The esteemed producer had previously been spotted in the studio with the New York trio back in August. When HipHopDX reached out to Paul for comment, he merely said: “I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” De La member Maseo was equally as cryptic, offering DX nothing more than numerous GIFs.

In a new post shared to his Instagram, Prince Paul expressed joy over reuniting with the group and said the reunion was long overdue.

“This might have been one of the most eventful years I’ve had in quite some time,” he wrote. “An unsuspected highlight was the opportunity to revisit and work on De La Soul once again. I really want to thank them for believing in me once more to get the job done…I want to thank everyone who was involved in helping us make this project a reality. Everybody who I called on to participate or get advice from.”

Prince Paul reunites with De La Soul after 30 Years, teases new music for 2023 🤝https://t.co/52WCdDJySr pic.twitter.com/qN0fAdaKnF

— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) December 8, 2022

Prince Paul produced three of De La Soul’s most acclaimed albums: 1989’s 3 Feet High and Rising, 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead and 1993’s Buhloone Mindstate. But for the trio’s fourth effort, 1996’s Stakes Is High, they decided to self-produce most of it with some help from J Dilla, Spearhead X and Skeff Anslem, among others.

In an interview with HipHopDX back in 2012 Paul spoke about his relationship with the group and said parting ways prior to Stakes Is High was what was best for his relationship.

“That goes back to us parting ways. I knew we would be better apart than together and I didn’t want to lose friendships,” Paul said. We’ve always been cool. Whether it was equipment or about the music business at the time – which looking back was really nothing – and everything else, it was just so they could develop themselves as individuals.”