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Stakes Is High 30th Anniversary

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 fi rst 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 confi dence. From "The Bizness" to "Itzsoweezee (HOT)," the album balances soul

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