Sunday Music: "Don't Push Me" (De La Soul)

The last track on the newest and maybe last De La Soul album is a feature for Trugoy the Dove, aka Dave, RIP.

It’s called “Don’t Push Me” and right off the bat you can think of “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. I’m pretty sure that’s what Dave wants us to think of. Before we even hear it.

Because when we do hear THIS framing of the words, “Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge / I’m trying not to lose my head” it’s totally different.

There’s a major key bouncing underneath this version. Dave’s almost singing on half of the song, and certainly the chorus. The drums have a Dilla-esque drift to them. It’s not a stable feeling, but it’s a stable and mature emotion it’s throwing off.

The song makes me feel like this: how even when life is supposedly getting better in the world around us, it only matters how we think about life inside of our heads.

The song feels like the inside of Dave’s head.

I don’t know when the lyrics were written exactly, there are clues but I won’t read too hard into them because I don’t think it matters, but this is definitely mature Dave. This id definitely from the perspective of a man who’s survived a long and weird journey and has the wisdom to reflect like this.

He’s making a peace with it. Which is, kind of crazy, because it’s like this is the evolution from the grownup reality of The Grind Date, and heartfelt ego-less-ness of And The Anonymous Nobody. If you need it, there’s context here (in my De La Soul listening guide, which now I’ll have to update!).

“Don’t Push Me” feels like letting go. Of ego, never of life, and never forgetting where you came from, and all the good and bad stuff that combined to make your life, your life. Melle Mel to Dave isn’t a straight line or a clear arc, but it’s fitting.

I am enjoying this new record, but I am especially loving this last song.

Bring it on, 2026: