Dilated Peoples is an underground hip hop group residing in California. They have achieved great fame in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success, with the exception of the song "This Way", a collaboration with Kanye West, in 2004. Their members include DJ Babu (producer/DJ), Evidence (rapper/producer) and Rakaa Iriscience (rapper).
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Its members, DJ Babu from the DJ crew Beat Junkies, Evidence, and Rakaa joined together in 1992 and released "Third Degree" and "Work the Angles" on ABB Records, developing a solid fan base in the underground hip hop community. They recorded an album "Imagery, Battle Hymns & Political Poetry", which was never released, although many fans do have it on bootleg. They eventually signed to Capitol Records and released The Platform (2000) to more critical acclaim. Their second set Expansion Team was released in 2001 led by The Alchemist-produced "Worst Comes To Worst", which utilised 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". Their third album, Neighborhood Watch, was released in 2004 and debuted at #55 on USA's Billboard 200 Albums Chart. In addition to the Kanye West-produced single, "This Way", it featured the single "Who's Who?", which was also included as a track on the Need for Speed: Underground and SSX 3 soundtracks, and peaked at #35 on the UK Singles Chart. Their latest album, 20/20, was released in 2006; the debut single, "Back Again", is 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.
Dilated Peoples has many common associates such as the fellow west coast underground rap group, Tha Alkaholiks. The Liks appear on The Platform on the track "Right On" and Expansion Team on "Heavy Rotation". They also work much with west coast rapper, Defari and helped launch his career. 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 made multiple appearances on Defari's album Odds & Evens. Another Dilated associate is a long time producer for them, The Alchemist. The Alchemist 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. Other associates with Dilated Peoples include rappers Talib Kweli and Phil Da Agony, rap groups Mobb Deep, Gang Starr and The Roots and producer, Joey Chavez.
Albums
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
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The Platform |
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Expansion Team
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Neighborhood Watch |
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20/20
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TBR
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Appearances
- They appeared on a compilation album in 1997 named Bomb Worldwide with the song named "Ruggedness".
- They appeared on the Defari album, Odds & Evens in 2003 on the tracks "Los Angelinos" and "Behold My Life (Remix)".
- They appeared on the Lootpack album, Soundpieces: Da Antidote! in 1999 with the song named "Long Awaited"
- They appeared on the Swollen Members album, Balance in 1999 with the song named "Front Street".
- They appeared on a compilation album in 2004 named Definition of Ill with the song named "Major League" featuring Rasco and Defari.
- They appeared on a compilation album named Soundbombing 2 with a track called "Soundbombing".
- They appeared on Rawkus Records's compilation album named Lyricist Lounge 2 with a track called "Right and Exact".
- They appeared on a compilation album named Always Bigger And Better, Vol. 1 with tracks named "Global Dynamics" and "Heavy Lighting" with Joey Chavez.
- DJ Babu and Evidence reinterpreted "High Voltage" with emcee Pharoahe Monch for Linkin Park's Reanimation (2002). Their version of the song is entitled "H! Vltg3". Also, they appeared on a live version of the remake of High Voltage, (not the Reanimation version) while Linkin Park was on tour in London.
- Rapper Everlast of House of Pain and La Coka Nostra did one song with Dilated Peoples and featured on Ear Drums Pop (Remix).
Album Chart Positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 2000 | The Platform | #74 | #30 |
| 2001 | Expansion Team | #36 | #8 |
| 2004 | Neighborhood Watch | #55 | #16 |
| 2006 | 20/20 | #97 | #35 |
| 2007 | TBR | #TBR | #TBR |
Singles Chart Positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | ||
| 2000 | "No Retreat" | - | - | #42 |
| 2000 | "The Platform" | - | - | #22 |
| 2001 | "Worst Comes to Worst" | - | #84 | - |
| 2004 | "This Way" | #78 | #41 | #22 |
| 2005 | "Back Again" | - | - | - |
| 2007 | "Spit It Clearly" | -TBR | -TBR | -TBR |
| 2007 | "The Release Party" | -TBR | -TBR | -TBR |