Amid all this, a smart little boy (Tommy Rettig), wise beyond his years, is the eye of the storm, surely brewing stories of his own.

NEWYORKER: The Cobweb

"He doesn't make decisions based on ego, " explains Tommy Boy Chairman Tom Silverman.

FORBES: Jive Talking

The group's early albums on Tommy Boy Records, including the 1989 classic 3 Feet High And Rising, aren't available anywhere as paid downloads.

FORBES: Music's Online Holdouts

Despite the absence of De La Soul from iTunes and other online vendors, Rhino has managed to clear the necessary rights for other Tommy Boy recording artists, including Queen Latifah and Digital Underground.

FORBES: Music's Online Holdouts

His first guest on 16 September 1984 was Adrian Sherwood, who provided its now legendary theme tune, and collaborator Keith Le Blanc, who had earlier launched the hip hop classic Malcolm X on the world via Tommy Boy.

BBC: Lancashire - On the Wire celebrates 25 years