The Platform

by Dilated Peoples

Overview

Dilated Peoples' debut album was hugely anticipated in the hip-hop underground, thanks to a handful of excellent singles and guest appearances that began several years prior. When it was finally released in 2000, The Platform thrilled some and mildly disappointed others. Dilated is very much a part of the back-to-basics, old-school-worshipping wing of the underground, most often compared to fellow southern Californians Jurassic 5. They've got DJ Babu of the Beat Junkies working turntables, adding an extra dimension of authenticity to Iriscience and Evidence's well-honed microphone technique. Therein lies the rub: the trio's skills are all beyond question, but sometimes the album can feel like a formalist exercise. That's largely due to the lack of variety in lyrical content, which generally consists of one purist-friendly battle rhyme after another. It's all well-executed, but considering how far hip-hop has come, it's hard not to want a more personal statement, or a few topics other than wack MCs and keeping the culture real. But other than that, The Platform is an excellent debut. The production (chiefly by the Alchemist) is lean and inventive throughout, supporting the two MCs' abstract poetics with a subtle flair. Plus, their single-minded love of hip-hop brings a tremendous enthusiasm to the best tracks. The title track, "Triple Optics," and the underground classic "Work the Angles" are particular highlights, and guests B Real, Tha Alkaholiks, Planet Asia, and Aceyalone all put in memorable appearances (especially Tha Alkaholiks, on "Right On"). If it's occasionally uneven, The Platform is still better than the vast majority of its competition, and whether or not they ultimately prove to be the saviors of hip-hop (as some would have it), their promise is undeniable. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	05/05/2017
Label:	Get On Down
UPC:	0664425409116
Rank:	47730

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dilated Peoples   Primary Artist
Defari   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Phil Da Agony   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Tha Alkaholiks   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
B-Real   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Planet Asia   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Aceyalone   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
White E. Ford   Featured Artist
Everlast   Guest Artist
DJ Revolution   Scratching
DJ Babu   Scratching

Technical Credits

T-Ray   Composer,Producer
Tariq Trotter   Composer
Tash   Composer
Kieran Walsh   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Karl Jenkins   Composer
Parrish Smith   Composer
Djinji Brown   Composer,Engineer
Joey Chavez   Composer
Louis Freese   Composer
Dilated Peoples   Executive Producer
Sean Freehill   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Pete Rock   Composer
Kamaal Fareed   Composer
Malik Taylor   Composer
J. Brown   Composer
DJ Babu   Mixing,Producer
Ali Muhammad   Composer
B-Real   Performer
Kenyatta Saunders   Composer
Kurt Matlin   Composer,Engineer
E-Swift   Composer,Producer
Erick Sermon   Composer
James Robinson   Composer,Composer
Erik Schrody   Composer
Tom Coyne   Mastering
Duane Johnson   Composer
R. Taylor   Composer
Joe Chavez   Engineer,Producer,Mixing Advisor
J. Green   Composer
Rakaa   Group Member
Eddie Hayes   Composer
J. Smith   Composer
Todd Ray   Composer
M. Taylor   Composer
Stefan Gordy   Composer
Pat Shannahan   Sample Clearance
Anton Puchansky   Mixing
J Smith   Composer
J.R. Chavez   Composer
Beni B.   Composer
Jason Green   Composer
Evidence   Group Member
Eric Brooks   Composer
Malik Smart   Composer
Phillip Blenman   Composer
Rakaa Taylor   Composer
Alan Maman   Composer
Michael Perretta   Composer
Chris Oroc   Composer