"Stakes is High" Changed Everything | De La Soul & J Dilla

[@diggingthegreats]

Check out Groove Builders by Vocal Pockets - bit.ly/3XI4de6

[@JakebMiller]

So no longer staring at the camera at the end...exit stage left!

[@blueknight5754]

“Gun control means using both hands in my land.” This line hit me hard as a young man. Helped me understand that the choices I made had permanent consequences.

[@KtotheG]

You need both hands to control the kickback.

[@trinitylegacygroup2481]

@@KtotheGyou could also use both hands to box instead of using them to shoot someone.

[@KtotheG]

@@trinitylegacygroup2481 True. I guess that line can be a double entendre. I immediately thought of the proper way to shoot, since so many gangsta rap depictions during that time featured shooters with the one hand sideways swag gesture, which screws with your aim and causes thugs to hit innocent bystanders.

[@blueknight5754]

@@KtotheG the kickback and the consequences.

[@blueknight5754]

@@trinitylegacygroup2481 agreed.

[@DOSOLTD]

The stakes is high the stakes is high! REST BREEZY J DILLA !

[@OfficialMikeyMoTheMC]

Stakes is high and Electric Relaxations. Best songs of all time. All Genres.

[@kingmu1]

Agreed

[@diggingthegreats]

IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE: After publishing this video it's come to my attention that De La put the James Brown vocal in the beat, and also have co-production credit.

[@brickums913]

Funny I was detailing just days ago what was, in my opinion, the best 5yr time span in hiphop (92-97) to my nephew who's only 16 but loves ALL organic music but 90's era hip-hop especially...and going through this era of MY fav classics, landed me on SIH... Of everyone in our family, our love passion quality recognition and RESPECT for what I call Organic Rap , is unmatched. Soon as he wanted me to run it back, he asked if I knew the vocal sample. I was 16 when SIH was released and was and still amazed by Dilla's ear and sound quality, never thought to question the sample. Immediately, it came to me before 2nd half of chorus ...JB hands down! He was shocked I recognized on the fly.... Just like I was with him when he recognized Raphael Sadiq and Quiks -Lets get down , has a slight but major interpolation credit of Nirvana's Smells like Teen Spirit.... At 16 he caught that on the first play of the record! Blew me away!!! Didn't know that myself, after all these years

[@TheArmchairHistorian]

With the recent addition of De La Soul's discography on streaming platforms, it's cool to see their albums like Stakes is High getting attention. This is one of my favorite albums and songs, and I listen to Ahmad Jamal regularly, many songs on Jamal Plays Jamal are incredible jazz compositions. I'd love to see you do a video on the Avalanches, an Australian group that perhaps made an album with the most amount of samples ever used in it, Since I Left You.

[@MrK4LB]

Whoa, I would not expect you here. I like your videos!

[@geordiewood8768]

I would love to see an Avalanches video. The sampling on Since I Left You is like nothing else.

[@zachrushing994]

When I see creators I follow, also follow each other it confirms that circles of thoughts mimic each other. It’s not the “algorithm” it’s like minds finding each other.

[@ButchBrown7]

J Dilla had a sound that was outside the box & creative he also Loved Music that's what makes it real

[@joelhenderson2837]

Stakes Is High is my all time favorite De La Soul album. The title track is a masterpiece. Dilla was in his BAG!!

[@green2489]

It’s just such a cool sound

[@ByDobson]

Their best album... and man... WHAT A SINGLE. One of Dilla's best grooves

[@diggingthegreats]

Agreed 🔥

[@EobardTron]

Didn't discover "stakes is high" until 2000, thanks napster! Didn't discover Dilla produced it until post mordem.

[@KtotheG]

Each of their previous 3 could also be considered their "best" album. As a Day 1 fan, I usually go with Buhloon Mindstate. But you can say they dropped 4 straight classics.

[@DMoney505]

@@KtotheGI agree, And would say that each album got better and better with their peak at Stakes is High! This album made a huge impact on us and Hip Hop as a whole! Classic!

[@fernvill27]

​@@DMoney505with the exception of AOI: Bionix, i would agree. That's probably their worse album and it's a banger. Then the grind date came out and that was much better.

