Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago

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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 first 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 confidence. From “The Bizness” to “Itzsoweezee (HOT),” the album balances soulful production and clear-eyed commentary in a way that still feels fresh decades later. It’s one of those records that may not have shouted the loudest on arrival, but its influence and reputation have only grown with time.

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Lyrics
Brick wall dedication
Mos Def affiliation
Adequate representation
This is the phat presentation
De La is the foundation
Common Sense collaborations
Peace to all of ya Haitians
Check it out

If money makes a man strange, we gots to rearrange that
So what makes the world go round
If love is against the law, listen I don't know
Gotta change how it's goin down
If money makes a man strange, we gots to rearrange that
So what makes the world go round
If love is against the law, listen I don't know
Gotta change the way it's goin down

Fell in love with this fish who got caught in my mesh
But yo she burned my scene up like David Koresh
I guess a diamond ain't nothing but a rock with a name
I guess love ain't nuttin but emotion and game
It's a lesson well learned so praise is well due
I'm sendin off from Big I, to Kenny Calhoun
And add a reservation for the resident crew
And yo get your bowl cuz we cookin up stew
See them Cubans don't care what y'all niggas do
Colombians ain't never ran with your crew
Why you acting all spicy and shiesty
The only Italians you knew was icees, niggas price me
I'm keepin it clean, like a washing machine
And yo, get your locomotion running to full-steam
I'm sending out a greeting to my man Daseem
I got a child so I gotsta get the green, right right


If money makes a man strange, we gots to rearrange that
So what makes the world go round
If love is against the law, listen I don't know
Gotta change how it's goin down
If money makes a man strange, we gots to rearrange that
So what makes the world go round
If love is against the law, listen I don't know
Gotta change the way it's goin down

Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot this year
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot this year
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot this year
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot this year
Itzsoweezee, it's gettin hot

I own the deeds to some acres in the West Indies
Where my pops is building residence to house my seed
Now here's the lead, y'all niggas pray to hot rods and not God
While Versace play you bitches like Yahtzee
Crackin jokes like you Potsie
(When's the last time you had Happy Days?)
Blazin up your herb to escape the maze, but the problem stays
Think big get it big is my motto
You can go and play your lotto, I'll be singin like baby won't you be mine
You'll be pressin rewind, you can never see mine
Keep your eyes focused, you can't touch this or quote this
Style is crazy bogus so you can't try to approach this
Stomp you out like roaches, pullin on my coattail
Like some horses pullin coaches, whoa your roller coasters
It's hotter than the temperature that's cookin in your toasters
While the heat'll put you deep into hypnosis (its gettin hot y’all)

Itzsoweezee, Enola in the area
Itzsoweezee, Timbo King's in the area
Itzsoweezee, Maseo's in the area
Itzsoweezee, ninety-six is in the area
Itzsoweezee, lord lord lord
Itzsoweezee, lord, lord lord lord
Itzsoweezee, lord lord lord lord
Itzsoweezee, lord lord
Itzsoweezee, yeah
Itzsoweezee
Itzsoweezee
Itzsoweezee
Itzsoweezee
Itzsoweezee
Itzsoweezee
Itzsoweezee

#DeLaSoul #Itzsoweezee #HipHop50 #StakesIs30

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