Video: De La Soul & The Roots – Stakes Is High live @ Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon and his The Tonight Show is famous for bringing in some of the most exciting personas from the entertainment world, among others. In the latest efforts to pay respects to the deceased Dave of De La Soul, the mentioned NYC crew has teamed up with legends The Roots and performed the first single Stakes Is High from the same-named 1996 album.

As a reminder, Stakes Is High, both as a single and album, in the peak of East coast-West coast rivalry was a way of De La Soul showing their disapproval of the state of hip-hop in that period, criticizing the commercialization of the game combined with the rise of popularity of gangsta rap thus making the album one of the most controversial at the time. Also, this was the first time the group stopped working with the producer Prince Paul which drastically changed the sound and overall atmosphere, making it more darker and serious than before. The song is question was produced by Jay Dee and co-produced by De La Soul.

Though the album has made a lot of noise in the already divided hip-hop community in that period, it remained highly influential and extremely notable on the conscious level of rap. Today, almost 30 years after, the track still remains relevant with its deep lyrics and message. Thanks to Jimmy Fallon, we’re having the opportunity to relive the track with two hip-hop heavyweights on the same stage, full-band style.