[@ARCHAICRUIZ]

This song , to risk sounding corny, opened my third eye. When I heard it in the 90s I knew there was gangster rap and more lyrical East coast hardcore like mobb deep and wu tang and I was aware of native tongues and loved tribe called quest, but this song introduced me to the IMPORTANCE of conscious hip hop . It changed the way I looked at hip hop and music forever, and as a hip hop artist myself, it’s one of the most important pieces of music of my entire life

[@frankzappa951]

Not corny my brother, that’s the art right there, the magic of DeLaSoul. Me myself and I video; was similar in my high school days. Peace.

[@brawlnation5194]

A lot of K Dot music gives Native Tongues vibez just more raw, like he blends West and East, touch of jazz w/ soulful lyricism

[@samwest1097]

Why do I always have a chesssy ass grin on my face when he recreates a beat!?? 😁😁😁

[@FangedBeauty]

I was lucky enough to see De La perform live in the netherlands as a young teen. They were incredible live. So much raw talent.

[@MichelleJBitunjac]

One of the few Hip-Hop acts who delivered live. ❤

[@Gallas1000]

Saw De La live three days ago, with Talib Kweli joining for Stakes Is High. They absolutely killed it.

[@EDCReviewz]

Oh man! This is probably my 14 yo daughter's favorite De La song! Thank you for this! The version that they did with the Roots with Black Thought on Jimmy Fallon brought us almost to tears. Speaking of the Roots, we can use some digging into their stuff!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you 🙏 Check out these two videos I've done on Roots songs 🔥 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIq0pKp_oLd1baM kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHKupqlufJKfabc

[@edgarsheltonjr.9757]

Sentiment shared✌️

[@MattyBoJangles]

This was my isht in summer of 96. Thanks

[@randomsalmon4603]

I'm so happy to see De La Soul finally getting the attention they deserve! Keep up the great work!

[@moonshinei]

my favorite De La piece. there’s just so much going on from their world play and Dilla’s beat, all comes together just right and uncertain. stakes was high for them, and they showed out

[@uptowntheimperial4240]

I love this song...My favorite song off the album...Dilla and De La...AMAZING! RIP Dilla & Dove

[@green2489]

4 More is great

[@D-Almighty]

One of the dopest produced songs EVEERRRRRRR!!!!! The stakes is high album is top 3 rap albums hands down

[@B0ULLIE]

90’s kid. This song defined a lot of my rhythmic flavors for many reasons. I still get shivers and child when I hear the sample in Swahililand.

[@13jcarey]

Honestly, you should have 50 million subscribers for the quality of work you put out every single video. Thank you for your amazing work🙌🏾

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you 🙏 gotta do it right for the music 🔥

[@gnarwhal7562]

So glad you covered this. Has to be my favourite album from De La Soul. Front to back, there's no skips. And to think most of us didn't have access to this masterpiece for 2 decades

[@RachelFlowersMusic]

This is Rachel. I love your break downs on my favorite jazz hip hop beats, which includes this song. Ahmad Jamal is one of my favorite historic pianist. Along with his Pershing album, I love his Spotlight Club album recorded after Pershing. I recreated this song for fun, listening to the Jamal track on a video to get the crazy piano chords (different from the section you played…) Anyway, love your videos. (smile)

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@mirkokrankel6908]

Perfekt example for how awesome KZbin content can be. A deep knowledge and sincere Love for the subject and a great sympathetic presentation. Great stuff

[@seligbongabe]

Stakes is high is probably my favorite ever if not top 5. Every single part of the track is just perfect and heavy.

[@northyorksimonkim]

summer of 96 started with it was written by nas on repeat but by mid summer, stakes is high began to take over and by the end of the summer I realized that stakes is high was one of my favorite albums of all time and still is

[@joshb2093]

The live version of Stakes is High by the Suite For Ma Dukes Orchestra is phenomenal

[@diggingthegreats]

Yes! 🔥

[@thegroove2000]

True dat. With his ma on stage.

[@missayawk]

"Hello Ma"

[@quixotewilliams8278]

Thanks, in advance, for bringing this version to my attention.

