DJ Babu (from the DJ crew Beat Junkies), Evidence, and Rakaa joined together in 1992 in Los Angeles, CA and released Third Degree and Work the Angles, which were quickly established as favorites in the underground scene and among rap critics. They eventually signed to Capitol and in 2000 released The Platform, to more critical acclaim. Their sophomore set Expansion Team was released in 2001, led by the Alchemist-produced single Worst Comes To Worst, which sampled from Mobb Deep's Survival Of The Fittest. 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 also 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.
In 2006, they returned with the single Back Again, produced by The Alchemist. The trio's fourth album, 20/20, debuted on February 21, 2006.
In 2007 they released The Release Party. This package included a feature-length documentary on DVD as well as EP featuring new songs and remixes. The film, released through Decon, is a celebration of the release from their contract with Capital.
Directors of Photography is the fifth studio album by the American hip hop group. The album was released on August 12, 2014, by Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Heavy Rotation
Dilated Peoples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Nigga)
Nobody brought no ice?
(Ahh, ah, ha, aww, yeah)
Yo, yo, pass the beer
(We drink in heavy rotation)
(Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' bout!)
(Ahh, ahh)
Dilated y'all
(Toast to this)
It's Tha Liks baby
(Toast to this)
And y'all can't come
(Close to this)
Dilated, heavy rotated with Tha Liks
I'm so outlandish, my rhymes the paint, the track's the canvas
Find me puffin' tampons on your nearest college campus
McEn-Ro, servin' up heat like Pete Sampras
Drinkin' Jose Cuervo like some Spanish bandits
Make women panic when I tell 'em I'ma vanish
Don't take it personal, these are eight-one-eight antics
Hoes, break your pockets like car mechanics
Every mornin', I bow down and pray like a mantis
Most women can't stand this but I, ain't romantic
So that thought you can banish to the city of Atlantis
Me and Tash met this tan bitch, made a Likwid sandwich
I consume strictly green leaves like pandas
Dig through ice for my brew, like they dig for woolly mammoths
I'm volcanic up in bitches that look like Dorothy Dandridge
Your style is Major Damage, it's played out and ripped up
It needs a bandage, how do you manage? I can't stand it
Hops, barley, water, yeast, grain
Distillery alcohol for the brain
So check it out, smoke fills the area
Drunk as fuck, launch off the aircraft carrier
Your vision blurred eyes start to blink
You overdid it homes, you had too much to drink
(Cut it out)
This bout's set for twelve rounds of pain
Tequila limes and salt, these cats hard to hang
Sixteen bar shark, teeth to fangs
Open off Tha Liks duck season, you're in range
Turn the page here comes the next chapter
Battle Ev? You sign with Blue Cross or AFTRA
Heavy rotation, dilate expansion
California funk, like Flav, we Cold Lampin'
Fuck the format 'til they can't ignore us
But chill Swift 'bout to kill after the chorus
Dilated y'all
(Toast to this)
It's Tha Liks baby
(Toast to this)
And y'all can't come
(Close to this)
Dilated, heavy rotated with Tha Liks
Dilated y'all
(Toast to this)
It's Tha Liks baby
(Toast to this)
And y'all can't come
(Close to this)
Dilated, heavy rotated with Tha Liks
I cook up beats like dope, they should call me illegal
We control the underground like Bugsy Siegal
And my crew is like the mob, we whylin' off that vino
High-rollin', takin' over your local casino
Year after year, my music pleases your ear
That's why my focus is right like Outboard gear
Tune in, this is like a family reunion
We like cousins and shit, hey, rockin' this bitch
Dilated and the
(Likwid MC's)
We gradually elevatin' to a
(Higher degree)
We smash through the underground like we
(SUV's)
And spit game to the hoes and let 'em know they gettin'
(Nuttin' for free)
Aiyyo, listen close, toast to West coast
