DILATED PEOPLES

On the West Coast, gangsta rap held sway in hip-hop as the 21st century began. The alternative and conscious rap music of the early-to-mid-90s had all but faded into the underground. The scene was set for a comeback, perhaps as a backlash to the perceived violence and misogyny of gangsta raps content. Leading the resurgence of alternative hip-hop were groups like Jurassic 5, and recent signees to Capitol Records; a West coast trio that had been building steam underground since the early 90s called Dilated Peoples.

Anticipation was high for the release of the debut album from Evidence, Rakaa, and DJ Babu. (Of the influential turntablist collective Beat Junkies.) When The Platform arrived in May of 2000 it was met with critical and underground acclaim, as well as affording Dilated Peoples their first Billboard chartings. It featured a back-to-basics sound with a heavy debt to the old-school hip-hop ethos, the kind of sound that harkened back to the early days of legends like De La Soul & A Tribe Called Quest. Hits like No Retreat and The Platform were bolstered by Evidence & Rakaas subtle, abstract wit, and swift, adroit wordplay, while DJ Babu provided production chops and dextrous scratches. On The Platform the trio were joined by the likes of B-Real, Tha Alkoholiks, Everlast, Planet Asia, and many more providing guest vocals, while boasting guest production from The Alchemist & Kut Masta Kurt, among others. This classic album is now back in print on standard black vinyl.

Tracklist:

A1 So May I Introduce To You
A2 The Platform
A3 No Retreat
A4 Guaranteed
B1 Right On
B2 The Main Event
B3 Service
B4 Ear Drums Pop
C1 Years In The Making
C2 Annihilation
C3 Expanding Man
C4 The Last Line Of Defense
D1 Triple Optics
D2 The Shape Of Things To Come
D3 Work The Angles
D4 Ear Drums Pop (Remix)