Following 2001's Expansion Team in style, this LA collective's third album is hip-hop-pop-rap music at its greatest, bustling with 14 frankly sensational cuts.

The three main men involved go under the ominous monikers of Evidence, Iriscience and Babu, yet many of these tracks are graced with other famous producers or singers who are heavily involved in the hip-hop scene, with some guest vocals emanating from the rap talents of Planet Asia and Defari.

'Marathon' (that's been buzzing on numerous radio show charts in the US) belies its name and is the first evidence of the Dilated Peoples' chilled-out style, potentially mimicking The Black Eyed Peas by stating “It's all for the love/ Pace yourself so you can face yourself”.

'Trying' To Breathe' and 'Caffeine,' however, are far catchier and more sublimely produced songs, upliftingly drifting with stark 'pop' vibes, even if 'Caffeine' in particular is one of the album's darkest songs: essentially a social commentary about how life can be damn tough in LA.

The globally infamous Eminem has had a huge impact on the hip-hop and rap scenes in recent years, and fans of that man will no doubt find much to get excited about with these guys too, for some of the vocals during the album are very much in the vein of Eminem's style and substance.

'Reach For Us' is a hugely marketable song because it is so catchy, just like the sweet glory of single 'This Way', yet that doesn't appear on the album until right near the end, just before the piano-ticked and sample-sheathed 'DJ Babu In Deep Conversation'.

Babu and Evidence are also respected producers and have worked on Linkin Park and Beastie Boy records, but as two of the Dilated Peoples they've really come into their musical own, having helped to create one of the coolest and most uplifting hip-hop records in a long while.    
(5/5)

Release Date: 05 April 2004

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