Where bein' gangsta ain't a hoax, we kill folks
And see-walkin' ain't just a dance or a joke
We stay in heavy rotation, coast to coast
Yo, it's hard to pass the bar, ask your lawyer
Likwid, pour it on y'all from California
Programmers, spray this on your play list
If rap was hard liquor I'd be 'Leaving Las Vegas'
Live show radio mix tape massacre
It's a party y'all with room for more passengers
I turn mics to pistols and start rappin'
And turn pistols back to mics and start blastin' 'em
J-Ro, E-Swift, Tash and them
'Expansion Team', 'X.O.' chips, cashin 'em
I'm not fashionable but I am international
I called it like, I see it on stage like Supernatural
Honies, keep flirtin' like the flows are workin'
Don't stop 'til I'm certain then I close the curtains
Animal House shit, coast to coast like Tha Liks
I don't drink as much, but I'll toast to this
Dilated y'all
(Toast to this)
It's Tha Liks baby
(Toast to this)
And y'all can't come
(Close to this)
Dilated, heavy rotated with Tha Liks
Aiyyo, CaTash'll slap the track with a open fist backhand
I crack fans with funk then burn rubber like the Gap Band
Batman can't walk through my hood, it's no love
Tash'll jack him for his cape and sport that shit to the club
Is it love or is it buzz, that got my thinkin' patterns
Thinkin' yo' bitch is mine that's why you see me winkin' at her
She'll be drinkin' at a tavern, out of a glass size 8
Likwid Crew and Dilated make that ass gyrate
While you ask I take, anythin' that I could lift
Your rapper's rappin' like CaTash y'all DJ's rappin' like Swift
I was born with a gift, you niggaz used to average rappin'
Your styles is old as fuck, that's why my clique start cabbage patchin'
I do this for the beer, and for the ones that ain't here
Y'all, niggaz better make way for X, Ras and Saafir
I'm like a tattooed tear, Tash'll never go away
I'm 'bout to fill my quota I need X.O. every day
Dilated y'all
(Toast to this)
It's Tha Liks baby
(Toast to this)
And y'all can't come
(Close to this)
Dilated, heavy rotated with Tha Liks
Dilated y'all
(Toast to this)
It's Tha Liks baby
(Toast to this)
And y'all can't come
(Close to this)
Dilated, heavy rotated with Tha Liks
The extended family of Tha Alkaholiks
The extended family of the Likwit Crew
The extended family of everybody that smoke bud
Dilated Peoples in the motherfuckin' place y'all
"Heavy Rotation" is a collaborative song by Dilated Peoples and Tha Liks, two west coast hip hop crews. The song's lyrics center around alcohol and the hedonistic lifestyle that comes with it. The verses alternately celebrate and critique drinking and partying while also bragging about the skills of the MCs themselves. Rakaa starts things off with a boastful verse that compares his rhymes to the paint on a canvas and talks about his ability to pick up women. Tash follows with his signature laid-back flow and his own tales of partying and women, including a description of "slapping the track with an open fist backhand". The song is full of clever wordplay, pop culture references (including a shoutout to Leaving Las Vegas), and intricate rhymes that demonstrate the MCs' skills and camaraderie.
The track was produced by Evidence, who also raps the hook. It features lively percussion, a catchy bassline, and a sample of the marching band classic "Tequila". The beat is driving and funky, perfect for a party or driving with the top down. The song was released on the Dilated Peoples album, "Expansion Team", which came out in 2001. The album was well-received by critics and helped solidify Dilated Peoples' place in the west coast hip hop scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Y'all didn't bring no ice?
Did none of you bring any ice?
Nobody brought no ice?
Did not a single person bring any ice?
Yo, yo, pass the beer
Hey, hey, hand me the beer
(We drink in heavy rotation)
(We consume alcohol in large quantities and frequently)
(Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!)
(Yes, that's exactly what I mean!)
