Hip-hop veterans De La Soul ask fans to fund new album

De La Soul have asked fans to help fund their new album.

Hip-hop trio De La Soul have launched a crowdfunding campaign in order to raise money for a star-studded new album, their first record in 11 years.

The Me, Myself, and I hitmakers haven't released a studio record since 2004's The Grind Date, and they're calling on fans to help fund their latest project on Kickstarter.com.

The group launched the campaign on Monday with a goal to raise US$110,000 over the next month.

The money raised from the effort will go towards production costs, marketing and distribution of their eighth, as-yet-untitled album.

On their Kickstarter page page, De La Soul, who have been independent artists for the past decade, write: "We see Kickstarter as a home for creative minds and a wonderful platform; where people who believe, respect and see the vision, can support an idea and make it a reality.

"In our world, what we've created is freedom, freedom to make the art you believe in without having to compromise your vision. That's what we've always wanted most, that's what we've always believed in, that's what we've fought for, and that's why we're doing this Kickstarter with you."

The trio promises a mix of "Jazz, Funk, Rock, Country Western and anything else we're feeling in the moment" for the record, and reveals they're planning on sampling their own back catalogue for the new tracks, an approach they say hasn't been done in hip-hop before.

In addition, De La Soul are calling on some of their famous friends to feature on the album, including Blur's Damon Albarn, David Byrne, 2 Chainz and Little Dragon.

De La Soul had raised more than US$130,000 on the first day, and the trio has even received support from celebrity fans including Taraji P. Henson, Talib Kweli, Raven-Symone, Estelle and The Roots' drummer Questlove.

- WENN