Stakes Is High (song)
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| "Stakes Is High" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by De La Soul | ||
| from the album Stakes Is High | ||
| Released | 1996 | |
| Format | CD single 12" single |
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| Recorded | 1996 | |
| Genre | Hip Hop | |
| Length | 5:30 | |
| Label | Tommy Boy | |
| Writer(s) | K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, J. Yancey, A. Jamal, L. R. Lynn | |
| Producer(s) | De La Soul, Jay Dee | |
| De La Soul singles chronology | ||
| "Fallin'" (with Teenage Fanclub) (1994) |
"Stakes Is High" (1996) |
"Itzsoweezee (HOT)" (1996) |
"Stakes Is High" is a single by De La Soul released in 1996.
Released during the height of the East Vs. West (coast) rap rivalries, "Stakes..." was a relentless attack on what De La saw as a decline, not only in hip hop music, but also in hip hop culture. The song included many memorable lines such as Posdnous' "Gun control means using both hands in my land...". Dave's input was no less restrained: "I'm sick of bitches shakin' asses / I'm sick of talkin' about blunts / Sick of Versace glasses / Sick of slang / Sick of half-ass awards shows / Sick of name brand clothes..."
Posdnous also makes a point to inform us that the Native Tongues are still together when he states: "A meteor has more right than my people / Who be wastin' time screaming who they've hated / That's why the Native Tongues have officially been re-instated" An announcement which was furthered by appearing with old friends such as A Tribe Called Quest in the video.
The song was one of the earliest mainstream productions to be handled by hip hop producer Jay Dee.
The B-Side to the single was "The Bizness", featuring Common. This song talks about the music industry.
[edit] Lyrics
Pos Dnuos: The instamatic focal point bringing damage to your boroughs Be some brothers from the east with some 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' Migrating 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.
Trugoy the Dove: I'm sick of bitches shakin' asses I'm sick of talkin' about 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 sicker-than raps Clappers and gats Makin' the whole sick world collapse The facts are gettin' sick Even sicker perhaps Stickabush to make a bundle to escape this synapse
Pos Dnuos: Man life can get all up in your ass baby you betta work it out 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 have officially been re-instated
(Vibes....vibrations) Stakes is high (Higher than high) You know them stakes is high (Higher than high) When we talkin' 'bout the (Vibes....vibrations) Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high When we dealin' with the (Vibes....vibrations) Stakes is high (Hey yo, what about that love?)
Pos Dnuos: Yo, it's about love for cars, love for funds Loving to love mad sex, loving to love guns Love for opposite, love for fame and wealth Love for the fact of no longer loving yourself, kid We living in them days of the man-made ways Where every aspect is vivid, these brothers no longer talk shit Hey yo, these niggas live it 'Bout to give it to you 24/7 on the microphone Plug One translating 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?
Trugoy the Dove: I say G's are making figures at a high regard And niggas dying 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 cold stars See, shit like that will make your mama cry Better watch the way you spend it 'Cause the stakes is high
Y'all know them stakes is high When we talkin' 'bout the (Vibes....vibrations) Stakes is high
I think that smiling in public is against the law '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 Hey yo, and how was the scams and how high Yo what up, huh? I heard you caught a body Seem like every man and woman shared a life with John Gotti
Pos Dnuos: But they ain't organized!
Trugoy the Dove: Mixing crimes with life enzymes Taking the big scout route And niggas know doubt better Than they know their daughters And their sons (Oh boy)
Pos Dnuos: Yo, people go through pain and still don't gain Positive contact just like my main man Who got others cleaning up his physical influence 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 rhyming 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 I 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 where the
(Vibes....vibrations) Stakes is high Y'all know them stakes is high When we talkin' 'bout the (Vibes....vibrations) Stakes is high Stakes is high, come on
[edit] Track listing
- "Stakes Is High (Album Version)"
- "Stakes Is High (Instrumental)"
- "Stakes Is High (A Cappella)"
- "The Bizness (Album Version)"
- Guest Appearance: Common
- "The Bizness (Clean Version)"
- Guest Appearance: Common
- "The Bizness (Instrumental)"
[edit] External links
| De La Soul |
|---|
| Posdnuos | Dave | Maseo |
| Studio albums |
| 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) | De La Soul Is Dead (1991) | Buhloone Mindstate (1993) | Clear Lake Audiotorium (EP) (1994) | Stakes Is High (1996) | Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000) | AOI: Bionix (2001) | Live at Tramps, NYC, 1996 (2004) | The Grind Date (2004) | The Impossible: Mission TV Series - Pt. 1 (2006) |
| Singles |
| Potholes in My Lawn| Plug Tunin'| Buddy| Eye Know| Me Myself And I| Say No Go| The Magic Number| Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)| A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"| Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa / Keepin' The Faith| Breakadawn| Ego Trippin' (Part Two)| Fallin'| Stakes Is High| Itzsoweezee (HOT)| 4 More| Oooh.| All Good?| Thru Ya City| Baby Phat| Shoomp| Shopping Bags (She Got From You)| Rock Co.Kane Flow|Feel Good Inc. |
| Related articles |
| Native Tongues | Prince Paul | Spitkicker |
