stakesishighremix.mp3

Year: 1996
Produced By: Stakes Is High
Album: Jay Dee
Label: Tommy Boy

Over Jay-Dee's legendary filtered production, which Posdnous acquired by feigning disinterest during a listening session with Q-Tip, De La contemplate their place in an industry increasingly dominated by thuggish, materialistic, R&B-friendly acts. Critics have zeroed in on Trugoy's caustic dismissal of these trends to claim that De La were spiteful or harbored ill will towards consumers who preferred this type of music. A closer reading set against the context of the rest of their output suggests that they were probably more concerned with pondering their market viability and their ability to remain upwardly mobile in the face of changes both in the industry and the social fabric of Long Island than with denouncing shiny suits. It still gets discussed and debated, so clearly it's an important record, right?