It started with a laugh. Not a polite, studio-sanctioned chuckle, but that manic, wheezing cackle from De La Soul’s David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur that opens "Feel Good Inc." That one sound changed the trajectory of the 2000s. Honestly, if you grew up during the MTV VMAs era, you probably didn't even realize you were witnessing a tectonic shift in how genres work. You just knew the song was catchy as hell.
Damon Albarn’s animated project, Gorillaz, was already a success after their self-titled debut, but their collaboration with De La Soul on Demon Days turned a "side project" into a global cultural phenomenon. It wasn't just a feature. It was a lifeline for both groups.
The Day the World Met "Feel Good Inc."
Let's be real. In 2005, hip-hop was in a weird spot. The "Bling Era" was at its peak, and the Native Tongues' brand of thoughtful, quirky rap felt like a relic to some. Then comes this cartoon band with a bassline that sounds like it was forged in a haunted discotheque.
When De La Soul stepped into the booth for "Feel Good Inc.," they weren't just "the guys who did 'Me Myself and I'." They brought a specific kind of playful wisdom. Trugoy, Posdnuos, and Maseo didn't just rap over the beat; they lived inside it. The "windmill, windmill for the land" verse? Pure poetry disguised as pop. It’s a critique of consumerism and the isolation of the digital age, wrapped in a melody that makes you want to drive too fast.
The chemistry was so instant that it led to a decades-long partnership. This wasn't a one-and-done business transaction. It was a brotherhood. Albarn has often noted that De La Soul brought the "soul" to the Gorillaz' machine. Without them, the project might have stayed a clever gimmick. Instead, it became the blueprint for the modern, genre-less superstar.
Why the Industry Didn't See De La Soul Coming Back
You have to remember the context. De La Soul was fighting a brutal legal war for years. Their early catalog was stuck in "sample clearance hell," meaning you couldn't even stream their best work on Spotify or Apple Music for a huge chunk of the 21st century. They were legends, sure, but they were becoming invisible to younger listeners.
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Gorillaz gave them a platform to be contemporary.
When they performed together at Glastonbury or on world tours, you saw 20-year-olds who didn't know 3 Feet High and Rising screaming every word of Trugoy’s verses. It was a bridge. It’s rare for a veteran hip-hop group to find a second act that is arguably as iconic as their first, but that’s exactly what happened.
Not Just One Hit Wonders
If you think their relationship stopped at "Feel Good Inc.," you’ve missed some of the best tracks in both their discographies. Look at "Superfast Jellyfish" from Plastic Beach. It’s a neon-colored, satirical jab at fast food culture featuring Gruff Rhys. It sounds like a Saturday morning cartoon on acid.
Then there’s "Momentz" from the Humanz album. It’s loud, abrasive, and percussive—a far cry from the hippie-rap label De La Soul was stuck with in the early 90s. They proved they could evolve. They could be gritty. They could be futuristic.
The Tragic Loss of Trugoy the Dove
The music world stopped in February 2023. The passing of David Jolicoeur (Trugoy) felt like a personal blow to anyone who followed the Gorillaz journey. Just as De La Soul’s catalog was finally, finally being released to streaming services—allowing a new generation to hear the roots of their genius—one of the architects was gone.
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The tribute performances by Gorillaz afterward were some of the most moving moments in recent live music history. Damon Albarn often looked visibly shaken on stage. During their Coachella sets and their massive shows at Wembley, the giant screens filled with images of Dave. It wasn't just a tribute to a collaborator. It was a tribute to the man who gave the band its heartbeat.
How to Hear the Influence Today
You can hear this collaboration in almost every "alt-rap" artist working today. Tyler, The Creator? He owes a massive debt to the weird, colorful world these guys built. Brockhampton? Same thing. The idea that a rapper can be funny, vulnerable, political, and weird all in the same four-minute window started here.
The "Gorillaz sound" is basically just the De La Soul philosophy applied to global pop music. It’s the "DAISY Age" (Da Inner Sound, Y'all) updated for a world that’s a little more cynical and a lot more tired.
Critical Listening: The Essential Tracks
- Feel Good Inc.: Obviously. The laugh, the bass, the windmill.
- Superfast Jellyfish: For the humor and the sheer "what is happening" factor.
- Momentz: If you want to hear them go hard over a heavy beat.
- Crocadillaz: A later collaboration that shows their chemistry never faded.
The Logistics of a Legend
Building a legacy like this isn't just about "vibes." It was about a shared work ethic. Albarn is a notorious workaholic, and De La Soul were perfectionists who had survived the highs and lows of the industry. They understood that to stay relevant, you had to be willing to look stupid. You had to take risks.
Most legacy acts would have turned down a "cartoon band" feature in 2005. They would have thought it was beneath them. De La Soul saw the vision. They saw that identity is fluid. In a world of avatars and social media profiles, they were ahead of the curve.
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What You Should Do Now
If you’re a fan of either artist, there is a specific way to appreciate this legacy that goes beyond just hitting play on a playlist.
First, go back and listen to Demon Days from start to finish. Don't skip. Listen to how the album builds up to that De La Soul explosion. It’s a masterclass in tension and release.
Second, support the De La Soul catalog on streaming. Now that their masters are finally cleared, every stream actually goes toward supporting the legacy of the group and Dave’s family. They fought for decades to own their art; the least we can do is listen to it on the platforms they finally conquered.
Third, watch the live footage from the Humanz tour. Seeing Maseo on the decks and Posdnuos commanding a crowd of 80,000 people alongside a virtual 2D and Murdoc is a reminder that great music transcends the medium.
Fourth, look for the "Crocadillaz" track if you haven't. It’s a bit of a deeper cut compared to the big hits, but it captures that late-era energy perfectly.
The story of De La Soul and Gorillaz isn't just a footnote in music history. It’s the main text. It taught us that hip-hop doesn't have a shelf life and that cartoons can have more humanity than the people behind the microphones. It’s a partnership that changed the world, one maniacal laugh at a time.