Dilated Peoples - The Platform

On the West
Coast, gangsta rap held sway in hip-hop as the 21st century began. The alternative and conscious rap music of the early-to-mid-90s
had all but faded into the underground. The scene was set for a comeback, perhaps as a backlash to the perceived violence and
misogyny of gangsta rap's content. Leading the resurgence of alternative hip-hop were groups like Jurassic 5, and recent signees to
Capitol Records; a West coast trio that had been building steam underground since the early 90s called Dilated Peoples. Anticipation
was high for the release of the debut album from Evidence, Rakaa, and DJ Babu. (Of the influential turntablist collective Beat Junkies.)
When The Platform arrived in May of 2000 it was met with critical and underground acclaim, as well as affording Dilated Peoples their
first Billboard chartings. It featured a back-to-basics sound with a heavy debt to the old-school hip-hop ethos, the kind of sound that
harkened back to the early days of legends like De La Soul & A Tribe Called Quest. Hits like "No Retreat" and "The Platform" were
bolstered by Evidence & Rakaa's subtle, abstract wit, and swift, adroit wordplay, while DJ Babu provided production chops and
dextrous scratches. On The Platform the trio were joined by the likes of B-Real, Tha Alkoholiks, Everlast, Planet Asia, and many more
providing guest vocals, while boasting guest production from The Alchemist & Kut Masta Kurt, among others. Since its 2000 release
this influential record, which heralded the return of alternative hip-hop, has never seen a vinyl reissue. With that, Get On Down-always
on top of giving the greatest hip-hop albums their due-is proud to present this re-release of The Platform. The rhymes are still fresh, the
production is still pristine, and the album is now back on vinyl for the first time in 17 years. A1. So May I Introduce You A2. The
Platform A3. No Retreat A4. Guaranteed B1. Right On B2. The Main Event B3. Service B4. Ear Drums Pop C1. Years In The Making
C2. Annihilation C3. Expanding Man C4. The Last Line Of Defense D1. Triple Optics D2. The Shape Of Things To Come D3. Work The
Angles D4. Ear Drums Pop (Remix)