What makes Stem by DJ Shadow notable?

The album's lead track, 'Stem (LP version)', is notable for its extensive use of samples and has influenced countless artists within the hip-hop and electronic music scenes. DJ Shadow's work on this release helped to establish the legitimacy of instrumental hip-hop and contributed significantly to the genre's growth in the mid-90s, receiving critical acclaim from publications like Pitchfork. Released in January 1996, 'Stem' came during DJ Shadow's rise to prominence following his groundbreaking debut album, 'Endtroducing.....'. This single solidified his reputation as a pioneering figure in the trip-hop genre and showcased his innovative sampling techniques at a time when hip-hop was evolving rapidly.