Stakes Is High
Encyclopedia
Stakes Is High is De La Soul's
fourth full-length album, released during the summer of 1996. The album marked a change in the groups sound and direction as it was their first release not to be produced by Prince Paul. Stakes Is High was mainly produced by the group themeselves with additional tracks provided by Jay Dee, DJ Ogee, Spearhead X and Skeff Anslem. It received mostly strong reviews but little commercial success.
Mos Def
to a wider audience, on the cut "Big Brother Beat". Common
also makes an appearance on "The Bizness".
Stakes Is High marked the first time the group did not collaborate with long-time producer Prince Paul on an album.
On Stakes Is High, De La Soul
also attempted to bridge the growing gaps between the original members of the Native Tongues
collective, although none of those artists make an actual appearance on the album. After the album's release, the group toured extensively and remained rather quiet before returning in 2000 with the first installment in their "Art Official Intelligence" series, Mosaic Thump
.
Stakes Is High dealt with many topics, including the state of hiphop, the commercialization of the hip-hop culture and criticism towards gangsta rap. This would cause great contempt with the late gangsta rapper 2Pac who would later retaliate on the song "Against All Odds" from his posthumous 1996 album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
. Naughty By Nature
also took serious offence to the record, creating a feud that has only recently died down.
Prince Paul produced the first three albums, 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul is Dead and Buhloone Mindstate. Stakes is High takes a noted production turn as the group opted to produce their own tracks, with a little help from the late J-Dilla (or Jay Dee).
3 Feet High and Rising marked the first time a hip-hop group was sued for using unauthorized samples in their songs. This started the requirements for all album samples to be cleared before an albums release, after the suit was lost to The Turtles. During the late 1990’s, De La Soul was competing with Nas’ second release, an up and coming Jay-Z, an already established Notorious B.I.G., a second album by Outkast and the escalation of Gangter Rap. Released on the same day as Nas’ It was Written, De La Soul kept their direction of positivity by addressing problems within not only the hip-hop community, but society as a whole. As many of the formentioned artists have demonstrated the problems with the hip-hop music scene, which can be seen today (2011), De La Soul’s Stakes is High continued to preach positivity and alternative ways of thinking to it’s young listeners. Within the music community, this album was initially underrated, but today still gets praise for it’s attempt to keep the music form true to it’s New York based, Jazz influenced roots.
albums, Stakes Is High has a running theme, which in this case is the group's concern for the state of rap, as well as the current state of hip hop culture and how it is regarded in general. The following sound clips are featured:
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
fourth full-length album, released during the summer of 1996. The album marked a change in the groups sound and direction as it was their first release not to be produced by Prince Paul. Stakes Is High was mainly produced by the group themeselves with additional tracks provided by Jay Dee, DJ Ogee, Spearhead X and Skeff Anslem. It received mostly strong reviews but little commercial success.
History
Stakes Is High was responsible for introducing rapper/actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
to a wider audience, on the cut "Big Brother Beat". Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
also makes an appearance on "The Bizness".
Stakes Is High marked the first time the group did not collaborate with long-time producer Prince Paul on an album.
On Stakes Is High, De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
also attempted to bridge the growing gaps between the original members of the Native Tongues
Native Tongues Posse
The Native Tongues is a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good-natured Afrocentric lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and later jazz-influenced beats. Its principal members are the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and A Tribe...
collective, although none of those artists make an actual appearance on the album. After the album's release, the group toured extensively and remained rather quiet before returning in 2000 with the first installment in their "Art Official Intelligence" series, Mosaic Thump
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump is De La Soul's fifth full-length studio album, released on August 8, 2000.- Overview :The album was the first in a planned three-disc installment, which was originally intended to be a three-disc album...
.
Stakes Is High dealt with many topics, including the state of hiphop, the commercialization of the hip-hop culture and criticism towards gangsta rap. This would cause great contempt with the late gangsta rapper 2Pac who would later retaliate on the song "Against All Odds" from his posthumous 1996 album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is the fifth and final studio album by Tupac Shakur, under the new stage name Makaveli, finished before his death and his first studio album to be posthumously released...
