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De La Soul|Stakes Is High

Stakes Is High

De La Soul

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De La Soul's fourth album is still something of an enigma. It was their first without producer Prince Paul, and one that would precede a four-year-gap in their catalog—a potential reinvention that appeared to stall out without a timely follow-up. Stakes Is High is also even more culturally against the grain than Buhloone Mindstate was, with scattered lyrical jabs against the now-dominant gangsta mode of rap culminating in the powerful, frustrated bitterness of the legendary Dilla-produced title cut. But it's also the kind of album where the doubt and uncertainty of its creators—DJ Maseo has remarked in interviews that Stakes felt like a "do or die" breaking point, the difference between tour buses and day jobs—reinforces the idea that they always operated best with their backs against some wall or another. So even if they're uncertain about their own future or whether there's even a place for their abstract, bohemian strain of hip-hop, they could still put out an album that speaks loudly to a core of fans who were just as happy to hear another chance for Common to wax philosophical smack-talker ("The Bizness") and more than willing to take a chance on a Brooklyn up-and-comer called Mos Def ("Big Brother Beat"). And while their search for what's next points towards a future they not only helped build but put in good hands, their own mic presence sounds both more matter-of-fact and more accessible without sacrificing their humor or their own idiosyncrasies. Sometimes they lean into the same kind of genre-pastiche-parody snark that animated the more sardonic moments on De La Soul Is Dead—"Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Ooh Baby" is bested only by Chris Rock's "Champagne" when it comes to mocking Bad Boy-esque retro-'80s R&B crossover—but for the most part they lead by their own example, building a bridge between their Native Tongues roots and the Soulquarian future that would emerge near decade's end. And as frustrated as they get—scorning faux-mafioso rappers on "Itzsoweezee (Hot)," or refusing the pressure of going supercommercial on "Dog Eat Dog"—they never forget to maintain their free creative spirit, even on an album that's almost aggressively downtempo. The promise of the soul-jazz production on Buhloone Mindstate has been met by a slate of beats that flip from woozy samba organ ("Supa Emcees") to velvety soul-via-g-funk (the Spearhead X-produced "Dinninit") to spiritual jazz-slash-euphoria gospel (mood-lifting closer "Sunshine") but, to the last, all feature some of the most effectively propulsive direct-hit drum breaks in the group's whole discography. Funnily enough, it's that lingering bitterness that makes Stakes Is High so rewarding: it's the sound of a storm being weathered. © Nate Patrin/Qobuz

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Stakes Is High

De La Soul

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1
Intro Explicit
00:02:35

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Sylvester Stewart, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Mijac Music, MusicPublisher - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

2
Supa Emcees Explicit
00:03:40

Douglas Davis, Composer - Ricky Walters, Composer - David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Paulo Valle, Composer - Marcos Valle, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - James Bromley Spicer, Composer

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

3
The Bizness Explicit
00:04:22

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Common, FeaturedArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher - Songs of Universal Inc/Senseless Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

4
Yunonstop Explicit
00:01:16

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Hal David, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - BURT F BACHARACH, Composer - Vincent Mason, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher - Colgems-EMI Music Inc. c/o Sony/ATV Music Publishing, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

5
Wonce Again Long Island Explicit
00:03:38

Raymond Jackson, Composer - Bettye Jean Crutcher, Composer - David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Donald Davis, Composer - Vincent Mason, Composer - Irving Music Inc, MusicPublisher - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

6
Dinninit Explicit
00:04:21

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Milt Jackson, Composer - De La Soul, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Spearhead X, Producer - Xavier E Hargrove, Composer

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

7
Brakes Explicit
00:04:06

Kurt Walker, Composer - Ricky Walters, Composer - David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - JAMES MOORE, Composer - LAWRENCE SMITH, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Carlos Jimenez, Composer - Russell Simmons, Composer - Vincent Mason, Composer - Robert Arthur Ford, Composer - Reginald Hobdy, Composer - lawrence Mack, Composer - Jesse Bonds Weaver Jr, Composer

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

8
Dog Eat Dog Explicit
00:03:38

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - Jan Hammer, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Ivona Reich, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Country & Eastern Music Inc., MusicPublisher - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

9
Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Ooh Baby Explicit
00:02:08

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Malcom McLaren, Composer - Vincent Mason, Composer - SONGS OF PEER LTD, MusicPublisher - Jazzyfatnastees, FeaturedArtist - Trevor Charles Horn, Composer - Universal Polygram International Publishing, MusicPublisher - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

10
Long Island Degrees Explicit
00:03:27

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Ken Gold, Composer - Mickey Denne, Composer - Les Mccann, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

