The venue is small and so is the loyal fan base, some of whom come all the way from the US to watch their Peoples.  Thankfully or not, we receive football updates from Evidence and Rakaa, whilst DJ Babu stays silently on his altar, behind his turntables, putting down the beats.

The rapping platform known as Dilated Peoples first formed in 1992 and by 1997 they had worked with a whole host of west-coast rappers, including Xzibit, AG and Defari.  Their current music focuses on their hometown, Los Angeles, where they were the pioneers of the progressive underground rap scene.  Now Neighbourhood Watch is their much-anticipated third Capitol Records release. 

The acclaimed trio, whom we haven’t heard all that much of except for their track with Kanye West (‘This Way’), have worked hard to earn respect and continue rapping with inspired beats, great turntablism and intelligent wordplay.  ‘War’ is one of the many beats performed with passion.  One inventive track involves only “suck my dick” and “get off my shit” being repeatedly turned on the tables with a mix of beats.

Dilated Peoples display rap in purest form, two skilled MCs and a talented DJ.  They are Evidence, Rakaa and DJ Babu, who, for the whole gig devotes to his turntable prowess.  They chant again and again in-between tunes “The backbone of hip-hop is the DJ” and “DJ Babu”.  

Whilst away from the recording studio, Evidence and Babu have taken time to produce tracks for the likes of Linkin Park to the Beastie Boys to J5 and the Beatnuts.  But unlike these groups, Dilated Peoples don’t seem to recycle the same garbage over and over again.  The gig is a memorable one, with funky beats, record spinning and an eclectic array of lyrics being thrown into the crowd, with no fear of using harsh imagery and political poetry.  Stimulating – the way music should be.

(5/5)

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