This track is called "The People" and it features the legendary Chuck D from Public Enemy. You can download it for free at our website http://goo.gl/9DWGVZ. The idea for the song came from a couple of samples, and the track's vibe is earnest and has a pressing tone to it. The lyrics are commentaries of our struggles and successes, our weaknesses and strengths... the experiences... and trials and tribulations we have faced as human beings, a race, and as individuals. Lyrically Chuck brings a sense of authority and urgency. The power in his voice demands your attention. With Chuck on the track this is a dream come true for us. Originally "The People" was suppose to drop in June around the same time the Chuck D/Hot 97/Peter Rosenberg situation took place. We chose to hold off and not add fuel to any fires. Our next aim was for a Black Friday release. Coincidentally the Ferguson tragedy took place, and more recently the non-indictment verdict. Somehow this song was destined to be a part of something more than just dropping a joint. We hope it will lend itself to something positive in these difficult times. We created some merchandise for this song that is for sale (The People T-Shirt & Sweatshirt). Proceeds from the merch will be donated to two organizations: All Star Code and I Love Ferguson. All Star Code is an organization that helps under served youth make their way into the tech industry. We've been building, strategizing, and working with developers for the past year, and we understand the importance of education in tech. We have a music tech company that we'll be launching soon called Daisy (http://daisycollective.com/). It's important that we have more people from our community and our culture involved in this space. We just want to do our part in making that happen and ultimately help build the future of music. I Love Ferguson is a organization that's helping to rebuild the town of Ferguson, MO. We feel strong about helping and supporting the small businesses that have been affected in that area.

It's been a decade since all three members of De La Soul recorded a studio album together, but the 3 Feet High and Rising crew are back with a powerful new song titled "The People." This hard-hitting socially conscious track features a guest appearance by Public Enemy frontman Chuck D. "Lyrically, Chuck brings a sense of authority and urgency. The power in his voice demands your attention," De La Soul's Trugoy tells Rolling Stone of working with the hip hop legend. "It's a dream come true for us."

"The track's vibe was earnest and had a pressing tone to it," Trugoy adds. "The lyrics are commentaries of our struggles and successes, our weaknesses and strengths...the experiences, trials and tribulations we have faced as human beings, a race and individuals.

While the song's message aligns itself with what's going on across the nation after a grand jury decided not to press charges against Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, "The People" is almost an accidental anthem for the protestors.

"Originally 'The People' was supposed to drop in June, around the same time the Chuck D/Hot 97/Rosenberg situation took place. We chose to hold off and not add fuel to any fires," Trugoy says. "Our next aim was for a Black Friday release. Coincidentally, the Ferguson tragedy took place and now the non-indictment verdict. Somehow this song was destined to be a part of something more than just dropping a joint. We hope it will lend itself to something positive in these difficult times."

While De La Soul will offer "The People" as a free download (something they're prone to doing), they'll also restock the merchandise section of their official website with some new goods. Proceeds from those sales will benefit I Love Ferguson, which helps out business owners affected by the protests, and All Star Code, a non-profit organization that help young African-Americans learn computer programming.

As for more new music, Trugoy tells Rolling Stone that a new De La Soul album – their first as a trio since 2004's The Grind Date – will arrive in 2015

Chuck D has shared a letter that Tupac Shakur wrote to him detailing the respect he had for the Public Enemy emcee. In his tweet, Chuck wrote, "Letter from Pac, but you should have seen mine."

Shakur begins the letter, written in September 1995, noting how highly he regarded the Public Enemy mouthpiece and how much Chuck's letter of support meant to him. "Back in the dayz, on tour with u, I learned so much from what u did and how u did it," Shakur wrote. "It may be hard 2 C but u have alwayz played a major role in what it is I do 2day."

He went on to offer Chuck a few opportunities for collaboration, discussing a program he wanted to include Chuck in (though it's not clear what the program would be) and offering him a part in a movie. "And 2 push my luck even more, I would be honored if u would appear on this track 4 my next album, Euthanasia," he wrote. "The track is called 'Da Struggle Continuez.' It will also feature Sista Souljah, if God will. So let me know."

At the time he wrote the letter, Shakur was serving time in a New York prison following a conviction on two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree for offensive touching without consent. He mentioned making bail, pending appeal, for his sentence and said he hoped to be free by the time Chuck was reading the letter.

"I just got signed 2 Death Row, so I should be working on this album soon," he wrote. "Thanks again, Chuck! I believe we can make a difference, and I have every intention of doing just that. Stay strong!"

Shakur changed the title of his fifth album from Euthanasia to All Eyez on Me, though neither Chuck D nor Sister Soujah appeared on the album. That same year, he released the Makaveli album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, which he finished days before his death. It is unclear whether "Da Struggle Continuez" was ever recorded.

Shakur was released from jail less than a month after writing the letter and was murdered just short of a year after writing it.

De La Soul Recruit Chuck D for Hard-Hitting New Track 'The People'

Read Tupac Shakur's Heartfelt Letter to Public Enemy's Chuck D