11
Betta Listen Explicit
00:04:27

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - JAMES BROWN, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - Junior Parker, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher - Dynatone Publishing Company/Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher - Thursday Music Corp. c/o BMG Bumblebee, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

12
Itzsoweezee (HOT) Explicit
00:04:48

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

13
4 More
00:04:18

Zhané, FeaturedArtist - Nathaniel Hall, Composer - Michael Small, Composer - David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - ERIC MATTHEW, Composer - Charles Lloyd, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Gary Scott, Composer - Darryl Raymond Payne, Composer - DJ O.Gee, Producer

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

14
Big Brother Beat Explicit
00:03:43

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Dante Smith, Composer - Mos Def, FeaturedArtist - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Composer - Yukihiro Takahashi, Composer - De La Soul, MainArtist - Haruomi Hosono, Composer - Vincent Mason, Composer - Fred Glickstein, Composer - Skeff Anslem, Producer - Christopher Mosdell, Composer

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

15
Down Syndrome Explicit
00:03:04

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - JAMES BROWN, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - Bobby Byrd, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher - Dynatone Publishing Co c/o Unichappell Music Inc, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

16
Pony Ride Explicit
00:05:27

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Truth Enola, FeaturedArtist - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

17
Stakes Is High Explicit
00:05:30

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - JAMES BROWN, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Tim Latham, Mixer - Ahmad Jamal, Composer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Charles Bobbit, Composer - Jay Dee, Producer - Vincent Mason, Composer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp, MusicPublisher - James Dewitt Yancey, Composer - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Ephcy Publishing, MusicPublisher - Fred Wesley Jr, Composer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher - Dynatone Publishing Co c/o Unichappell Music Inc, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

18
Sunshine Explicit
00:03:40

David Jolicoeur, Composer - Kelvin Mercer, Composer - Thomas McClary, Composer - Michael Fossenkemper, MasteringEngineer - Lionel Richie, Composer - Tim Latham, Mixer - De La Soul, Producer, MainArtist - Vincent Mason, Composer - Jobete Music Co Inc, MusicPublisher - Scotty Hard, MixingEngineer - Todd T Cochran, Composer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co/Daisy Age Music, MusicPublisher - Prestige Music Co. c/o Bike Music/Concord Music Group/Toco Music c/o Penny Farthing Music, MusicPublisher

2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited 2023 A.O.I., LLC under exclusive license to Chrysalis Records Limited

Album review

De La Soul's fourth album is still something of an enigma. It was their first without producer Prince Paul, and one that would precede a four-year-gap in their catalog—a potential reinvention that appeared to stall out without a timely follow-up. Stakes Is High is also even more culturally against the grain than Buhloone Mindstate was, with scattered lyrical jabs against the now-dominant gangsta mode of rap culminating in the powerful, frustrated bitterness of the legendary Dilla-produced title cut. But it's also the kind of album where the doubt and uncertainty of its creators—DJ Maseo has remarked in interviews that Stakes felt like a "do or die" breaking point, the difference between tour buses and day jobs—reinforces the idea that they always operated best with their backs against some wall or another. So even if they're uncertain about their own future or whether there's even a place for their abstract, bohemian strain of hip-hop, they could still put out an album that speaks loudly to a core of fans who were just as happy to hear another chance for Common to wax philosophical smack-talker ("The Bizness") and more than willing to take a chance on a Brooklyn up-and-comer called Mos Def ("Big Brother Beat"). And while their search for what's next points towards a future they not only helped build but put in good hands, their own mic presence sounds both more matter-of-fact and more accessible without sacrificing their humor or their own idiosyncrasies. Sometimes they lean into the same kind of genre-pastiche-parody snark that animated the more sardonic moments on De La Soul Is Dead—"Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Ooh Baby" is bested only by Chris Rock's "Champagne" when it comes to mocking Bad Boy-esque retro-'80s R&B crossover—but for the most part they lead by their own example, building a bridge between their Native Tongues roots and the Soulquarian future that would emerge near decade's end. And as frustrated as they get—scorning faux-mafioso rappers on "Itzsoweezee (Hot)," or refusing the pressure of going supercommercial on "Dog Eat Dog"—they never forget to maintain their free creative spirit, even on an album that's almost aggressively downtempo. The promise of the soul-jazz production on Buhloone Mindstate has been met by a slate of beats that flip from woozy samba organ ("Supa Emcees") to velvety soul-via-g-funk (the Spearhead X-produced "Dinninit") to spiritual jazz-slash-euphoria gospel (mood-lifting closer "Sunshine") but, to the last, all feature some of the most effectively propulsive direct-hit drum breaks in the group's whole discography. Funnily enough, it's that lingering bitterness that makes Stakes Is High so rewarding: it's the sound of a storm being weathered. © Nate Patrin/Qobuz

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