And the Anonymous Nobody
by De La Soul
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. RapReviews.com
    Sep 1, 2016
    100
    The end result sure looks promising from the moment you hit play, with over an hour of music and 18 tracks to look forward to, the kind of full length project all those [Kickstarter] backers have demanded.
  2. Pretty Much Amazing
    Aug 26, 2016
    91
    It sounds great while it’s playing and means nothing except that it sounds great and will sound just as great 10, 20, 30 years from now.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Aug 26, 2016
    91
    An eclectic genre mashup with an enviable roster of guests, And The Anonymous Nobody… bristles with creative rebirth and more than a touch of hard-earned, “we’re back” braggadocio.
  5. Magnet
    Nov 16, 2016
    80
    This is a mature work. [No. 137, p.54]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The Wire
    Oct 21, 2016
    80
    Judging by the music on And The Anonymous Nobody, their sights are set firmly on the future. [Sep 2016, p.49]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Exclaim
    Sep 1, 2016
    80
    While they exceed expectations on these non-assisted tracks, De La Soul also more than hold their own against their superstar guests.
  8. musicOMH.com
    Aug 26, 2016
    80
    And The Anonymous Nobody is a more than worthy edition to their legacy, proving how relevant this treasure of a band is.
  9. Drowned In Sound
    Aug 26, 2016
    80
    Skits and the odd miss accepted, and the Anonymous Nobody… is a grand achievement. Regardless of whether their next project requires outsourced funding or not, De La Soul fans worldwide will just be happy if the group can keep up these standards while never forgoing their wayfaring creativity.
  10. The Independent (UK)
    Aug 25, 2016
    80
    [A] sparkling, multi-faceted comeback album.
  11. Spin
    Aug 22, 2016
    80
    The strength of and the Anonymous Nobody... remains how it holds together as a complete, cohesive listen.
  12. The Line of Best Fit
    Aug 19, 2016
    80
    There are certainly more strong points than weak points to be concentrated on here. All the tracks that centre around Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo see De La Soul at full strength with their rhymes as sharp and playful but seemingly wiser than ever before.
  13. Clash Music
    Aug 19, 2016
    80
    And The Anonymous Nobody is still an impressive new installment in what has been a largely-unblemished career run.
  14. Q Magazine
    Aug 5, 2016
    80
    And the Anonymous Nobody delivers. [Sep 2016, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  15. Mojo
    Aug 5, 2016
    80
    And the Anonymous Nobody is another stroke of inventive brilliance from ever-humble, non-showboating masters of the long-playing arts. [Sep 2016, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  16. The Skinny
    Aug 5, 2016
    80
    Exhausting, ridiculous and full of life, De La Soul still do it like no-one else.
  17. Uncut
    Aug 5, 2016
    80
    Broad in scope, and naturally playful, this is a spectacular, fresh as the proverbial, triumph. [Sep 2016, p.73]
    All this publication's reviews
  18. HipHopDX
    Sep 7, 2016
    74
    And the Anonymous Nobody is an album that, though lacking in congruence, displays De La’s staying power.
  19. Rolling Stone
    Aug 26, 2016
    70
    Tracks like the loopy "Snoopies" (with David Byrne) and old-school throwdown "Whoodeeni" (with 2 Chainz) are glorious bug-outs, but the urban cautionary tale "Greyhounds" (echoing Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City," with Usher on the hook) is a reminder that De La are often more powerful when they're less goofy.
  20. Consequence
    Aug 26, 2016
    67
    While and the Anonymous Nobody won’t resonate with everybody, it’s still a glimpse into who De La Soul are today, where they’ve been, and what they’ve learned.
  21. Pitchfork
    Sep 6, 2016
    64
    Middle-aged rap has rarely sounded more grown, with all the mixed-blessing perspective that comes with it. Anonymous Nobody is kind of a downer, but sometimes that’s what you need, especially when the optimism’s just below that melancholy surface.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
  1. Nomadgrunt
    Aug 26, 2016
    9
    Good art is engaging and pulls you. You cant turn away...you have to look, or listen. Great art is engaging and makes you think. ExeceptionalGood art is engaging and pulls you. You cant turn away...you have to look, or listen. Great art is engaging and makes you think. Execeptional art engages and challenges your thoughts and previous understandings. 3 Feet High...was exceptional in that sense because it challenged established rap paradigms in its time period. The Anonymous Nobody does the same thing. It is challenging and is shifting established ideas. It wont necessarily bump in the jeeps but it will rock everywhere else. Get your mind right and sharpen your ears. Dig through the catalogues of every featured artist on this album and discover their gems. Consider the artistic skill it took to bring all of these different elements together to form this work. Don't settle for good, strive for great. Trugoy said it best on the outro that is the intro track, Exodus- "Hoping that what we create inspires you to selfishly challenge and contribute." Engaging, entertaining, thought provoking, and challenging. Thank you De La for sharing this work. And for those who don't get it.....you never will. This wasn't made for you. There are IQ requirements to really understand the brillance that is Anonymous.… Full Review »
  2. AlexDionisio1
    Aug 26, 2016
    6
    De La Soul have perhaps lost some of their steam so to speak for this LP (their eighth), coming so long after their last. Still, it has enoughDe La Soul have perhaps lost some of their steam so to speak for this LP (their eighth), coming so long after their last. Still, it has enough good stuff in the bank to make it worthwhile.… Full Review »
  3. muhammadnur
    Aug 31, 2016
    9
    It took me 2 listens to really appreciate the album as a whole. At first it felt underwhelming because the music overpowers the lyrics if youIt took me 2 listens to really appreciate the album as a whole. At first it felt underwhelming because the music overpowers the lyrics if you will. But that actually is what grew on me, the album has a unit has a very smooth sound. So if you're looking for the "boombap" this may not be for you. But its been in constant rotation for me since it came out.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »