| 1. Intro |
| 2. Supa Emcees |
| 3. Biziness |
| 4. Wonce Again Long Island |
| 5. Dinninit |
| 6. Brakes |
| 7. Dog Eat Dog |
| 8. Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Ooh Baby |
| 9. Long Island Degrees |
| 10. Betta Listen |
| 11. Itsoweezee (Hot) |
| 12. More |
| 13. Big Brother Beat |
| 14. Down Syndrome |
| 15. Pony Ride |
| 16. Stakes Is High |
| 17. Sunshine |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
The De La Plugs created the D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inna Sound, Y'all) philosophy on their brilliant and weird debut, Three Feet High and Rising (making them the first--and probably only--hip-hop act to appropriate a Johnny Cash song for their album title). Then they tried to kill the Daisy with their follow-up, De La Soul Is Dead and then tried to find their way through the aftermath of that unnecessary act on Buh-Loone Mind State. Finally, a full three albums from their first, De La finds their footing with Stakes Is High. Here, they're no longer so self-conscious and it's easy to remember why you liked them enough in the first place to stick with them through the hard times. With unfaltering lyrical dexterity, they get to ask the question, "Whatever happened to the Emcees?" ("Super-Emcees"), skewer the industry ("The Bizness," with some help from that super MC, Common), and even shout out to their birthplace, Long Island, twice (on "Long Island Degrees" and the break-down-funky "Wonce Again Long Island"). --Todd Levin
Amazon.com
The De La Plugs created the D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inna Sound, Y'all) philosophy on their brilliant and weird debut, Three Feet High and Rising (making them the first--and probably only--hip-hop act to appropriate a Johnny Cash song for their album title). Then they tried to kill the Daisy with their follow-up, De La Soul Is Dead and then tried to find their way through the aftermath of that unnecessary act on Buh-Loone Mind State. Finally, a full three albums from their first, De La finds their footing with Stakes Is High. Here, they're no longer so self-conscious and it's easy to remember why you liked them enough in the first place to stick with them through the hard times. With unfaltering lyrical dexterity, they get to ask the question, "Whatever happened to the Emcees?" ("Super-Emcees"), skewer the industry ("The Bizness," with some help from that super MC, Common), and even shout out to their birthplace, Long Island, twice (on "Long Island Degrees" and the break-down-funky "Wonce Again Long Island"). --Todd Levin
The albums "Intro", preceded by a skit, is not your typical skip material. After paying homage to the pioneering Boogie Down Productions, the lyrical onslaught begins. Posdunous rhymes, "A fresh linen scent so sniffer on the two-inch/ A talker of the berg without we-- influence/ So stick to you Naughty by Natures and your Kane/ 'Cause graffiti that I based upon the wax is insane". Apparently, the line was a show of respect to the aforementioned artists but the complexity was taken out of context and sparked a short beef between Treach and Posdunous. "Supa Emcess" follows and is unquestionably a superb single. The play on words are timeless especially when Posdunous spits, "Within this program of rap, I'll eradicate the glitches/ Yo I'm dark like Wesley, but I be sparkin more bitc---/and to them my constellation put your lives in jep/ While you others represent, I present my rep". The album just doesn't let up because the next song is "The Bizness". Another excellent single and once again the song is so lyrical that you can't help but say DAMN! Common is freakin' flows for the fun of it and as bold a statement this is, it is my personal favorite verse from him (including anything on "Resurrection"). "Wonce Again Long Island" and "Dinninit" follow and continues to blow me away. If the former doesn't make you look at degradation of women in hip hop in a different way then your a lost cause. Posdnous rhymes, "R&B nig--- lie to mother, sister, and daughter/ to have sex disguised as lovin in the rain/ Their words are more hollow than October 31st/ what's worse, hate to see the/ females switch to sexual mentality/ it doesn't match with they given anatomy/ Man they rather be ho'z like that male emcee/Who walk around like they got nutz/ And use they titz and azz like a crutch/ Man the underground's about not bein exposed/ So you better take your naked azz and put on some clothes/".
Truthfully, it is hard to quote certain lines here and there because it just doesn't do this record justice. Any verse could have been featured smack dab on the Source Magazines Quotable page. On top of that, if you think Prince Pauls influence is void on "Stakes Is High", then you are sorely mistaken. Being around Prince Paul, De La Soul has obviously learned from his genius and they have injected their own madness here. Telephone buttons ring to the mellow groove of "4 More", a short skit combating Country Musics ignorance towards rap music appears at the end of "Long Island Degrees" and the soul samples are extremely tight and layered by mixmaster Tim Latham in startling peak form. One of the tightest beats has to be "Big Brother Beat" featuring a young and hungry Mos Def. Since the album is so lyrical, Mos Def decides to flip Rakim lines just to keep pace with Posdunous and Trugoys 'Attack of the adverbial nouns'. I could talk about each song for days because there is so much standout material. However, the title track is one of hip hop musics underappreciated masterpieces. If you ever had a doubt in your mind that award shows are nothing but a popularity contest and are quite meaningless then this will erase those doubts. Trugoy spits, "I'm sick of bitc--- shakin' as---/I'm sick of talkin' about bluntz/ Sick of Versace glasses/ Sick of slang/ Sick of half-azz awards shows/ Sick of name brand clothes/ Sick of R&B bit---- over bullsh-- tracks Cocaine and crack/ Which brings sickness to blacks/ Sick of swoll' head rappers With their sicker-than raps/ Clappers and gats Makin' the whole sick world collapse".
In conclusion, "Stakes Is High" raises the bar of lyricism so cruelly high that NO emcee has stepped to it since. Contrary to many previous reviewers, I believe De La Soul took a huge step forward musically. They experimented with their own basslines (filtered them brilliantly with hi-tech studio equipment), sampled then played the samples on keyboards to inject more life in the sound, and they brought in the late Jay Dee (R.I.P.) to produce some cuts, whose hard drums and smooth sounds would be emulated over and over again. The album that you needed yesterday, "Stakes is High" will forever remain a benchmark in artistic growth, musicianship, and a dangerous display of euphemism, slang, and metaphor. Beats and rhymes like you will never hear again!
Now production. I believed everybody was dissapointed that Prince Paul was not behind the boards on this album, but mostly De La Soul along with Spearhead X, Ogee, Skeff Amslem, and Jay-Dee who co-produced the excellent song "Stakes Is High". Most of the other produces to include De La Soul do a good job pulling thier weight throughout this album.
Now don't get me wrong. This is a very good album, but not perfect like a lot of reviewers are saying (seeing the average is 5 stars...bring on the negative votes...). In my opinion, I just find it unbalanced. But hey, don't take my word for it, listen to the album yourself, because you might like it better than I do. "Stakes Is High" to me is like A Tribe Called Quest's "Beats, Rhymes, and Life".
Lyrics: B
Production: B
Guest Appearances: B+
Musical Vibes: B
Overall: B
Favorite Tracks: The Bizness, Wonce Again Long Island, Brakes, Betta Listen, 4 More, Stakes Is High
Honorable Mention Track: Supa Emcees
Favorite De La Soul Albums:
1. De La Soul Is Dead
2. 3 Feet High And Rising
3. AOI: Mosaic Thump
4. AOI: Bionix
5. Stakes Is High
Haven't heard:
The Grind Date
The Impossible Mission
Buhloone Mindstate (which might be important to why I didn't connect with this album very much)
Peace Everyone!!!
Top Joints:
Stake is High
4 More
Dinninit
Itsowezee
Supa Emcees
If money makes a man strange (we got to rearrange that)
So what makes the world go 'round?
If love is against the law, (listen, I don't know)
Gotta change the way its goin' down.
This album takes the listener back to simpler times. This is the type of album that if you started listeing to it today, 10 years from now you could listen to it and think about today with a smile on your face. It just feels so goood. If you like the roots, tribe called quest, mos def, or any real hip hop you are guaranteeed to love this album. This is the best of De La Soul, and the best of hip hop.
