Dilated Peoples is an American Los Angeles-based hip-hop trio, composed of rapper and record producer Evidence, rapper Rakaa, and Beat Junkies deejay and record producer DJ Babu.[ Allmusic Biography] The group is better known in the UK, where they reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart with two tracks, "This Way" and "Worst Comes to Worst". Their songs were featured in the 2003 video games Need for Speed: Underground and NBA Street Vol. 2, as well as MLB 06: The Show.
History Dilated Peoples was formed in 1992 by DJ Babu (from the DJ crew Beat Junkies), Evidence, and Rakaa. They released "Third Degree" in 1997 on ABB Records, developing their material in the underground hip-hop community. They had previously recorded an album titled Imagery, Battle Hymns & Political Poetry (1995) that was never released, although many fans still have it on bootlegged tapes. The group eventually signed with Capitol RecordsCMJ New Music Monthly, June 2000, no. 88, p.32 and released The Platform (2000).
The second album, Expansion Team, was released in 2001. Chart Attack, October 30, 2001, Debbie Bento led by the Alchemist–produced "Worst Comes to Worst," which utilized a vocal sample from Mobb Deep's "Survival of the Fittest" and a musical sample from William Bell's "I Forgot to be Your Lover". Expansion Team debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart and number 36 on the Billboard 200.Dilated Peoples To Headline 'scratch Tour, Allbusiness.com The music video for Worst Comes to Worst includes a shot recorded at the World Trade Center four days before the 9/11 attacks in which the group used a World Trade Centre office worker on their lunch break as a character in the scene. The group's third album, Neighborhood Watch, was released in 2004 and debuted at number 55 on the Billboard 200, selling 143,000 copies in the United States.Dilated Peoples 'Back Again' With New Album, Billboard In addition to the Kanye West-produced single, "This Way," it featured the singles "Who's Who?" and "Sorry? OK", which were also included as tracks on the Need for Speed: Underground and SSX 3 soundtracks, and peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart. The fourth album, 20/20, was released in 2006; the debut single, "Back Again", was featured on the Fight Night Round 3 soundtrack. This is the third EA Games soundtrack on which the group has been featured. "Back Again" is also featured on Sony's MLB 06: The Show. In 2012, they collaborated with PlatinumGames to record the track "This is Madness" for the credits of the beat-'em-up video game, Anarchy Reigns. 20/20 was the group's "farewell" album on Capitol Records, ending a four album recording contract. They also work with the underground hip-hop group, Global Warning, who originated in Anaheim.
Dilated Peoples are affiliated with fellow West Coast hip-hop collective the Likwit Crew. Tha Alkaholiks appeared on The Platform on the track "Right On" and Expansion Team on "Heavy Rotation". The group also collaborated frequently with West Coast emcees Defari and Amad Jamal and helped to launch their careers. Defari made one appearance on each Dilated Peoples' album: "Ear Drums Pop (Remix)" on The Platform; "Defari Interlude" on Expansion Team; "Closed Session" on Neighborhood Watch; and "Olde English" on 20/20. Dilated Peoples also made multiple appearances on Defari's album Odds & Evens. Another Dilated associate is their long-time producer, the Alchemist, who produced five songs on The Platform, three songs on Expansion Team, four songs on Neighborhood Watch, and two songs on 20/20. Dilated Peoples were featured on a song on the Alchemists' 1st Infantry album. Rakaa has also made guest appearances on the songs "Trance Fat" on Looptroop's album, Good Things, "Zet 't Blauw" from Dutch rapper Jerome XL's album, De laatste dag and "Memory Fades" on St. Cule's album, American Beef.
Discography Studio albums YearAlbum Peak chart positions Certifications US USR&B SWI UK2000The Platform Released: May 23, 2000 Label: Capitol Format: CD, Cassette, LP7430—892001Expansion Team Released: October 23, 2001 Label: Capitol Format: CD, LP368—55 BPI: Silver2004Neighborhood Watch Released: April 6, 2004 Label: Capitol Format: CD, LP, digital download55169196200620/20 Released: February 21, 2006 Label: Capitol Format: CD, LP, digital download9735561072014Directors of Photography Released: August 12, 2014 Label: Rhymesayers Format: CD, LP, digital download41919— "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
DVDs YearDVD2007The Release Party Released: July 31, 2007 Label: Decon Records
Singles YearSongChart positionsAlbum US USR&B USRap UK 1997 "Third Degree" (featuring Defari) — — — —non-album single 1998 "Work the Angles" — — — —The Platform2000 "No Retreat" (featuring B-Real) — — 42 — "The Platform" — — 22 89 2001 "Worst Comes to Worst" (featuring Guru) — 84 — 29Expansion Team 2002"Downtown" — — — —One Big Trip 2004 "This Way" (featuring Kanye West) 78 41 22 35Neighborhood Watch "Love & War" — — — — 2005 "Back Again" — 114 — 9820/20 2006 "You Can't Hide, You Can't Run" — — — — 2007 "Spit It Clearly" — — — —The Release Party2014 "Good As Gone" — — — —Directors of Photography "Show Me the Way" (featuring Aloe Blacc) — — — —
Guest appearances Title Year Other performer(s) Album "Major League" 1998 Rasco, Defari Time Waits for No Man "Counter Parts"1999Swollen MembersBalance "Rework the Angles" Sway & King Tech, A.G., Defari, Xzibit This or That "Soundbombing"TashSoundbombing II "Long Awaited" Lootpack Soundpieces: Da Antidote "Right & Exact"2000Lyricist Lounge 2 "Suckers Are Hiding"DJ MuggsSoul Assassins 2 "Analyze da Operation"2002Phil da Agony "Center of Attention"Pep Love & Souls of MischeifDuck Season Vol. 1 "Thieves" 2003 The Alchemist, Prodigy The Cutting Room Floor "Behold My Life (Remix)" Defari Odds & Evens "The Craft"Noelle "For the Record" 2004 The Alchemist 1st Infantry "No Brainer" Mr. Complex Twisted Mister "Live from Master Control, Pt. 2" 2005 Da Beatminerz, Chali 2na, Wordsworth Fully Loaded w/ Statik "Clowns" 2006 Defari Street Music "Dilated Agents" Planet Asia, Rasco The Medicine "Another X-Ecution" 2007 Roc Raida Beats, Cuts and Skits "Co-Operation" Strong Arm Steady Deep Hearted "Mr. SLow FLow (Remix)PMDMr. Slow Flow "Yellow & Grey (Remix)" 2009 Notes to Self A Shot in the Dark "I Am (Remix)" Bekay Hunger Pains "Believe That" 2010 Amad Jamal Barely Hanging On: The Chronicles of a Brotha Like Rodney King "Three Story Building" Copywrite The Life and Times of Peter Nelson "Canada 3000"2011Swollen Members1997 "Battlaxe" 2012 Madchild, Bishop Lamont, D-Sisive Dope Sick "Back for You" 2014 Statik Selektah What Goes Around "The Kingdom That Worshipped the Dead" 2015 Jedi Mind Tricks The Thief and the Fallen "1st (Remix)" 2016 Torii Wolf "Way Ahead" Snowgoons Goon Bap "Happiness"2020Master FuolMy Life (Revised)
References
External links
Dilated Peoples Homepage Evidence Interview Evidence Interview - "Reunion of Dilated Peoples? 2010!" BouriBlog Evidence Interview BouriBlog Rakaa Iriscience Interview Dilated Peoples Video Interview