De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York.The band is 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 Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicoeur and Vincent Mason, known under a variety of nicknames. 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 Beatnuts are a New York-based hip hop group and production duo from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu (born Jerry Tineo on December 4, 1968) is Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les (born Lester Fernandez on April 10, 1972) is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights. The Beatnuts are the only Latino members of the Native Tongues collective. Although only peripheral members, they are routinely acknowledged by Q-Tip. The Beatnuts were originally a trio before Kool Fashion, now known as Al' Tariq, left the group to start a solo career. The Mighty V.I.C. (Groove Merchantz, Ghetto Pros) was also a member of The Beatnuts' production team for a while.

Clifford Smith (born April 1, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man & Redman. He won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" with Mary J. Blige. In 2007, the writers of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). In 2012, The Source placed him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. He is also the only MC to be featured on Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album Ready to Die.

Keith Murray (* 13. September1974 in Brooklyn, New York City) ist ein US-amerikanischer Rapper und Mitglied der bekannten Hip-Hop-Gruppe Def Squad, zu der außerdem Redman und Erick Sermon gehören. Murrays bekanntestes Lied ist „The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World“, welches auf dem gleichnamigen Debütalbum 1994 erschien. Von 1994 bis 1999 veröffentlichte er bei Jive Records. Danach wechselte er für jedes Album das Label - vom Def Jam zu Koch Records zu Legion of Doom Records.

1998 wurde er wegen Körperverletzung zu drei Jahren Haft verurteilt, weil er bei einer Meinungsverschiedenheit einen Mann mit einem Barhocker angegriffen hat. Murray bestreitet die Tat.

Sein aktuelles Album heißt Rap-Murr-Phobia (Fear of Real Hip Hop) und ist über Koch Entertainment erschienen. Neben seinen Def-Squad-Kollegen Redman und Erick Sermon sind u.a. auch Tyrese und Method Man auf dem Longplayer zu hören.