The De La Plugs created the D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inna Sound, Y'all) philosophy on their brilliant and weird debut, Three Feet High and Rising (making them the first--and probably only--hip-hop act to appropriate a Johnny Cash song for their album title). Then they tried to kill the Daisy with their follow-up, De La Soul Is Dead and then tried to find their way through the aftermath of that unnecessary act on Buh-Loone Mind State. Finally, a full three albums from their first, De La finds their footing with Stakes Is High. Here, they're no longer so self-conscious and it's easy to remember why you liked them enough in the first place to stick with them through the hard times. With unfaltering lyrical dexterity, they get to ask the question, "Whatever happened to the Emcees?" ("Super-Emcees"), skewer the industry ("The Bizness," with some help from that super MC, Common), and even shout out to their birthplace, Long Island, twice (on "Long Island Degrees" and the break-down-funky "Wonce Again Long Island"). --Todd Levin
Amazon.com
The De La Plugs created the D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inna Sound, Y'all) philosophy on their brilliant and weird debut, Three Feet High and Rising (making them the first--and probably only--hip-hop act to appropriate a Johnny Cash song for their album title). Then they tried to kill the Daisy with their follow-up, De La Soul Is Dead and then tried to find their way through the aftermath of that unnecessary act on Buh-Loone Mind State. Finally, a full three albums from their first, De La finds their footing with Stakes Is High. Here, they're no longer so self-conscious and it's easy to remember why you liked them enough in the first place to stick with them through the hard times. With unfaltering lyrical dexterity, they get to ask the question, "Whatever happened to the Emcees?" ("Super-Emcees"), skewer the industry ("The Bizness," with some help from that super MC, Common), and even shout out to their birthplace, Long Island, twice (on "Long Island Degrees" and the break-down-funky "Wonce Again Long Island"). --Todd Levin
Stakes Is High,De La Soul,Tommy Boy,Alternative Rap,East Coast Rap,Hip-Hop,R&B,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop
Stakes Is High
Average customer rating: 
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Stakes Is High
De La Soul Manufacturer: Rhino / Ada ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  East Coast
| Rap & Hip-Hop
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General
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Experimental Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
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Pop Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
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Rhino Records
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ASIN: B000000HKY Release Date: 1996-07-02 |
Tracks:
- Intro
- Supa Emcees
- The Bizness Featuring Common
- Wonce Again Long Island
- Dinninit
- Brakes
- Dog Eat Dog
- Baby Baby Baby Baby Ooh Baby
- Long Island Degrees
- Betta Listen
- Itzsoweezee (HOT)
- 4 More
- Big Brother Beat
- Down Syndrome
- Pony Ride
- Stakes Is High
- Sunshine
Amazon.com essential recording
The De La Plugs created the D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inna Sound, Y'all) philosophy on their brilliant and weird debut, Three Feet High and Rising (making them the first--and probably only--hip-hop act to appropriate a Johnny Cash song for their album title). Then they tried to kill the Daisy with their follow-up, De La Soul Is Dead and then tried to find their way through the aftermath of that unnecessary act on Buh-Loone Mind State. Finally, a full three albums from their first, De La finds their footing with Stakes Is High. Here, they're no longer so self-conscious and it's easy to remember why you liked them enough in the first place to stick with them through the hard times. With unfaltering lyrical dexterity, they get to ask the question, "Whatever happened to the Emcees?" ("Super-Emcees"), skewer the industry ("The Bizness," with some help from that super MC, Common), and even shout out to their birthplace, Long Island, twice (on "Long Island Degrees" and the break-down-funky "Wonce Again Long Island"). --Todd LevinAmazon.com
