De La are not only the last headline trio from rap’s golden age still thriving, they’re the only ones with three surviving members. Tribe, the Beasties and Run-DMC haven’t been as fortunate. This long-awaited reunion album was funded through Kickstarter, and every dollar throbs through the powerful, extravagant production. Musically, standards are high, particularly on the orchestral Memory of… (Us) or the gripping Royalty Capes, but a major label would’ve insisted on more focused structures to the many intriguing collaborations. Promising songs such as Drawn and Lord Intended are aural cut-and-shut jobs, and stars like David Byrne, Snoop and Damon Albarn sound strained or half-asleep. Too many songs meander past the five-minute mark, loitering without intent.
