DE LA SOUL SHARE SNIPPET OF “STAKES IS HIGH” DEMO
It remains uncertain whether this project will ever see the light of day, but it is undeniably exciting to witness its progress. On July 2, 1996, De La Soul, the renowned musical trio, released their groundbreaking fourth album titled “Stakes Is High.” In an effort to pay homage to the album’s anniversary, Posdnuos, one of the group’s members, treated fans to a demo version of the album’s title track. Prior to J Dilla’s involvement, who later reimagined Ahmad Jamal’s “Swahililand,” the original rendition featured a sample from The Heath Brothers’ “Smilin’ Billy Suite,” a track that had been utilized by a diverse range of artists including Nas, Amy Winehouse, and Redman.
Reflecting on the passage of twenty-seven years since its release, Posdnuos expressed gratitude to their devoted listeners for continuously sharing the profound impact “Stakes Is High” had on their lives. “For every one of those 27 years, we have been blessed with listeners who let us know the significance of this album,” he acknowledged on Instagram. He further extended his appreciation to the late Jay Dee, affectionately known as J Dilla, for his transformative touch on the original version of the title track, effectively turning it into a powerful hip-hop sermon.
Now that the members of De La Soul have regained control over their own catalog, there is renewed hope that this alternate version of the album will finally be made available to the public. The anticipation among fans is palpable, as they eagerly await the opportunity to experience this significant musical offering firsthand.
To learn more about De La Soul and their musical contributions, visit their website at https://hozonefly.com/.