The De La Plugs created the D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inna Sound, Y'all) philosophy on their brilliant and weird debut, Three Feet High and Rising (making them the first--and probably only--hip-hop act to appropriate a Johnny Cash song for their album title). Then they tried to kill the Daisy with their follow-up, De La Soul Is Dead and then tried to find their way through the aftermath of that unnecessary act on Buh-Loone Mind State. Finally, a full three albums from their first, De La finds their footing with Stakes Is High. Here, they're no longer so self-conscious and it's easy to remember why you liked them enough in the first place to stick with them through the hard times. With unfaltering lyrical dexterity, they get to ask the question, "Whatever happened to the Emcees?" ("Super-Emcees"), skewer the industry ("The Bizness," with some help from that super MC, Common), and even shout out to their birthplace, Long Island, twice (on "Long Island Degrees" and the break-down-funky "Wonce Again Long Island"). --Todd LevinCustomer Reviews:
They Certainly Set The Stakes High On This One.......2007-04-03
The albums "Intro", preceded by a skit, is not your typical skip material. After paying homage to the pioneering Boogie Down Productions, the lyrical onslaught begins. Posdunous rhymes, "A fresh linen scent so sniffer on the two-inch/ A talker of the berg without we-- influence/ So stick to you Naughty by Natures and your Kane/ 'Cause graffiti that I based upon the wax is insane". Apparently, the line was a show of respect to the aforementioned artists but the complexity was taken out of context and sparked a short beef between Treach and Posdunous. "Supa Emcess" follows and is unquestionably a superb single. The play on words are timeless especially when Posdunous spits, "Within this program of rap, I'll eradicate the glitches/ Yo I'm dark like Wesley, but I be sparkin more bitc---/and to them my constellation put your lives in jep/ While you others represent, I present my rep". The album just doesn't let up because the next song is "The Bizness". Another excellent single and once again the song is so lyrical that you can't help but say DAMN! Common is freakin' flows for the fun of it and as bold a statement this is, it is my personal favorite verse from him (including anything on "Resurrection"). "Wonce Again Long Island" and "Dinninit" follow and continues to blow me away. If the former doesn't make you look at degradation of women in hip hop in a different way then your a lost cause. Posdnous rhymes, "R&B nig--- lie to mother, sister, and daughter/ to have sex disguised as lovin in the rain/ Their words are more hollow than October 31st/ what's worse, hate to see the/ females switch to sexual mentality/ it doesn't match with they given anatomy/ Man they rather be ho'z like that male emcee/Who walk around like they got nutz/ And use they titz and azz like a crutch/ Man the underground's about not bein exposed/ So you better take your naked azz and put on some clothes/".
Truthfully, it is hard to quote certain lines here and there because it just doesn't do this record justice. Any verse could have been featured smack dab on the Source Magazines Quotable page. On top of that, if you think Prince Pauls influence is void on "Stakes Is High", then you are sorely mistaken. Being around Prince Paul, De La Soul has obviously learned from his genius and they have injected their own madness here. Telephone buttons ring to the mellow groove of "4 More", a short skit combating Country Musics ignorance towards rap music appears at the end of "Long Island Degrees" and the soul samples are extremely tight and layered by mixmaster Tim Latham in startling peak form. One of the tightest beats has to be "Big Brother Beat" featuring a young and hungry Mos Def. Since the album is so lyrical, Mos Def decides to flip Rakim lines just to keep pace with Posdunous and Trugoys 'Attack of the adverbial nouns'. I could talk about each song for days because there is so much standout material. However, the title track is one of hip hop musics underappreciated masterpieces. If you ever had a doubt in your mind that award shows are nothing but a popularity contest and are quite meaningless then this will erase those doubts. Trugoy spits, "I'm sick of bitc--- shakin' as---/I'm sick of talkin' about bluntz/ Sick of Versace glasses/ Sick of slang/ Sick of half-azz awards shows/ Sick of name brand clothes/ Sick of R&B bit---- over bullsh-- tracks Cocaine and crack/ Which brings sickness to blacks/ Sick of swoll' head rappers With their sicker-than raps/ Clappers and gats Makin' the whole sick world collapse".
