Hip-hop legend group De La Soul released its 30th anniversary version of their 1996 album “Stakes is High” on Friday. The group flourished in the 1990s, but they released a new album in 2025 and continue to tour.
The Daisy Age was a hip-hop movement spanning the late 1980s into the 1990s, defined by inner-city creativity and expression of positivity. We all have De La Soul to thank for coining the title – D.A.I.S.Y. is an acronym for Da Inner Sound, Y’all – and invigorating the era with jazzy rap music.
De La Soul was known for their playful, lighthearted sound since releasing their debut album, “3 Feet High and Rising,” alongside beloved producer Prince Paul. Prince Paul is kind of an unsung hero in the world of hip-hop, DJing for Stetsasonic, working on early projects with Queen Latifah, collaborating on and producing a myriad of albums for Gorillaz, Vanilla Ice and, of course, De La Soul. Seven years and three records later, “Stakes is High” was their first album created without his input, marking a notable shift for the group.
This record took on a direct sound, featuring harder-edged beats and a slightly more serious tone. “Investin’ in fantasies and not in God,” the second-to-last track says, warning listeners in a prophetic manner. “Welcome to reality, see, times is hard.”
The distinction between the original and the 30th anniversary version of the album is that the latter includes multiple unreleased tracks as well as an instrumental version of each song. This provides a stripped-down listening experience and shines light on the raw, boom-bap sound.
The title, “Stakes is High,” is a tribute to the all-or-nothing urgency induced by commercial pressures at the time. Replacing the underground subculture hip-hop previously comprised was a multi-billion-dollar global industry. As labels began to realize that controversy sold records, artists were pushed to lean into the stereotypical depiction of rappers in order to prosper in a period where label executives capitalized on “Gangsta Rap.” The race to win over money-hungry labels meant hip-hop transitioned from an inclusive, private outlet for Black expression into a cutthroat climate in which artists were forced to compete for production.
As Black American communities suffered deep racial tensions and mass incarcerations in the 1990s, De La Soul spoke from the heart, to the heart. Track eight, “Dog Eat Dog,” on the rerelease expresses that musicians are forced to look out mainly for themself, disremembering other artists within the genre. The lyrics “Extra, extra, what’s that all about?” mock the tendency of gossip and drama to steal attention from real issues. I find this idea completely applicable to today, as we celebrate 30 years of “Stakes is High,” and live in a flurry of self-righteousness and influencer-centric media.
The lyrics “Stakes is high, but we gonna try to have fun this year” on the sixth track on the original, “Dinninit,” gives a worried crowd permission to find what they’re living for despite the violence surrounding them, as fans across generations honor the legacy of De La Soul’s “Stakes is High” on its 30th anniversary.
Rating: 5/5