Stakes Is High

De La Soul

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 2, 1996)
• Original Release Date: July 2, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Ada
• ASIN: B000000HKY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,371 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars De La Soul's Masterpiece., March 3, 2004

By	SmokaJ (TORONTO) - See all my reviews

De La Soul is a legend of the hip-hop game. They've endured many different styles and personas through their tenure spanning 1989-2001, while producing 6 classic LP's.

"Stakes is High" (1996) chronologically sits at #4, following a successfully experimental "Buhloone Mindstate" (1993). This album was their first w/o the production of the legendary Prince Paul, and it seems to me (through the realness and overall chemistry of the album), that "Stakes is High" is De La in their prime.

They were only 19 (est.) when they dropped "3 feet...", they hated the way the public mistook them, and eventually branded them as hippies (they kinda asked for it), then two years later they dropped "De La Soul is Dead" announcing and proving to the world that they were true MC's, via a much more serious and raw LP. Then came "Buhloone...", true De La heads know what I mean when I say that this album completely transcended the first two, with it being much more "out-there." Nonetheless the experiment was a success, because the album is sick. Now we come to "Stakes...", in my mind the trio had matured enough and truly found themselves. Their lyrical rhetoric and selection of topic tracks are completely on-point. Coupled with some of the best beats they've ever spit on (I believe the break-beats are perfect for De La's style) gives us one of Hip-Hop's greatest complete albums. Maybe you don't realize it now, but down the road everyone will comprehend what a huge achievement this LP truly was.

I have to mention that this album caters to all tastes; it's lounging, "Da Bizness" (#3) & "Long Island Degrees" (#9). Bumpin', "Wonce Again Long Island" (#4) & "Down Syndrome" (#14). Insightful, "Betta Listen" (#10) & "Dog Eat Dog" (#7). And puts you in a great mood, "Dinninit" (#5) & "Sunshine" (#16).

The title track, "Stakes is High" (#16), still sends chills through my ears everytime I hear it, peep this:

"The instamatic focal point, bringin' damage to your borough, be some brothers from the east with the beats that be thorough / I've got the solar gravitation, so I'm bound to pull it, I gets down like brothers are found - duckin' from bullets / gun control means usin' both hands - in my lands, where it's all about the cautious livan / migratin' to a higher form of consequence...compliments on strugglin', that shouldn't be notable and every word I say should be a hip-hop quoteable."

It's one of my favorite tracks ever, by any artist.

Bottom Line: This album is a masterpiece. 5 shining stars.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simply amazing, August 7, 2004

By	emceelarynx (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

De la Soul came out with 3 feet high, a good album but it was too goofy for me personally, as they releashed subsequent albums more maturity developed within them. And then time came when i heard "Stakes is High"
this album is so beauitful to listen to from start to finish, there isn't a song which i consider a filler. the depth of the lyrics will keep you listening more intently everytime you hear it, while the beats will keep ringing in your ear drums till your next listen.
this album has the key word "longevity" which makes it a classic in my veiw, and is not biased by hype or support for de la.
Although the album may not have been revolutionary or ground breaking, it was an introspective of hip hop and where it was at.
this a masterpiece, you must listen to it and you too will hopefully agree. i might take a few listens but when it clicks u'll be amazed.
check out my favourite de la & hip hop album.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Rap - Just a Hip-Hop classic., May 29, 2001

By	englishbob (Springfield, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This is probably De La Souls best album and unlike the others they dropped the weirdness and just delivered hardcore beats with excellent lyrics. Just straight-up hip-hop beats with no thrills. I just dug this out the crates and it sounds better now than it did when I bought it, especially compared with the common drivel thats being peddled to us these days.

This album is definitely better than Art Official Intelligence and if you want only one De La Soul album in your collection then this is the one.

Real headz must check this, or you are seriously missing out...