‘It seems weird for an MC – but lyrics have never been a thing for me’: De La Soul’s honest playlist

The first song I fell in love with
My father could sing really well – he was in a choir and had this coolness. He would walk around singing Love and Happiness by Al Green and, because he looked so much like him on the cover, I actually thought he was Al Green.

The first single I bought
Underlove by Melba Moore from Abraham & Straus, this department store in Long Island that had a mini record store inside. I later realised it was produced by Kashif, and I would fall in love with everything he produced.

The song I do at karaoke
I’d like to have a go at Everybody Wants to Rule the World or Shout by Tears for Fears.

The best song to play at a party
When someone throws down All I Do by Stevie Wonder, you can see it in people’s faces – this is a classic piece of soul music.

The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
It seems weird for an MC – I can tell you every drop and hi-hat, but lyrics have never been a big thing for me. When I play with Mos Def, Black Thought or Gorillaz, I’m amazed that they can seemingly remember the lyrics to every song on Earth. I can just about remember Top Billin’ by Audio Two.

The song I can no longer listen to
I don’t really fall out of love with songs. There are lots that get played too much, but at some point I usually grow back in love with them. I don’t want to name anyone in case they come and beat me up.

The song I secretly like
I’ll play These Dreams by Heart in my dressing room when I think no one else is listening. It reminds me of the big hair era.

The song that gets me up in the morning
I always try to start my day by saying: it’s going to be a lovely day. I even had Lovely Day by Bill Withers as my alarm, ready to go off at 6am.

The song that changed my life
I was living in the Bronx. My brothers would have mixtapes, but when I heard Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force, it made me really want to do this rap thing. I remember saying: “What the fuck is this?” and my mom telling me off for cursing.

The best song to have sex to
Any Barry White record. Or Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye. Have I ever tried making love to my own music? Hell no.

The song that makes me cry
I love the love Stevie Wonder gives the other person in I Love Every Little Thing About You – saying, basically, the only person I put before you is God, and nothing could top my love for you. I tear up when I hear that record.

The song I’d like played at my funeral
I Am I Be by De La Soul.

Stakes Is High, remixed by J Dilla and featuring Mos Def and Truth Enola, and Cabin in the Sky, the band’s ninth studio album, are both out now.