[@williamgeorge2580]

Dude! Are you spying on my Spotify? I was just listening to Stakes is High!

[@diggingthegreats]

I AM EVERYWHERE 😂

[@78proto]

Stakes is High is one of the greatest albums of all time. De Le Soul was always a good group, but when this one came out, I literally was like 😮.

[@Topsey2000]

I never knew Ahmed Jamal died this year. Absolute legend! I need to check out all his stuff

[@GhostfaceLouis]

Classic Material Album is Dope af

[@akeemtinsley3498]

Some of their best lyrics, maybe my favorite rap lyric of all time: "Neighborhoods are now hoods, because nobody's neighbors. Only animals survivin' with that animal behavior."

[@fernvill27]

That old low pass technique from the 90s is so classic. I love it.

[@THORNZMUSIC]

Dave’s “Sick of …” verse hasn’t aged a day, genius

[@parabellum5503]

Best verse in all of hip hop IMO

[@africarib]

Not ONE!

[@johnathangunzzesq.7168]

I always thought that verse was only such a big deal to me...

[@robertmatthews9650]

“I’m sick of b itches shakin ases sick of n--- talkin bout blunts sick of Versace glasses, sick of half assed award shows sick of name brand clothes. Sick of r&b b itches over BS trends. cocaine and crack which brings sickness to blacks, traps and gats makin the whole sick world collapse….

[@tblack9711]

I love that verse because I was sick of all of those things too.

[@mikemr..3602]

Digging the freaKin Greats my fav DeLa song & Dillia Beat 👍🏽👍🏽

[@sidepieceseason1414]

This is a top 5 De La song & an All Time Rap Great! Thanks for this. Love the channel & how you’re doing it! 🙏🏽

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you so much for the support 🙏

[@cutieerica]

I still bump this song and album today.

[@fygtree]

I honestly didn't know that this track was so highly regarded, I've loved it since first getting it on tape in 96 and it's never been out of rotation for me since then. Classic.

[@gabeeskridge8291]

It's beat and lyrical content are incredible and shifted all of hip-hop. Nothing has touched it since.

[@Astro-X-Ent]

I'm so glad that the D'angelo (Me & Those Dreamin' Eyes) Rmx was mentioned, I've been enjoying that track for numerous years now and still play it quite often even toady. Great informative video as usual bro.

[@MichelleJBitunjac]

Such a great album with great remixes.

[@Devtr3]

ANOTHER HOMERUN BROTHER! THANK YOU FOR THIS CHANNEL! THANK YOU HOUSE SHOES!

[@matthawes4395]

Jeeez you know your stuff bro! Nuff respek😊

[@anovosedlik]

Swahililand is incredible (I'm a big jazz fan). Stakes is High is objectively one of the best songs ever, partly cuz of how incredible the sample is and also J Dilla.

[@fergz45]

" Neighbourhood are now HOODS, because nobody neighbours". One of the best lines is rap

[@supermcfly100]

Facts

[@thaxtonwaters8561]

"Illegal ain't illegal if its less than an ounce." That taught me so much about the law.

[@LoserNamedWyn]

You're incredible at illustrating the narratives of artists. And making/explaining music. Thankyou r

[@_coachcraig_]

"No offense to a playa, but, yo, I don't play. And if you take offense, F*** it! Got to be that way!"

[@histoiretraduite]

As a white european I alwsys felt like De La Soul are like the beatles of rap music.

[@keithprice1950]

What's your skin colour got to do with it?

[@TheMixCurator]

Bought book, thanks for the recommendation. Dilla is still the producer that I feel the most. He gave so much before his passing. Wish he was still here to shape the musical landscape.

[@thekidflames]

Incredible album. My absolute fave of De La’s. The title track ranks as one of the best Hip-Hop cuts ever created, hands down. Incredible video and breakdown as well. Thank you for sharing, brother! RIP AJ, Dave, and Dilla! Three kings! 👑 #Vibrations

[@ronbaisden8097]

“There comes a time in everyman’s life that he’s gotta handle $hit on his own “ I see what you did there! Love your channel!

[@BenjaminFarrar]

Great work as always. Salute!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you so much for the support!

