De La Soul is an American hip-hop group formed in 1988 in the Amityville ar… Read Full Bio ↴De La Soul is an American hip-hop group formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip-hop subgenres. The members are Posdnuos, Maseo, and Trugoy (until his death in 2023). The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'". With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, has been called "a hip hop masterpiece."

The album was the band's biggest commercial success to date, with subsequent ones selling progressively less, despite receiving high praise from critics. They were influential in the early stages of rapper/actor Mos Def's career, and are a core part of the Spitkicker collective. They are the second longest standing Native Tongues group, after the Jungle Brothers. In 2006, the group won a Grammy for their collaboration with Gorillaz on the single "Feel Good Inc."

In early 2015, they announced plans to release a Kickstarter funded upcoming 9th studio album and the Anonymous Nobody... in September 2015; it was released on August 26, 2016. The album tracks are said to be the result of multiple improvised jam sessions. The album also features guest appearances from artists such as Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, David Byrne, 2 Chainz and Snoop Dogg.

Studio albums
3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
Buhloone Mindstate (1993)
Stakes Is High (1996)
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000)
AOI: Bionix (2001)
The Grind Date (2004)
Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve (2012)
and the Anonymous Nobody... (2016)

Take It Off
De La Soul Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(It's hurting)
(Smell your breath)
(You smell like Jabba)
(Your nose is what's doing it)
(You're talking into the recording, go)
(Okay Lucky, start it off)

Take, take, take, take, take it off

Take it off, take, take, take, take it off
Take it off, take, take, take, take it off
Take it off, take, take, take, take it off
Take it off (take that suede front off)
Take it off (take those contacts off)
Take it off (take that horsemeat off)
Take it off (take those shell-toes off)
Take it off (take those track fleas off)
Take it off (take that doo-rag off)
Take it off (take that moth rag off)
Take it off (take those fat laces off)
Take it off (take that bomber off)
Take it off (take that BVD off)
Take it off (take those Converse off)
Take it OFF! (And those Gazelles too)
Take it off (take that Kangol off)
Take it off (take that Jordache off)
Take it off (take that Afro off)
Take it off (take that jheri curl off)
Take it off (take that Le Tigre off)
Take it off

Take those acid-washed jeans, bell-bottomed, designed by your mama
Off? Please? Please?

Overall Meaning

De La Soul's song "Take It Off" seems to be a critique of the superficiality and trends of popular culture. The chorus "Take it off" is an invitation to remove the clothing and accessories that symbolize these trends. The first verse mentions the smell of the person's breath and nose, implying that the person's attempt to fit in with popular culture has negative consequences.

The subsequent verses list a wide range of specific clothing and accessories that the person is encouraged to remove, from suede front jackets and shell-toes to Kangol hats and afros. The lyrics suggest that these fashion choices are not genuine expressions of the person's identity, but rather a way of conforming to what is popular and acceptable. The mention of bell-bottomed jeans designed by one's mother adds another layer to the criticism, suggesting that even familial influence can lead to conformity and lack of individuality.

Overall, the lyrics of "Take It Off" seem to advocate for a rejection of trends and a rediscovery of genuine self-expression. The song argues that true individuality lies not in conforming to the latest fashions, but in stepping outside of these conventions and embracing one's true identity.

Line by Line Meaning

(It's hurting)
The current situation is causing emotional pain.

(Smell your breath)
Your breath has an unpleasant smell.

(You smell like Jabba)
Your odor is similar to that of the fictional Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt.

(Your nose is what's doing it)
The source of the unpleasant smell is your nose.

(You're talking into the recording, go)
You are speaking into the recording device, so go ahead and start the song.

(Okay Lucky, start it off)
The singer is giving permission to another person named Lucky to begin singing.

Take, take, take, take, take it off
Remove the item of clothing mentioned in the upcoming list.

Take it off, take, take, take, take it off
Continue removing clothing items as mentioned in the song.

Take those acid-washed jeans, bell-bottomed, designed by your mama
Remove jeans of a certain style that were designed by your mother.

Off? Please? Please?
Please remove the mentioned clothing item.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer, Paul Huston, Paul E. Huston, Vincent Mason

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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