De La Soul - Stakes Is High (Official 4K Music Video)

De La Soul’s Stakes Is High captures the group at a crucial turning point: older, sharper, and completely locked in. Released in 1996, the album marked their fourth full-length and their first without Prince Paul, opening the door to a tougher, more stripped-back sound led in part by a young J Dilla on the title track. That lead single became one of De La’s signature statements, peaking at No. 53 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while the album reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. But numbers only tell part of the story — Stakes Is High remains such a vital listen because it hears De La Soul confronting the mid-’90s head-on, with wit, frustration, and a deep sense of artistic confidence. From “The Bizness” to “Itzsoweezee (HOT),” the album balances soulful production and clear-eyed commentary in a way that still feels fresh decades later. It’s one of those records that may not have shouted the loudest on arrival, but its influence and reputation have only grown with time. Listen/Buy the 30th Anniversary Edition: https://link.wearedelasoul.com/stakes... Facebook -   / wearedelasoul   Instagram -   / wearedelasoul   Twitter -   / wearedelasoul   TikTok -   / wearedelasoul   Website - https://www.wearedelasoul.com CHORUS: (Vibe, vibrations) Stakes Is High You know them Stakes Is High When we talkin' 'bout the (Vibe, vibrations) Stakes Is High, you know them Stakes Is High We be talkin’ ‘bout the (Vibe, vibrations) Stakes Is High You know them Stakes Is High POS: The insta-matic focal point bringin’ damage to your borough Be some brothers from the East with them beats that be thorough Got the solar gravitation so I'm bound to pull it I gets down like brothers are found ducking from bullets Gun control means using both hands in my land Where it's all about the cautious livin' Migratin’ to a higher form of consequence, compliments Of strugglin', that shouldn't be notable Man every word I say should be a hip hop quotable DAVE: I'm sick of bitches shakin' asses I'm sick of talkin' 'bout blunts, sick of Versace glasses Sick of slang, sick of half-ass awards shows Sick of name brand clothes Sick of R&B bitches over bullshit tracks Cocaine and crack which brings sickness to blacks Sick of swoll head rappers with their sickening raps Clappers & gats, makin' the whole sick world collapse The facts are gettin' sicker even sicker perhaps I stickabush to make a bundle to escape this synapse POS: Man, life can get all up in your ass, baby, you betta work it out Now let me tell you what it's all about A skin not considered equal A meteor has more right than my people Who be wastin' time screaming who they've hated That's why the Native Tongues has officially been re-instated POS: Yo, it's about love of cars, love for funds Lovin’ to love mad sex, lovin’ to love guns Love for opposite, love for fame and wealth Love for the fact of no longer lovin’ yourself, kid We livin’ in them days of the man-made ways Where every aspect is vivid These brothers no longer talk shit Yo, these niggas live it 'Bout to give it to you 24/7 on the microphone Plug Won translatin’ the zone No offense to a player, but yo, I don't play And if you take offense, fuck it, got to be that way J.D. Dove, show your love, what you got to say? DAVE: I say G's are makin’ figures at a high regard And niggas dyin’ for it nowadays ain't odd Investing in fantasies and not God Welcome to reality, see times is hard People try to snatch the credit, but can't claim the card Showing out in videos, saying they co-starred See, shit like that will make your mama cry Better watch the way you spend it cause the DAVE: I think that smiling in public is against the law (what?) Cause love don't get you through life no more It's who you know and "How you, son?" And how you gettin' in, and who the man holding heat Yo, and how was the skins and how high Yo what up, ha? I heard you caught a body Seem like every man and woman shared a life with John Gotti (But they ain't organized! ) Mixing crimes with life enzymes Taking the big scout route and niggas “No doubt” Better than they know their daughters and their sons (Oh boy) POS: Yo, people go through pain and still don't gain Positive contact, just like my main man Who got others cleaning up his physical and fluids His mind got congested He got the nine and blew it Neighborhoods are now hoods cause nobody's neighbors Just animals surviving with that animal behavior Under I, who be rhymin’ from dark to light sky Experiments when needles and skin connect No wonder where we live is called the projects When them Stakes Is High you damn sure try to do Anything to get the piece of the pie Electrify, even die for the cash But at last we be out even though you wantin' more This issue is closed like an elevator door But soon re-opened once we get to the next floor with the #StakesIs30 --- http://vevo.ly/3muWgS