De La Soul: The Underdogs of Hip Hop and the Power of “Eye Know”
De La Soul has always been hip-hop’s underdogs—unafraid to challenge the mainstream and reject the commercialization that often dominates the genre. The Long Island trio carved out a unique voice in a landscape that frequently prioritizes bravado and materialism over authenticity. Their long, frustrating battle with Tommy Boy Records, which kept their music locked away for years, only underscored the barriers they faced in sharing their message of love, self-expression, and individuality. For me, De La Soul represents an ideal: staying true to yourself, refusing to compromise for fame or fortune, and creating from a place of genuine passion. Eye Know has been one of my favorite songs since high school!
De La Soul’s music isn’t just about rhymes and beats—it’s about values. Eye Know embodies their signature warmth and sincerity, offering a love song that is both tender and subversive. While hip-hop has long included love narratives, many of them lean on tropes of conquest, status, or overt sexualization. Eye Know takes a different approach. It’s a song about mutual admiration and respect—about truly seeing and knowing someone beyond surface-level attraction. The lyrics, paired with the upbeat, sun-drenched Peg sample and Prince Paul’s genius and playful production, create a love song that feels fresh, joyful, and real.
Being a female rap fan comes with its challenges—so many songs I love musically are difficult to embrace lyrically due to their misogyny. Eye Know stands apart because it doesn’t require justification or mental gymnastics to enjoy. It presents a version of love where both partners exist on equal footing, where admiration isn’t about possession or power but about genuine appreciation. That alone makes it a rarity in the genre.
Beyond romance, Eye Know also speaks to a deeper question: In today’s world, are we truly seeking authentic connection, or are we caught up in the performance of love? Social media has only magnified this tension, reducing relationships to curated images and aesthetic compatibility. De La Soul, long before the era of Instagram relationships, reminded us that love is about presence, not performance. Their music challenges us to step away from facades and into something real.
Ultimately, Eye Know isn’t just a love song—it’s a testament to De La Soul’s ethos. They built their legacy on authenticity, rejecting the pressures of the industry to carve out their own lane. This song, with its infectious optimism and message of real connection, stands as proof that hip-hop can be introspective, playful, and deeply romantic all at once. De La Soul didn’t just rap about love—they redefined what love could sound like in hip-hop. That’s why Eye Know remains a timeless classic, as meaningful today as it was when it first dropped.
