Additional personnel: Shortie No Mass, Melvin Parker, Rodney Jones, Larry Goldings, Frank Wes, SDP, Takagi Kan, May May Ali.

Recorded at Sorcerer Studio, Magic Shop, Unique Studio, Platinum Island, River Sound, New York.

Personnel: Melvin Parker, Frank Wess, Fred Wesley, Guru, Larry Goldings, Maceo Parker, Rodney Jones, Biz Markie (rap vocals).

Audio Mixers: De La Soul; Prince Paul; Bob Power.

Recording information: Magic Shop; Platinum Island; River Sound; Sorcer Studio; Sorcerer Studio; Unique Studio.

Illustrator: Jermaine "Griff Dogg" Griffin.

Photographers: Jerome Duran; Guy Aroch.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Outlaw Blues; Dres; Duke Pearson; Eddie Harris; Johnny Taylor; Takagi Kan; SDP; Grand Funk; Gregory Isaacs; Kleeer; Lou Donaldson; Lou Rawls; Michael Jackson; Milt Jackson; Parliament; Pee Wee Ellis; Shortie No Mass; Spoonie Gee; The Bar-Kays; Smokey Robinson.

The last album of De La Soul's creative prime, Buhloone Mindstate was also their last with producer Prince Paul. After the claustrophobic De La Soul Is Dead, Mindstate is a partial return to the upbeat positivity of 3 Feet High and Rising, though not its wildly colorful invention. Instead, Buhloone Mindstate takes a calmer, more laid-back approach -- the music is often more introspective, and the between-song skits have been jettisoned in favor of a tighter focus. The surrealism of Buhloone Mindstate's predecessors has largely evaporated, and the production, while still imaginative, doesn't quite dazzle the way it used to. Then again, it's admirable that the group is trying to mature and progress musically, and they would never experiment quite this ambitiously again. There's quite a bit more live instrumentation here, with extensive, jazzy guest work by the JB Horns. In fact, the guests threaten to overpower the first half of the album; "Patti Dooke" and "I Be Blowin'" are both extended showcases for the horns, and the latter is a full-fledged instrumental led by Maceo Parker. They're followed by a group of Japanese rappers on "Long Island Wildin'," and it isn't until the terrific single "Ego Trippin', Pt. 2" that De La really takes over. Many of the record's best raps follow: the reflective old-school tribute "Breakadawn," the jazzy "I Am I Be" and "In the Woods," and the Biz Markie collaboration "Stone Age." If Buhloone Mindstate is a great deal more straightforward than De La's earlier work, its high points are still excellent and well worth the time of any fan. In fact, many De La diehards feel that this album is hugely underrated. ~ Steve Huey

The third album from De La Soul, BUHLOONE MIND STATE, stresses the importance of discovery of self. Tracks like "I AM I Be" and "Ego Trippin'" force a kind of deep self-cleansing introspection. BUHLOONE MIND STATE is also another example of how lyrically challenging this group of MCs has always been. Sax legend Maceo Parker joins the crew to blow impressively on "I Be Blowin'." There are also appearances from Guru and Biz Markie. Though BUHLOONE MIND STATE isn't De La Soul's greatest-selling album, it might be the group's deepest and most creative. Its 11 songs prove that it's not quantity that counts, but quality.