De La Soul — Stakes is High

[Intro: Posdnous + Sample] Vibe, vibrations Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high When we talkin' 'bout the vibe, vibrations Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high We talkin' 'bout vibe, vibrations Stakes is high, you know them stakes is high [Verse 1: Posdnous] The instamatic focal point bringin' damage to your borough Be some brothers from the East with them beats that be thorough Got the solar gravitation, so I'm bound to pull it I gets down like brothers are found duckin' from bullets Gun control means usin' both hands in my land Where it's all about the cautious livin' Migratin' to a higher form of consequence Compliments of strugglin' that shouldn't be notable Man, every word I say should be a Hip-Hop Quotable [Verse 2: Trugoy the Dove] I'm sick of bitches shakin' asses I'm sick of talkin' 'bout blunts, sick of Versace glasses Sick of slang, sick of half-ass awards shows Sick of name-brand clothes Sick of R&B bitches over bullshit tracks Cocaine and crack, which brings sickness to blacks Sick of swoll' head rappers with their sickenin' raps Clappers of gats, makin' the whole sick world collapse The facts are gettin' sicker, even sicker perhaps I Stickabush to make a bundle to escape this synapse [Verse 3: Posdnous] Man, life can get all up in your ass Baby, you betta work it out Let me tell you what it's all about: A skin not considered equal A meteor has more right than my people Who be wastin' time screamin' who they've hated That's why the Native Tongues has officially been reinstated [Chorus] (Vibes... vibrations) Yeah Stakes is high (Higher than high) You know them stakes is high (Higher than high) When we talkin' 'bout... (Vibes... vibrations) Stakes is high Man, them stakes is high (Aiyo, what about that love?) [Verse 4: Posdnous] Yo, it's about love of cars, love of funds Lovin' to love mad sex, lovin' to love guns Love for opposite, love for fame and wealth Love for the fact of no longer lovin' yourself, kid We livin' in them days of the man-made craze Where every aspect is vivid These brothers no longer talk shit, aiyo, these niggas live it 'Bout to give it to you 24/7 on the microphone Plug One translatin' the zone No offense to a player but, yo, I don't play Nigga, take offense? Fuck it, gotta be that way Jay Dee, Dove, show your love, what you got to say? [Verse 5: Trugoy the Dove] I say G's are makin' figures at a high regard And niggas dyin' for it nowadays ain't odd Investin' in fantasies and not God Welcome to reality, see, times is hard People try to snatch the credit, but can't claim the card Showin' out in videos, sayin' they co-starred See, shit like that'll make your mama cry Better watch the way you spend it 'cause the stakes is high [Hook] Y'all know them stakes is high When you're dealin' with the... (Vibes... vibrations) Stakes is high (Come on) Man, them stakes is high (Check it) [Verse 6: Trugoy the Dove + Posdnous] I think that smilin' in public is against the law (What?!) 'Cause love don't get you through life no more It's who you know, and "How you, son?" And how you gettin' in, and who the man holdin' heat, yo And how was the skins and how high Yo, what up, huh? I heard you caught a body Seem like every man and woman shared a life with John Gotti But they ain't organized! Mixin' crimes with life enzymes Takin' the big scalp route and niggas, no doubt Better than they know their daughters and their sons (Oh, boy) [Verse 7: Posdnous] Yo, people go through pain and still don't gain Positive contact just like my main man Who got others cleanin' up his physical and fluids His mind got congested, he got the nine and blew it Neighborhoods are now hoods 'cause nobody's neighbors Just animals survivin' with that animal behavior Under I who be rhymin' from dark to light sky Experiments where needles and skin connect No wonder where we live is called the projects When them stakes is high You damn sure try to do anythin' to get the piece of the pie Electrify, even die for the cash But at last, you be out even though you wantin' more This issue is closed like an elevator door But soon re-opened once we get to the next floor where the... [Hook] (Vibes... vibrations) Stakes is high You know them stakes is high When you dealin' with the... (Vibes... vibrations) Stakes is high Stakes is high, come on