In conclusion, "Stakes Is High" raises the bar of lyricism so cruelly high that NO emcee has stepped to it since. Contrary to many previous reviewers, I believe De La Soul took a huge step forward musically. They experimented with their own basslines (filtered them brilliantly with hi-tech studio equipment), sampled then played the samples on keyboards to inject more life in the sound, and they brought in the late Jay Dee (R.I.P.) to produce some cuts, whose hard drums and smooth sounds would be emulated over and over again. The album that you needed yesterday, "Stakes is High" will forever remain a benchmark in artistic growth, musicianship, and a dangerous display of euphemism, slang, and metaphor. Beats and rhymes like you will never hear again!
Stakes Is High...Even For De La Soul (Rating: 7 out of 10- -3.5 stars).......2007-03-01
Now production. I believed everybody was dissapointed that Prince Paul was not behind the boards on this album, but mostly De La Soul along with Spearhead X, Ogee, Skeff Amslem, and Jay-Dee who co-produced the excellent song "Stakes Is High". Most of the other produces to include De La Soul do a good job pulling thier weight throughout this album.
Now don't get me wrong. This is a very good album, but not perfect like a lot of reviewers are saying (seeing the average is 5 stars...bring on the negative votes...). In my opinion, I just find it unbalanced. But hey, don't take my word for it, listen to the album yourself, because you might like it better than I do. "Stakes Is High" to me is like A Tribe Called Quest's "Beats, Rhymes, and Life".
Lyrics: B
Production: B
Guest Appearances: B+
Musical Vibes: B
Overall: B
Favorite Tracks: The Bizness, Wonce Again Long Island, Brakes, Betta Listen, 4 More, Stakes Is High
Honorable Mention Track: Supa Emcees
Favorite De La Soul Albums:
1. De La Soul Is Dead
2. 3 Feet High And Rising
3. AOI: Mosaic Thump
4. AOI: Bionix
5. Stakes Is High
Haven't heard:
The Grind Date
The Impossible Mission
Buhloone Mindstate (which might be important to why I didn't connect with this album very much)
Peace Everyone!!!
Classic DeLaSoul joint from 1996....................2006-12-25
Top Joints:
Stake is High
4 More
Dinninit
Itsowezee
Supa Emcees
I'm so glad I own this........2006-10-04
CLEARLY the best of De La Soul.......2006-07-20
If money makes a man strange (we got to rearrange that)
So what makes the world go 'round?
If love is against the law, (listen, I don't know)
Gotta change the way its goin' down.
This album takes the listener back to simpler times. This is the type of album that if you started listeing to it today, 10 years from now you could listen to it and think about today with a smile on your face. It just feels so goood. If you like the roots, tribe called quest, mos def, or any real hip hop you are guaranteeed to love this album. This is the best of De La Soul, and the best of hip hop.
Average customer rating: 
|
Incoming from the Airwaves
Manufacturer: Work Ethics Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000CADIRA Release Date: 2004-05-11 |
|
Average customer rating:
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Stakes Is High
De La Soul Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Visi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000E1YG Release Date: 1996-11-21 |
Album Description
First single from the hip hop trio's forthcomingalbum 'Stakes Is High'. Includes three mixes of the tune(Album Version, U.K. Full Length Remix & DJ Spinna- OriginalVocal), plus 'The Bizness' (Album Version). Comes in aslimline jewel case.|
Average customer rating:
|
Stakes Is High
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
East Coast
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
Experimental Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000BPB40O |
Rap Music:
- The Bigger They Come [CD-single]
- The Flip Squad All-Star DJs
- The Ladies of Gangster Rap [Clean]
- The Like of Whom Has Never Been
- The Queens of Comedy [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]
- The True Story [Explicit Lyrics]
- Thug Mentality 1999 [Clean]
- True Story [Explicit Lyrics]
- What's the 411?
- What You Want [CD-single]
Recommended Music:
Prokofiev: Works for Piano / Transcriptions