Part 1: All Movements Begin Underground

Hip hop culture has manged to influence almost every element in our society. Explicated through sports, movies, clothing and listened to by urban kids as well as suburban kids, hip hop evidently plays a role in American entertainment and culture. Although other genres of music such as pop and rock use derogatory statements in their songs, because of its magnetic pull, hip hop is constantly criticized for its vulgarity, violence, and promiscuity used in lyrics.
And who can blame the critics? Who here can listen to a hip hop radio station, such as power 106 in Los Angeles or Hot 97 in New York, with out hearing the overtold tales of a rappers life of the po-po, bling bling, b****'s, and even worse Los Angeles low rider gansta rap. Me being an African American female, I often find myself cringing when I listen to the accounts of the licentious money hungry black man and his h**'s. Now don't get me wrong; it's not like I didn't find my self caught up in the 'Big Pimpin,' 'Shake ya a**,' and 'Bling Bling' movements, but as hip hop continues to augment its dominance, you're left to wonder if its artists these days are willing to put down the Christal and send out a more positive image to its large arrayment of listeners.
I found myself hopeless, abandoning hip hop and listening more and more to rock music. I was attracted to rocks originality, and not necessarily positive lyrics, but not as much paper chasing and stripper, nonetheless. As I was almost successfully weened off of hip hop, I suddenly began to yearn for the raw lyricism and individuality that hip hop before fulfilled me with. I thought to myself that there had to be something out there uncommercialized and untainted that I hadn't been listening to, and I was right. Dilated Peoples was the answer. Dilated Peoples came to the rescue, and with their debut C.D the Platform, this Los Angeles hip hop trio showed me that hip hop, and even more importantly to an L.A native like myself, Los Angeles rap wasn't obligated to the stigma's of easy women, easy money and thug life.
The coalesce of and ex-graffiti artist, Evidence, ex- gang member, Rakaa Iriscience, and DJ, Babu, demonstrated through the Platform that using the art of hip hop positively will consequently make a greater impact. The Platform is exactley what it is: The platform, foundation and background of a group that claims they will change the facade of hip hop. My lasting impression of this C.D leads me to believe they unmistakably will. Dilated Peoples has influenced me to listen to underground more hip hop artists like themselves. I am once again proud to affirm that I am a hip hop head thanks to Dilated Peoples. If you are like me, one in desire of true hip hop skills, I recommend this C.D to you. If you are one who discounted hip hop because of its superfluous and licentious rep, I recommend that you pick up this C.D up as well.

Song List and Description:

1. So May I Introduce to You (good)
- great scratching
2. Platform (excellent)
- Catchy rhymes, first song showing this isn't the typical radio played hip hop.
3. No Retreat (worst)
- The beat is pretty awful. Song states they're uncomparable, but the beat is terrible. Interlude it great though.
4. Guaranteed (good)
- Song states how they guarantee hots shows and music. Mixing at the end is great.
5. Right On (good)
- How Dilated Peoples keeps it real, great mixing and sample at the end is great.
6. The Main Event (excellent)
-These peeps have mad confidence, and how they keep simple and original. "Most kids go wack songs behind big tech videos... they know they aint right that's why their screens turn left, logos backwards please..." -Evidence
7. Service (good)
- Great Mixing "I think a wack rapper needs to catch service" , " A lot of people ask me what's Dilated mean... Dilated is to grow, we are people of expansion point blank." -Evidence
8. Ear Drums Pop (good)
- Dilated great in rocking crowds. interlude shows how hip hop is universal
9. Years in the making (excellent)
- Not just another mainstream hip hop group. "So I was mostly humbled by rejection, but in my heart I knew my sht would always pass inspection." "10 years in the making... It's over night right... not really" -Evidence
10. Annihalation (good)
- To destroy fronting rappers completely. "I don't need jewels to shine just bring the flow." -Rakaa
11. Expanding Man
- Interlude uses the word expand to spell out who Dilated is.
13. Triple Optics (excellent)
- tight beat
14. The Shape of Things to Come
-Gives you further insight on Dilated. "The only thing constant is change." -Rakaa
15. Work the Angles (good)
- "It's about communication, not a rappers ego." -Evidence
16. Ear Drums Pop Remix (good)
- Great appearance by Everlast
17. Bonus Track (good)