One-two, one-two
Testing the microphone, one-two, one-two
(Ahh, ahh)
(Exclaiming in satisfaction or pleasure)
Dilated y'all
We are Dilated Peoples
(Toast to this)
(Let's raise our glasses in celebration)
It's Tha Liks baby
It's Tha Alkaholiks, my friend
And y'all can't come
And you all are not capable
(Close to this)
(Of matching what we do)
I'm so outlandish, my rhymes the paint, the track's the canvas
I'm incredibly unique, my lyrics are the artwork, the instrumental is the medium
Find me puffin' tampons on your nearest college campus
You will see me smoking marijuana on a college campus
McEn-Ro, servin' up heat like Pete Sampras
I am delivering intense and impressive performances, like Pete Sampras in tennis
Drinkin' Jose Cuervo like some Spanish bandits
I am consuming alcohol, specifically Jose Cuervo tequila, like a group of Spanish criminals
Make women panic when I tell 'em I'ma vanish
I cause women to become anxious when I inform them that I will disappear
Don't take it personal, these are eight-one-eight antics
Do not feel offended, these are the actions and behaviors typical of the 818 area code (San Fernando Valley)
Hoes, break your pockets like car mechanics
Prostitutes will exhaust your financial resources like an automobile mechanic
Every mornin', I bow down and pray like a mantis
Each morning, I kneel in worship, similar to a praying mantis
Most women can't stand this but I, ain't romantic
Most women cannot tolerate this behavior, but I am not inclined to be romantic
So that thought you can banish to the city of Atlantis
You can dismiss that idea entirely, like the mythical city of Atlantis
Me and Tash met this tan bitch, made a Likwid sandwich
Tash and I encountered this attractive woman, and we engaged in a sexual encounter
I consume strictly green leaves like pandas
I exclusively smoke marijuana, similar to how pandas solely eat bamboo
Dig through ice for my brew, like they dig for woolly mammoths
I search through ice to find my beer, comparing it to excavating for woolly mammoth remains
I'm volcanic up in bitches that look like Dorothy Dandridge
I am explosively passionate when it comes to women who resemble Dorothy Dandridge
Your style is Major Damage, it's played out and ripped up
Your musical style is severely flawed, outdated, and torn apart
It needs a bandage, how do you manage? I can't stand it
It requires a remedy, how do you cope with such subpar quality? I cannot tolerate it
Hops, barley, water, yeast, grain
Ingredients of beer: hops, barley, water, yeast, grain
Distillery alcohol for the brain
The distilled alcohol is fuel for the mind
So check it out, smoke fills the area
Observe, smoke permeates the environment
Drunk as fuck, launch off the aircraft carrier
Intoxicated to a significant extent, taking off in an exuberant and energetic manner
Your vision blurred eyes start to blink
Your impaired vision causes your eyes to blink quickly
You overdid it homes, you had too much to drink
You went too far, my friend, you consumed an excessive amount of alcohol
(Cut it out)
(Stop it)
This bout's set for twelve rounds of pain
This is a competition that will last for twelve grueling rounds
Tequila limes and salt, these cats hard to hang
Tequila with lime and salt, it is challenging to keep up with these individuals
Sixteen bar shark, teeth to fangs
I am a dominant force with my sixteen-bar verses, sharp and aggressive like shark teeth
Open off Tha Liks duck season, you're in range
Tha Alkaholiks are in a heightened state of excitement and aggression, and you are within their target area
Turn the page here comes the next chapter
Move forward to the next stage or development
Battle Ev? You sign with Blue Cross or AFTRA
Are you ready to compete with Ev? Did you join Blue Cross or AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)?
Heavy rotation, dilate expansion
Frequent and widespread exposure, expanding and enlarging
California funk, like Flav, we Cold Lampin'
We possess the signature funk of California, similar to Flavor Flav, and we are confidently showcasing it
Fuck the format 'til they can't ignore us
Disregard the traditional structure until we become impossible to overlook
But chill Swift 'bout to kill after the chorus
However, Swift is about to deliver an exceptional performance after the chorus
Yo, it's hard to pass the bar, ask your lawyer
Hey, it is challenging to reach the level of excellence, consult your attorney for confirmation
Likwid, pour it on y'all from California
Tha Alkaholiks, we saturate you with our presence and talent, representing California
Programmers, spray this on your play list
Radio programmers, add this to your list of songs to play
If rap was hard liquor I'd be 'Leaving Las Vegas'
If rap music was a potent alcoholic beverage, I would be excessively indulging, similar to the film 'Leaving Las Vegas'
Live show radio mix tape massacre
Our live performances, radio appearances, and mixtapes are intense and overpowering
It's a party y'all with room for more passengers
