Potholes in My Lawn

Album: 3 Feet High and Rising (1988)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The second single released by De La Soul, "Potholes in My Lawn" was their first song to chart, reaching #22 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles.
  • The song is about other rappers thieving De La Soul's rhymes. Trugoy told Rolling Stone: "'Potholes in my Lawn' was like another way to say beat-biter or sucker MC, like songs from Run-DMC, songs from MC Lyte. The lawn was our rhymes and the potholes were the pieces missing."
  • This samples Eric Burdon & War's 1976 song "Magic Mountain" as well as the yodeling and Jew's Harp on Parliament's 1970 track "Little Ole Country Boy."
  • This became the first ever hip-hop song played on Mars when NASA's Opportunity Rover broadcast it in 2004.

Comments: 1

  • Moosehead from Scthis was on YO MTV raps constantly
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.