. Naughty By Nature
Naughty by Nature
Naughty by Nature are a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop trio from East Orange, New Jersey that at the time of its formation in 1989 consisted of Treach, Vin Rock, and the DJ Kay Gee...
also took serious offence to the record, creating a feud that has only recently died down.
Background
De La Soul is a hip-hop group who has been a part of the music scene since the early eighties. Meeting in high school, the group members' individualism is demonstrated from the backward spelling of Trugoy’s and Posdnuos’ stage names (“Yogurt” and “Sound-Sop” spelled backwards) to being founding members of the “alternative” hip-hop collective Native Tongues (including A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Universal Zulu Nation, Black Sheep, Queen Latifa, Monie Love, Chai Ali, Leaders of the New School, Mos Def, Common, Da Bush Babees, Fu-Schnickens and Truth Enola. The group has held steadfast against the trends of hip hop music throughout their careers, steadily staying positive despite the sometimes negative directions taken by other ever evolving direction, releasing Stakes is High.Prince Paul produced the first three albums, 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul is Dead and Buhloone Mindstate. Stakes is High takes a noted production turn as the group opted to produce their own tracks, with a little help from the late J-Dilla (or Jay Dee).
3 Feet High and Rising marked the first time a hip-hop group was sued for using unauthorized samples in their songs. This started the requirements for all album samples to be cleared before an albums release, after the suit was lost to The Turtles. During the late 1990’s, De La Soul was competing with Nas’ second release, an up and coming Jay-Z, an already established Notorious B.I.G., a second album by Outkast and the escalation of Gangter Rap. Released on the same day as Nas’ It was Written, De La Soul kept their direction of positivity by addressing problems within not only the hip-hop community, but society as a whole. As many of the formentioned artists have demonstrated the problems with the hip-hop music scene, which can be seen today (2011), De La Soul’s Stakes is High continued to preach positivity and alternative ways of thinking to it’s young listeners. Within the music community, this album was initially underrated, but today still gets praise for it’s attempt to keep the music form true to it’s New York based, Jazz influenced roots.
Interludes
Like other De La SoulDe La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
albums, Stakes Is High has a running theme, which in this case is the group's concern for the state of rap, as well as the current state of hip hop culture and how it is regarded in general. The following sound clips are featured:
- The introduction track begins with various clips of interviews, the interviewees describing where they were when they first heard the influential rap album Criminal MindedCriminal MindedCriminal Minded by Boogie Down Productions is a highly influential hip hop album. Production on the LP is credited to 'Blastmaster' KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock , but in interviews it has been revealed that an uncredited Ced-Gee of The Ultramagnetic MCs had a key role in crafting the sound of the...
. - At the end of track 9, "Long Island Degrees", a 'redneck' describes why he hates rap music ("There's no music in it. It's just niggers talking.")
- At the end of track 10, "Betta Listen", there is a clip of Posdnuos and Maseo discussing an error in communication about a club.
- At the end of track 15, "Pony Ride", excerpt from documentary Crumb in which Charles Crumb discusses his struggle living on the streets, describing his periods of optimism and depression. While describing this situation, he remarks "stakes is high".
- The beginning and end of track 16, "Stakes is High" feature sound clips of people playing dice. The O.J. Simpson trials are discussed by a man nearby.
- The clip at the end of the final track, "Sunshine", closes the album with a young man saying "Yo, when I first heard 3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest...
, I was" and then the clip is cut out in similar fashion to "Fight the PowerFight the Power"Fight the Power" is a single by American hip hop group Public Enemy. First released on the soundtrack for the film 1989 Do the Right Thing, a different version was released on the group's third studio album, Fear of a Black Planet . The single reached number one on Hot Rap Singles and number 20 on...
" in Public Enemy's legendary album, Fear of a Black PlanetFear of a Black PlanetFear of a Black Planet is the third studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released April 10, 1990, on Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. Production for the album was handled by the group's production team The Bomb Squad, who expanded on the dense, sample-layered sound of the...
. 3 Feet High and Rising being De La Soul's first release and a very influential hip-hop album, held in a similarly high regard as Criminal Minded, which is discussed at the beginning of the album.
