De La Soul

De La Soul is arguably the greatest hip-hop group of all time. I know some might jump out of their seats at a comment like that -- and no disrespect to Tribe, The Roots and the long line of formidable groups that have helped build the cultur --  but there is nobody like De La and there never will be.The trio has not only survived for over 20 years, but they've managed to innovate and grow constantly. From being the weirdo new kids during the budding days of Native Tongue and becoming default gatekeepers of "real" hip-hop during the late 90s to becoming one of the most shining examples of how to age respectfully in the genre without becoming corny, De La Soul is a cultural institution."Stakes Is High" is a classic among classics in their extensive repertoire. The song from the album of the same name, produced by Jay Dee before he was Dilla, captured the frustration of a generation that saw their music and culture complete the jump into the corporate world. Play this track out at any respectable hip-hop party and Dave's verse, the second in the song, will automatically elicit a word-for-word recital by at least a handful of heads in attendance.In a curious twist of fate, Parisian producer Dela (no relation) remixed this track back when MySpace was A&Ring many an album. His remix injects a heavy dose of sunshine into the original, making for a classic remix of a classic record.