[@christianreyes1342]

Stumbled across your page and honestly absolutely love your content, your knowledge in music and hip-hop knowledge awesome. HIP-HOP HEADS

[@ndujamz]

I'm very glad that you've linked up with House Shoes. He's one of the few that knows a lot about Jay Dee and has most of Dilla stuff, because remember he is a Dj, so Jay would give him stuff to play.

[@atmosfear3056]

Most definitely one of the greatest hip hop tracks of all time IMO. True essence of the culture. It was made to bring awareness and push positivity all while having one of the hardest hip hop beats I’ve ever heard. It’s a masterpiece of the art.

[@wrek1ent]

My Favorite DE LA SOUL SONG OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!

[@x4president1]

I always wondered why the sound of hip hop sounded so grim in 95 and 96, From Bizarre Ryde to Labincalifornia, from LET and MM to BR& L, from De La Soul is Dead to Stakes is high everything was broody and somber.

[@MichelleJBitunjac]

Growing older and yoithful idealism falling away. Going deeper in the crates with jazz, psych-rock, obscure samples vs the brighter dance sound of classic funk/r&b. Hip-Hop's positive facade saying f*** it and showing its darker side. Loved living through it, the beauty and the ugliness.

[@LeonCato]

Thanks for the comprehensive analysis of one of the greatest Hip Hop tracks of all time. Love the way you connect the dots. Keep doin' the thing man.

[@TheoConway]

dilla has a beat called ahmad impresses me💯🔥🔥

[@Techninjaspeaks]

This KZbin channel is amazing. So happy i stumbled here. Time to binge.

[@peachulemon]

That song is a banger and still relevant now. J dilla production was insane and the bars are also just as fire

[@LokiDWolf]

I have loved them since '89!!! Grant it, I didn't own anything by them until the album, Buhloone Mindstate. I wore that out from beginning to end!! And I understand what they meant in regards to the other groups out then. I always felt they were the "Shakespeare" lyricists of their era. Hence, they didn't hit with a lot of people. And the 90's were like that with particular artists. Groups like P.M. Dawn and Digable Planets come to mind. Still, I loved them. And it was because they didn't rap and/or sound like everyone that I couldn't stop listening to them. So, I HIGHLY appreciate this breakdown. Because when I heard "Stakes Is High" for the first time I was floored!! All the sounds were phenomenal. Oh and the lyrics gave me chills! Thanks for the video.

[@LxftRxght]

The phrase "gentleman and a scholar" is certainly not lost on you, diggin.

[@OvercastWrite41510]

Play "Stakes Is High" at my funeral

[@Positive_Tea]

Every word in this video is a KZbin quotable

[@The_JoeyGunz]

Love the channel, dude. You're breakdowns are meticulous and dope! Love to hear/see more bass breakdowns as well. Keep the fly sh!t comin'! ✌🏾

[@marvinsbprealty5760]

"Plug tuning" is my favorite De La track, "stakes is high" favorite album

[@darrengordon-hill]

Got remixes on both waiting for you to watch... 🌻 Also Stakes is High from when Trugoy died... and Big Brother Beat... even Brainwashed Follower... SHOCKED KZbin algorithm hasn't sent more of you my way

[@els1f]

"American classical music" is 1000% accurate!🙌🔥

[@realjravage]

Still a legendary song :) Rip Plug and J Dilla my fav producer of all time

[@DrematikRZN]

"Viiibe...Vibration!!!" Dilla and De La were all the way in they bag on this!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@MugenBoy]

PERFECT timing for this video man. Since De La’s catalog re-released on streaming platforms I’ve been obsessed with Stakes Is High. The album and the title track itself. Legendary song for Hip-Hop as a whole. Thank you for this vid to add on to the ever lasting obsession with De La Soul for me 😂‼️

[@thaiboxing67]

glad De La and JD are finally getting rewarded for the work they put in.Their albums are classics!

[@LoLifeIsForever-hl2nm]

My GOAT is A Tribe Called Quest outta the Native Tongues collective, but De La is my definite second! 🎙️🔊💪🏽 ❤

[@hxc4ever301]

Trugoy's first verse on Stakes Is High is probably my favorite from the group

[@Skedoosh99]

He set it off nicely!

