De La Soul - Stakes Is High Vinyl 2LP

Stakes Is High is the fourth studio album by De La Soul, originally released in 1996. Widely praised for its production, lyricism, and sharp critique of the mid-90s rap landscape, the album addressed the artistic decline the genre was beginning to face. The title track and lead single was produced by J Dilla, while the follow-up single, “Itzsoweezee (HOT),” featured only Dave on vocals and was paired with a memorable music video. A third single, “4 More,” included a guest appearance from R&B duo Zhané. The project also helped introduce rising talents, most notably Mos Def, who appeared on “Big Brother Beat.”