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

#	Title	Notes
1	"Intro"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Sing a Simple Song" by Jackson 5
2	"Supa Emcees"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh Sample: "Summer Samba" by Walter Wanderley Sample: "Adventures of Super Rhyme" by Jimmy Spicer 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
5	"Dinninit"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, X. Hargrove, M. Jackson Sample: "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson
6	"Brakes"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, R. Hodby, C. Jimenez, L. Mack Sample: "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow Sample: "P.S.K. (What Does It Mean)" by Schooly D Sample: "It's Your Rock" by Fantasy Three Sample: "Children's Story" by Slick Rick
7	"Dog Eat Dog"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Peaceful Sundown" by Jan Hammer
8	"Baby Baby Baby Baby Ooh Baby"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Additional Vocals: Jazzyfatnastees Sample: "She's Looking Like a Hobo" by Malcolm McLaren
9	"Long Island Degrees"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason Sample: "Before I Rest" by Les McCann Sample: "It Only Happens (When I Look at You)" by Aretha Franklin
10	"Betta Listen"	Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason
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 Sample: "A Rose for Booker" by New Dynamic Chico Hamilton Quintet Sample: "Never Give You Up" by Sharon Redd
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
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
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