After releasing the second installment in their 'Art Official Intelligence' series in 2001, De La Soul is finally making good on the promise to deliver the third and final disc. The legendary trio has announced that they are currently prepping the release of 'Art Official Intelligence III,' which they plan on dropping later this year.

"Definitely, we looking to put out a new album," said Maseo in an interview with Pedestrian.TV. "We're definitely gonna come out with 'Art Official Intelligence III.' The fans have been yearning for that. So we're going to put out music and we're going to continue to tour. That's all we do. That's what I'm here to do. I don't have an acting career. I don't even want one!"

He continued by sharing that he hopes that the group can drop the album as early as spring, but doesn't want to rush the process. "De La Soul never puts a date and time on art. But we will promise you a quality product and we will promise you a record this year," he continued. "I can't actually give you a date and time, because that would be a lie. [...] Truly, it has to be good. It has to feel right."

The trio -- Maseo, Posdnuos and Dave -- most recently released 'Are You In?: Nike+ Original Run' in 2009 and the underground single 'The Return of DST' last August. They also returned with a guest feature on the 2010 Gorillaz album 'Plastic Beach.' The first installment of the 'AOI' series, 'Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump,' dropped in 2000, followed by 'AOI: Bionix' in 2001.



Watch De La Soul's 'Shopping Bags'

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