Track listing
*Co-producerAdditional credits
| # | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Sing a Simple Song Sing a Simple Song "Sing a Simple Song" is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their #1 hit "Everyday People". The song's lyrics, sung in turn by Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, and Larry Graham, with spoken word sections by Cynthia Robinson, offer a simple solution for... " by Jackson 5 |
| 2 | "Supa Emcees" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "La Di Da Di La Di Da Di "La Di Da Di" is a rap song performed by Doug E. Fresh the beatboxer, and MC Ricky D as the rapper. It was originally released in 1985 as the B-side to "The Show". The song has since gained a reputation as an early hip hop classic, having been referenced in other hip hop songs.There are two... " by Slick Rick Slick Rick Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper... & Doug E. Fresh Doug E. Fresh Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box... Sample: "Summer Samba" by Walter Wanderley Sample: "Adventures of Super Rhyme" by Jimmy Spicer Jimmy Spicer Jimmy Spicer is a rap musician who released a number of old school rap singles during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Spicer was managed by Russell Simmons' Rush Management... Sample: "Run's House" by Run D.M.C. |
| 3 | "The Bizness" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, L. Lynn |
| 4 | "Wonce Again Long Island" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Who's Making Love" by Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were... |
| 5 | "Dinninit" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, X. Hargrove, M. Jackson Sample: "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson Milt Jackson Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms... |
| 6 | "Brakes" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, R. Hodby, C. Jimenez, L. Mack Sample: "The Breaks The Breaks (song) "The Breaks" is a critically acclaimed 1980 hit single by Kurtis Blow from his self-titled debut album. It was one of the earliest hip-hop hits, peaking at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.-Remakes:... " by Kurtis Blow Kurtis Blow Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label... Sample: "P.S.K. (What Does It Mean)" by Schooly D Sample: "It's Your Rock" by Fantasy Three Sample: "Children's Story Children's Story "Children's Story" is a single by British-born American hip hop artist Slick Rick, from his album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.-Reception:It's on the list of the top 100 rap songs, and is ranked #61 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.... " by Slick Rick |
| 7 | "Dog Eat Dog" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Peaceful Sundown" by Jan Hammer Jan Hammer Jan Hammer is a composer, pianist and keyboardist. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s, as well as his film scores for television and film including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme", from the popular 1980s... |
| 8 | "Baby Baby Baby Baby Ooh Baby" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Additional Vocals: Jazzyfatnastees Jazzyfatnastees Jazzyfatnastees is a vocal duo, Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez . Originally, a vocal quartet, they landed a deal with Tommy Boy in 1993... Sample: "She's Looking Like a Hobo" by Malcolm McLaren Malcolm McLaren Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls... |
| 9 | "Long Island Degrees" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Before I Rest" by Les McCann Les McCann Les McCann is an American soul jazz piano player and vocalist whose biggest successes came as a crossover artist into R&B and soul.-Biography:... Sample: "It Only Happens (When I Look at You)" by Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All... |
| 10 | "Betta Listen" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "The Outside Man" by Jimmy Bee |
| 11 | "Itzsoweezee (HOT)" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Hot Dis Year" by Dirtsman |
| 12 | "4 More" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, G. Scott, N. Hall, M. Small, E. Matthew, D. Payne Sample: "Jimmy's Bonus Beats" by Jungle Brothers Jungle Brothers The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house-music producer. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released its first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in July 1988... Sample: "A Rose for Booker" by New Dynamic Chico Hamilton Quintet Sample: "Never Give You Up" by Sharon Redd Sharon Redd Sharon Redd was an American singer from New York. She was the half sister of R&B singer Pennye Ford.-Biography and career:... |
| 13 | "Big Brother Beat" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, D. Beze, S. Anselm |
| 14 | "Down Syndrome" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Talkin' Loud and Saying Nothing" by James Brown James Brown James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr... |
| 15 | "Pony Ride" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, S. Preston |
| 16 | "Stakes Is High" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, J. Yancey Sample: "Mind Power" by James Brown Sample: "Swahililand" by Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Jamal is an innovative and influential American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker... |
| 17 | "Sunshine" | Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, L. Richie, T. McClary Sample: "High on Sunshine" by The Commodores Sample: "Free Angela" by Bayete Jabu Khanyile Jabu Khanyile was a South African musician and lead vocalist from the band Bayete.-Biography:... Sample: "Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s |