Goes On?

Release Date: October 2, 2004
Originally uploaded by H. Michael karshis.

All you De La fans seeking the final installment of the AOI series, are just going to have to wait. The good news is, The Grind Date, the 7th release from America's most underated hip-hop boy wonders, drops October 2, 2004 - that's right, my birthday - yo thanks Mase!

Since leaving Tommy Boy Records, and going independent for their first time ever, the group decided that they had experienced too much and changed to follow the concept. The third Art Official Intelligence installment, which is supposed to be dedicated to the art of DJing, is yet to be recorded.

According to DJ Maseo, "We do still plan on doing [The AOI Volume 3] record, [but with The Grind Date,] we just had to focus on putting a record together that was gonna kind of put us back in today's Hip-Hop. [Volume 3] was a record that would kind of just involve me and my fellow DJs, which is more of just a novelty De La record. I think going after the MTV and BET viewers, is not the record.

Previously, Maseo said that De La Soul's third installment of the AOI series will be released independently through his own Bear Mountain Entertainment label.

As for The Grind Date, Maseo says "The album is just the existence of what we been dealing with since breaking off that relationship with Tommy Boy, being 30 plus years old." 

This album, like the last, uses outside production from Dave West, Jake One, Madlib, and collaborations with Ghostface Killah and others.

The way I see it, knowing waht Mase is capable of, when AOI V3 is ready it'll be well worth the wait. Until then, Bring on The Grind Date. Happy birthday to me!

peace,

HMK