Plug Tunin'

Album: 3 Feet High and Rising (1988)
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Songfacts®:

  • De La Soul's debut single alluded to group members Kelvin "Posdnous" Mercer and David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur's alternative monikers: Plug One and Plug Two, respectively. The nicknames referred to the microphones each member rhymed into ( Posdnous was one, Trugoy was two). Trugoy explained to Rolling Stone: "That was an important record, because I think that sorta signed how we were gonna approach writing rhymes, in terms of style. We were always impressed by KRS-One and how he always had a style, so instead of saying 'Mic check one, two' we would say 'Plug one, plug two.' It was a routine."

    "A lot of people listen to that song and say, 'What the hell are you guys talking about? I don't understand a word,' but if you listen to it, you can get it," Trugoy continued. "What's really cool about that record is the style, the pattern and the cadence of the rhymes."
  • Both the original 12" version and an updated mix, titled, "Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)" was included on 3 Feet High and Rising. The remix has different lyrics and the drums are featured more prominently.
  • The song is sampled on the Gravediggaz' 1994 track "Defective Trip," which like "Plug Tunin'" was also produced by Prince Paul.

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