Dilated Peoples - Its not easy to reach this Platform

Dilated Peoples are one of the most respected, yet relatively unknown groups from the west coast. Straying away from the cadillac cars and thuggish lyrics that typically makes up west coast lyricism, the team of DJ Babu, Evidence, and Rakaa Iriscience typically tend to borrow their style from early east-coast work. Their unique lyricism is much more underground influenced, featuring complex, multi-syllable rhyme schemes, a somewhat extensive vocabulary, and knowledge. Dilated Peoples are long forgotten, but in my opinion are true pioneers in bringing a unique east-coast sound to the west. Accompanied by a list of superb guest appearances and unbelievable production, its no wonder that their debut album The Platform is regarded by heads as their finest work, and some of the best sh*t to come out of the west.



Track List & Rating

1. So May I Introduce To You (NOT RATED)
2. The Platform (****)
3. No Retreat f/ B-Real (****)
4. Pushing Limits (***)
5. Guaranteed (***)
6. Right On f/ Tha Alkaholiks (***)
7. The Main Event (****)
8. Service (****)
9. Ear Drums Pop (****)
10. Years In The Making (*****)
11. Annihilation (****)
12. Expanding Man (****)
13. The Last Line Of Defense (****)
14. Triple Optics (***)
15. The Shape Of Things To Come f/ Aceyalone (***)
16. Work The Angles (****)
17. Ear Drums Pop Remix f/ Planet Asia, Defari, Everlast, Phil Tha Agony (*****)




After a skippable intro, "The Platform" title track pops up to really kick the album off. Accompanied by excellent production, Evidence and Iriscience drop ill battle rhymes to exactly show off how good they are. Dilated Peoples' overall sound is reminiscent of some of the work by such artists as Jurassic 5, A Tribe Called Quest, or The Roots. Both Evidence and Iriscience are pretty dope lyricists and usually spit ill lyrics on the mic with a few memorable punchlines. I would still tend to consider them overrated, even though they are good. This song is a nice example of their skill. They are above average lyricists and nice battle rappers, but they lack the neccessary punchlines and complex vocabulary to be put in the same league as a Ras Kass, Canibus, or Big L... truthfully.

On "Guaranteed", we get more of the unique braggadiocio style shown on the title track by Dilated Peoples. Both emcees drop a tiny bit of introspection on the state of the underground side of hip-hop, but typically stay on the battle subject matter. However, in my opinion, this is the track that fully shows off the skills of DJ Babu as a producer. Seemingly ripping a page out of the book of the legendary DJ Premier, Babu lends a nice looping beat backed by a saxophone, along with unbelievable scratches and samples in the hooks and choruses. Babu is arguably one of the most underrated producers in the game of hip-hop as his beats are typically ill, and seemingly DJ Premier-ish.

"Service" features a beautiful break-beat productive effort by DJ Babu, as we get some nice scratches and mixes reminiscent of some of the mid-80s style of beats. Dilated Peoples have always been a nostalgic group, and this track is a perfect example of their dedication and appreciation for old-school hip-hop music. As expected, Evidence and Iriscience drop the ill braggadiocio rhymes, bragging about their skills and such while Babu drops a truly memorable instrumental for them to rap over. Very nice...

Evidence is given a nice solo track entitled "Years in the Making". On this song, Dilated Peoples decides to finally insert some true subject matter and substance into the album, backed by storytelling. Evidence narrates the incredible story of the rise of Dilated Peoples, as they chronicle the years that they moved higher and higher from the underground, mastered their craft, to achieve the level that they are at now. Its a quite interesting story, and the dope vocabulary and rhyming skills exhibited by Evidence make this a must-listen song.

Most of the album from here on out is above average and brings really nothing new to the table, just great, listenable, underground-sounding hip-hop. The only real drop in quality that comes to mind would have to be "Triple Optics". Iriscience gives us a solo-track which would be an awesome event, but he is given a whack beat to rap over. Well... allow me to rephrase that. The beat isn't exactly unlistenable, but its just below average compared to the rest of the album.

As i said in the opening of the review, The Platform is full of unbelievably dope guest appearances, which is something that truly makes this album that much better. The legendary emcee B-Real from Cypress Hill drops an ill verse with Evidence and Iriscience on "No Retreat". On this track, Dilated switches to an all-out battle rap with punchlines and similes. On "Right On", the well-respected, west coast group The Alkaholiks join Dilated Peoples. Over dope production, The Alkaholiks and Dilated pass the mic between each other to drop freestyle-influenced verses. Typically forgotten, but ill emcee, Aceyalone joins Dilated Peoples on "The Shape of Things to Come". Acey and Iriscience (no Evidence), trade the mic back and forth to drop ill verses. No disrespect to Dilated Peoples, but Aceyalone clearly outshines them lyrically on this track, but perhaps they were ready for that already. Anyways... over ill production, this is another banger.

Unarguably, the most memorable guest appearances have to be from Planet Asia, Defari, Everlast, and Phil Tha Agony on the legendary posse cut "Ear Drums Pop Remix", which is a true classic and possibly the most memorable song in Dilated Peoples' history.

The first notable thing about this piece has to be the production... which features some keyboard, low-key xylophone, hard-hitting drums, beautiful scratching and samples. The lack of fancy hooks and choruses prove that Dilated Peoples are nothing but pure underground on this track as it basically holds no blows and pulls no punches. If i could describe the production of this track as short as possible it would have to be: Rugged and Classy.

But of course, the lyrics are what make it what they are. This is a nice gathering of 6 unbelievably ill emcees coming together. Each emcee drops punchline after punchline of flames, each one capping each other with Evidence finishing off the track. However, the most memorable part of this song actually has nothing to do with Dilated Peoples' whatsoever. Everlast's verse was in fact, an indirect diss towards emcee Eminem and his daugher Hailie Jade which popped off a rather long feud from 2000-2001 in which both sides traded shots towards each other. Everlast gets unbelievably personal as he spits: "I read the New Testament and gave it up for Lent, All the places I went just to pay my rent, Used to keep me bent, on a ritual daily, Cock my hammer, spit a Comet like "Hailie", I'll buck a three-eighty on ones that act "Shady", I'm original like Grady, check my Sanford, Son, You know you ain't the one that rep peckerwood status, I'll bust that a**, keep your eyes on the floor, What you comin here for, son you know the law, Let's take it back to the house, slide off your blouse, Lift up your skirt and expose your panties, For the world to see, you can't rep it like me... I'm Communist, terrorist, vandalist, catalyst, scandalous, masacous, never miss battalist, You must be crazy, or just plain dumb, You might catch a beatdown now where I come from... It's like that". Definetely worth listening to this one...

Dilated Peoples give a dope example of what a microphone clinic should be on The Platform. This album is far from being a classic due to the fact that clever subject matter is never at all visited and that all that Dilated Peoples do is brag and brag over and over again. The album actually had be bored quite a few times due to the lack of actual substance within the album. The posse cuts were ill, as well as the rhymes and lyrics were dope. Basically, if you can stand the lack of subject matter and want to hear some ill, old-school influenced hip-hop... check out this album.

4 Stars




If You Enjoyed this Album, i HIGHLY Reccomend:

The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marrauders

Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers

The Roots - Do You Want More?