Stakes is High is the 4th studio album by De La Soul, released on July 2, 1996. Stakes is High was critically lauded for its music, lyricism, and its overall message concerning the artistic decline rap music began to face in the mid-90s. The title track and first single was produced by J Dilla and the album's second single, "Itzsoweezee (HOT)", with only Dave on vocals, wasaccompanied by a creative music video. The album spawned a third single "4 More", featuring Zhane. The album did provide a launching pad for future star rappers and actors Mos Def, who appeared on the track "Big Brother Beat" and Common who is featured on "The Bizness."
This special release marks the 20th anniversary of The Grind Date. The Grind Date is the sixth studio album by De La Soul, released in 2004. The album marked a significant return for the group after a hiatus since their previous album in 2001. The Grind Date showcases De La Soul's signature blend of clever lyrics, innovative production, and a mix of playful and introspective themes. The album includes a plethora of exciting featured artists including MF Doom, Ghostface Killah, Flava Flav and Sean Paul.
2CD - Includes 2 brand new tracks which were recorded during the same sessions as The Grind Date. These never before released tracks entitled ‘Respect’ and ’Bigger’ perfectly compliment what is already a renowned album.