In June 1988 it was released as the group's debut single as part of a double A-side with "Freedom of Speak (We Got Three Minutes)".

A remix of the song, under the title "Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)", would later be included on their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising.

Lyrically, the song is idiosyncratic, however, musically it laid the foundations for the sound the group would realise more fully with their debut album.

[6] De La Soul's label, Tommy Boy, offered a $500 reward for "the first person to identify a convoluted sample" on the song.

[7] Plug Tunin' has also been sampled by other artists such as Nas, Common, and the Gravediggaz' "Defective Trip", which is also produced by Prince Paul.