De La Soul - "Stakes Is High" Album LP 1996 Original Print Not a Re-Issue

$

46

This is an Original Print Vinyl, not a re-pressing!

Played only a couple of times.

Record is in Near Mint condition.

Jacket is in Great condition but has the promo cut on the top right side as you will see in the pictures. This is normal for Promos of that era, but due to this and a little dust/dirt collected on the edge of the plastic shrink wrap I am giving it an "Excellent Minus".

There's a little piece of tape that I put on the A side near the center hole which does not affect the quality of the record or playback in any way.

Although the tracklist shows 7 songs on Side A, there is actually 8, so one is hidden track, but you can tell if you look at the vinyl pics!
Truly Unique and hard to find one like this!!

Stakes Is High

Studio album by De La Soul
Released July 2, 1996
Recorded 1995-1996
Genre: Hip hop
Length: 68:19
Label: Tommy Boy
01149
Producers: De La Soul, Spearhead X, Skeff Anselm, O.Gee, Jay Dee

De La Soul Chronology:

Clear Lake Audiotorium
(1994)

Stakes Is High
(1996)

Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
(2000)

Singles from Stakes Is High:

"Stakes Is High"
Released: 1996

"Itzsoweezee (HOT)"
Released: 1996

"4 More"
Released: 1997

Stakes Is High is De La Soul's fourth full-length album, released on July 2, 1996. The album marked a change in the group's sound and direction as it was their first release not to be produced in collaboration with Prince Paul. Stakes Is High was mainly produced by the group themselves 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 marked the first time the group did not collaborate with long-time producer Prince Paul on an 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 offense to the record, creating a feud that has only recently died down.

Stakes Is High helped introduce rapper Mos Def to a wider audience, on the cut "Big Brother Beat". Common also makes an appearance on "The Bizness".

Interludes
Like other De La Soul 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.

TRACK LISTING:

Side A:

A1 Supa Emcees 3:40
A2 The Bizness
Featuring – Common
5:41
A3 Wonce Again Long Island 3:39
A4 Dinninit
Producer – Spearhead X
4:20
A5 Brakes 4:06
A6 Dog Eat Dog 3:36
A7 Long Island Degrees 3:27

A-Notha Side:

B1 Betta Listen 4:28
B2 Itzsoweezee (Hot) 4:55
B3 4 More
Co-producer – De La Soul
Featuring – Zhane*
Producer – Ogee*
4:18
B4 Big Brother Beat
Featuring – Mos Def Of Medina Green*
Producer – Skeff Anselm
3:42
B5 Pony Ride
Featuring – Truth Enola
5:26
B6 Stakes Is High
Co-producer – De La Soul
Producer – Jay Dee
5:30
B7 Sunshine 3:39

Credits:
"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.
Sample: "Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett

"The Bizness"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, L. Lynn

"Wonce Again Long Island"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason
Sample: "Who's Making Love" by Lou Donaldson

"Dinninit"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, X. Hargrove, M. Jackson
Sample: "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson

"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 Schoolly D
Sample: "It's Your Rock" by Fantasy Three
Sample: "Children's Story" by Slick Rick
Sample: "South Bronx" by Boogie Down Productions
Sample: "Silly" by Deniece Williams

"Dog Eat Dog"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason
Sample: "Peaceful Sundown" by Jan Hammer

"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

"Betta Listen"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason
Sample: "The Outside Man" by Jimmy Bee

"Itzsoweezee (HOT)"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason
Sample: "Hot Dis Year" by Dirtsman

"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

"Big Brother Beat"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, D. Beze, S. Anselm

"Down Syndrome"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason
Sample: "Talkin' Loud and Saying Nothing" by James Brown

"Pony Ride"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, S. Preston

"Stakes Is High"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, J. Yancey
Sample: "Mind Power" by James Brown
Sample: "Swahililand" by Ahmad Jamal

"Sunshine"
Songwriters: K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, L. Richie, T. McClary
Sample: "High on Sunshine" by The Commodores
Sample: "Free Angela" by Bayete
Sample: "Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s