June 5, 2009 9:14

De La Soul release new material for Nike

Hip-hop trio team up with sportswear label

De La Soul have released a new album commissioned by sportswear firm Nike - their first new material since 2004's 'The Grind Date'.

The trio have made Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run, a seamless 45-minute album made specifically to run to, available on iTunes now.

The release is the fifth instalment in the Nike-commissioned series and follows similar projects by LCD Soundsystem, A-Trak and Crystal Method.

Speaking to NME.COM, the band revealed that the project, which was aided by producer Flosstradamus, was actually supposed to be released last summer.

"Originally, this album was supposed to have been ready for the Olympics last year," admitted rapper Posdnuos. "We missed that deadline, and said, 'Alright, let's try and get it ready for Christmas', and we missed that deadline too."

The album comes 20 years after the trio's debut album, '3 Feet High And Rising', was named NME's album of the year.

'Are You In?' features six songs which take the runner through different warm-up, work-out and cool-down phases.

"I'm sure that we'll work it into the show somehow," said band member Truygoy, when asked if there were plans to perform the new album live. "That would be really kinda cool, to do the whole thing, a 45-minute set from top to bottom."