Expected Release: 23rd October 2026

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.

The 4LP has x7 sides of music – plus a hologram of Dave on side 8.

Track List:

A 1 INTRO
A 2 SUPA EMCEES
A 3 THE BIZNESS (FEAT. COMMON)
A 4 YUNONSTOP
A 5 WONCE AGAIN LONG ISLAND
B 1 DINNINIT
B 2 BRAKES
B 3 DOG EAT DOG
B 4 BABY, BABY, BABY, BABY, OOH BABY (FEAT. JAZZYFATNASTEES)
B 5 LONG ISLAND DEGREES
C 1 BETTA LISTEN
C 2 ITZSOWEEZEE (HOT)
C 3 4 MORE (FEAT. ZHANE)
C 4 BIG BROTHER BEAT (FEAT. MOS DEF)
D 1 DOWN SYNDROME
D 2 PONY RIDE (FEAT. TRUTH ENOLA)
D 3 STAKES IS HIGH
D 4 SUNSHINE
E 1 NTRO (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 2 SUPA EMCEES (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 3 THE BIZNESS (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 4 YUNONSTOP (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 5 WONCE AGAIN LONG ISLAND (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 6 DINNINIT (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 7 BRAKES (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 8 DOG EAT DOG (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
E 9 BABY, BABY, BABY, BABY, OOH BABY (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 1 LONG ISLAND DEGREES (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 2 BETTA LISTEN (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 3 ITZSOWEEZEE (HOT) [INSTRUMENTAL EDIT]
F 4 4 MORE (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 5 BIG BROTHER BEAT (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 6 DOWN SYNDROME (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 7 PONY RIDE (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
F 8 STAKES IS HIGH (INSTRUMENTAL)
F 9 SUNSHINE (INSTRUMENTAL EDIT)
G 1 CHANEL NO. FEVER
G 2 I CAN’T CALL IT
G 3 ITZSOWEEZEE (HOT) [DE LA SOUL REMIX] {FEAT. YANKEE B.]
G 4 STAKES IS HIGH (J DILLA REMIX) [FEAT. MOS DEF AND TRUTH ENOLA]
G 5 STAKES IS HIGH (J DILLA ALTERNATE REMIX)