Stakes Is High

Stakes Is High er fjórða De La Soul fløga í fullari longd, og fyrsta fløga Prince Paul ikki produceraði fyri teir. Fløgan varð útgivin í 1996, tá vesturstrondin í USA domineraði marknaðin, og tað var klandur millum eystur og vestur av hip hop verðini, serliga millum Los Angeles og New York. Teir tríggjir newyorkararnir góvu eisini sína meining um útviklingina av hip hop í vestari síðuni av landinum. Populert hip hop í hesi tíðini var gangsta rap, serstakliga í Los Angeles. Í sanginum "Stakes Is High" gjørdu teir eitt innslag um evnið, og teir vóru ikki smædnir at siga tað beint fram. Í sanginum "The Bizness" eru teir eisini kritiskir yvir fyri nýggja síðusporinum musikkurin og kultururin var farin.
Eisini "Itzsoweezee" er kritikkur um hip hop, og teir fara eftir teimum sum dyrka vold í hip hop. Hesu ferð stendur mafioso rap fyri skotum. Trugoy heldur fyri: "[...]them Cubans don't care what y'all niggaz do / Colombians ain't never ran with your crew / Why you acting all spicy and sheisty / The only Italians you knew was icees[...]".

Fløgan hevur eina kronologiska framgongd. Hon byrjar við brotum av fólkum sum fortelja nær tey fyrst hoyrdu ta legendarisku og grundbrótandu fløguna hjá BDP, "Criminal Minded", og hettar er byrjanin ífylgi 'De La Soul'. Nøkur brot eru í miðjuni, so sum eitt brot har ein maður úr suðurstatunum sigur heldur rasistiskt hví hann ikki dámar rap, og eitt annað har ein heimleysur maður tosar um harða lívið hjá honum á gøtuni. Í seinasta sangi "Sunshine" er eitt brot har tað verður sagt "When I first heard 3 Feet High and Rising, I was - ", og sangurin er avbrotin. Teir seta sína fyrstu fløgu á sama støði sum fyrsta fløgan hjá Boogie Down Production.
Stakes Is High fekk góðar umtalir, fleiri vildu sagt hetta var eitt teirra besta verk, men tað seldi allíkavæl ikki gott.

 Spælilisti 

#TitleNotes1"Intro"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "Sing a Simple Song" by Jackson 52"Supa Emcees"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick & Doug E. FreshSample: "Summer Samba" by Walter WanderleySample: "Adventures of Super Rhyme" by Jimmy SpicerSample: "Run's House" by Run D.M.C.3"The Bizness"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, L. Lynn4"Wonce Again Long Island"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "Who's Making Love" by Lou Donaldson 5"Dinninit"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, X. Hargrove, M. JacksonSample: "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson 6"Brakes"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, R. Hodby, C. Jimenez, L. MackSample: "The Breaks" by Kurtis BlowSample: "P.S.K. (What Does It Mean)" by Schooly DSample: "It's Your Rock" by Fantasy ThreeSample: "Children's Story" by Slick Rick7"Dog Eat Dog"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "Peaceful Sundown" by Jan Hammer 8"Baby Baby Baby Baby Ooh Baby"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonAdditional Vocals: JazzyfatnasteesSample: "She's Looking Like a Hobo" by Malcolm McLaren9"Long Island Degrees"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "Before I Rest" by Les McCannSample: "It Only Happens (When I Look at You)" by Aretha Franklin10"Betta Listen"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason11"Itzsoweezee (HOT)"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "Hot Dis Year" by Dirtsman12"4 More"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, G. Scott, N. Hall, M. Small, E. Matthew, D. PayneSample: "Jimmy's Bonus Beats" by Jungle BrothersSample: "A Rose for Booker" by New Dynamic Chico Hamilton QuintetSample: "Never Give You Up" by Sharon Redd13"Big Brother Beat"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, D. Beze, S. Anselm 14"Down Syndrome"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. MasonSample: "Talkin' Loud and Saying Nothing" by James Brown15"Pony Ride"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, S. Preston16"Stakes Is High"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, J. YanceySample: "Mind Power" by James BrownSample: "Swahililand" by Ahmad Jamal17"Sunshine"Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, L. Richie, T. McClarySample: "High on Sunshine" by The CommodoresSample: "Free Angela" by Bayete

Bólkur:De La Soul útgávur
Bólkur:1996