[@ColeSportz]

Same. The first time I heard the song, I said, "FINALLY! An artist saying something I've wanted to hear about the (then) current music landscape!"

[@TheTurdFerguson]

An analysis of one of my favorite albums and my favorite producer. This one’s gonna be a banger of a video

[@jaidarling8855]

This album is one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time and one of my top 5.

[@coreyshafarman8918]

Just listened to this the other day! Love Dilla and De la Soul!

[@jznnotjason]

Always love your videos. Story telling. Techniques. Punny jokes. Beats from my teenage years. Gotta love it. Always looking for more ATCQ videos! Cheers.

[@davido3109]

Sweet as 🥭🥭🥭 mango

[@maxvanopdorp9108]

Every time I see a new vid I’m happy, but when it’s about De La Soul I get really exited!! I always find myself making a beat right after you’re videos. Thanks for being inspirational ❤

[@jayhineswort5427]

i grew up listening to j dilla, nujabes, madlib and 9th wonder. can’t wait to share my taste in music with my son.

[@marcusdunton1692]

Stakes is High foretold so much of to come of hip-hop, breaks my heart.

[@Rugerman205]

I would Loooooove to get the original demo version too! It’s 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@elMaxx5]

Another banga!!! You the truth Homes!

[@Scene13-g5j]

If I’m talking about the songs I think of the song “stakes is high” as a Wu tang type cream where it’s the opposite of their normal style but it’s talking about the bad things in pop culture that are harming people where cream is a softer than the usual Wu tang gritty sound but it’s about how they took the wrong path with running stickups and doing drugs were and how those things were bad

[@MetalSonic420]

Real ones know Stakes Is High is De La Soul's best album.

[@coldwar1977]

Love this!!!! Thanx for all the effort. SIH is my favourite De La Soul song.

[@otimustron2]

One of the best hip hop grooves

[@waltdiesel]

One of my favorite tracks!!!

[@ThePunkake]

If I could press the like button multiple times, I would! CLASSIC❤.

[@charliebirdnba]

Thank you!! My favorite hip-hop track ever (together with T.R.O.Y by Pete Rock and CL Smooth, wink wink), this one got me into dilla!!

[@diggingthegreats]

I'm catching the hint - the list of songs to cover is getting too long

[@lazarus2332]

Dilla made hip-hop, beautiful to me…hearing stakes is high after hearing welcome 2 Detroit…man listen….smdh…salute J.D👑🙏🏾

[@andrewah15]

Great recreation of a J Dilla sample. I got goosebumps watching this video. Great work. 👍🏾🔥😎. Rest In Power Dave and J Dilla.

[@DaddyBooneDon]

Bernie Worrell of Parliament fame was like Ahmad Jamal, he drew from all musical sources and synthesized it (literally) into his own funky style.

[@themarkedman72]

Great content. Brilliant insights into the music creation and paradigm of the artist. Top notch. Thankyou.

[@Trrack10]

One of the best KZbinrs out there. Love the second channel as well. Keep up the quality!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@stevecrook8994]

Never clicked a video so fast, great video about an absolute banger of a tune, still slaps to this day

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥🔥

[@Berth407]

“I’m sick of bit$$es shaking asses” me too Dove me too! Also RIP yo Ahmad Jamal sample is chefs kiss

[@bennyg76]

This is my favourite De La album and definitely the one I have most played. I loved it's bounce and soul and tragedy of the harsh late-Capitalist era we live in. It wasn't until years later I realised it was J Dilla on production! Stakes is High & Amplified by Q Tip have my heart forever. Oh, and Zhane is on this 'hey mr dj'

[@Illmaticzx]

Man your KZbin channel is way underrated, loving the content, I learn so much, keep it going!

[@humanpeopleperson5092]

I'd love to see you do some vids on Nujabes (RIP🙏) seeing how much you cover Dilla, I think you'd love his work

[@henryhill92]

Cool to hear House Shoes mention that Dilla Dreamin' Eyes mix. One of my favourite Dilla beats, and it's always blown my mind that it wasn't released on the original single, while a bunch of cheesy remixes were. Shows how ahead of his time he was.