This is a lively and enjoyable gathering with space for additional participants
I turn mics to pistols and start rappin'
I transform microphones into weapons and begin delivering my rhymes
And turn pistols back to mics and start blastin' 'em
I reverse the process, changing firearms back into microphones and continue performing with intensity
J-Ro, E-Swift, Tash and them
J-Ro, E-Swift, Tash, and others from our crew
'Expansion Team', 'X.O.' chips, cashin 'em
Releasing 'Expansion Team' and profiting from the success, earning money
I'm not fashionable but I am international
I do not conform to trends, but I have a widespread appeal worldwide
I called it like, I see it on stage like Supernatural
I express my truths and observations in my performances, similar to Supernatural's freestyle abilities
Honies, keep flirtin' like the flows are workin'
Ladies, continue to flirt with me as my skillful rhymes captivate and entertain you
Don't stop 'til I'm certain then I close the curtains
Do not cease until I am confident, then I bring the performance to an end
Animal House shit, coast to coast like Tha Liks
Engaging in wild and unruly behavior, spreading from one coast to another like Tha Alkaholiks
I don't drink as much, but I'll toast to this
I may not consume alcohol to the same extent, but I will still raise a glass in celebration to this
Aiyyo, CaTash'll slap the track with a open fist backhand
Hey, I, CaTash, will vigorously attack the beat with a forceful backhand strike
I crack fans with funk then burn rubber like the Gap Band
I captivate and excite fans with my funk-infused style, then quickly depart like the Gap Band
Batman can't walk through my hood, it's no love
Even Batman would be unwelcome and face hostility if he were to enter my neighborhood
Tash'll jack him for his cape and sport that shit to the club
I would steal his cape and proudly wear it to the club
Is it love or is it buzz, that got my thinkin' patterns
Am I experiencing genuine love or simply the effects of being under the influence, as evident in my thought processes
Thinkin' yo' bitch is mine that's why you see me winkin' at her
Believing that your partner is now involved with me, which is why you observe me winking at her
She'll be drinkin' at a tavern, out of a glass size 8
She will be consuming alcohol at a bar, using a glass that is a size 8
Likwid Crew and Dilated make that ass gyrate
Tha Alkaholiks and Dilated Peoples cause individuals to move their buttocks in a rhythmic fashion
While you ask I take, anythin' that I could lift
While you hesitate and inquire, I seize any opportunity to take whatever I can physically carry
Your rapper's rappin' like CaTash y'all DJ's rappin' like Swift
Your emcees are performing in a manner similar to CaTash, while your DJs are rhyming with the style of Swift
I was born with a gift, you niggaz used to average rappin'
I possess a natural talent, while you all are accustomed to mediocre rhyming abilities
Your styles is old as fuck, that's why my clique start cabbage patchin'
Your musical styles are extremely outdated, which is why my crew begins performing a popular dance called the cabbage patch
I do this for the beer, and for the ones that ain't here
I engage in this lifestyle and music for the sake of alcohol, as well as in honor of those who have passed away
Y'all, niggaz better make way for X, Ras and Saafir
You all should clear a path for Xzibit, Ras Kass, and Saafir
I'm like a tattooed tear, Tash'll never go away
I am permanently present and influential, similar to a tattooed teardrop, and Tash will always be relevant
I'm 'bout to fill my quota I need X.O. every day
I am on the verge of achieving my target, and I require X.O. cognac on a daily basis
The extended family of Tha Alkaholiks
We are part of the larger group associated with Tha Alkaholiks
The extended family of the Likwit Crew
We are part of the larger group associated with the Likwit Crew
The extended family of everybody that smoke bud
We are connected to all individuals who smoke marijuana
Dilated Peoples in the motherfuckin' place y'all
Dilated Peoples are here in full force and presence, my friends
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: ERIC BROOKS, JAMES ROBINSON, MICHAEL PERETTA, RAAKA TAYLOR, RICO SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
1trx2
Man, this still knocked 20 years later. Everybody came with the heat but Rakaa had the best line on this "I turned mics into pistols and start rapping/ and I turn pistols back into mics and start blasting them"/. Real bars!
Kory Jensen
Hardest beat on the album full of gems..
loveIs myAlter
i woke from a dream 2 this !!! str8 inspired !!
Dan Scarfo
This album was damn good..
konsent21
I bought the album when it dropped. Solid album.... crazy low views.
1trx2
I bought that LP too back in 2002 & got bangers on it, definitely got slept on!
Orr971
Ladies and gentlemen, Evidence on that bangin beat!
Trent Yates
Tha liks and dilated peoples are the best west coast groups ever. This joint is banging and ๐ฅ
Carlo Leoni
Is it me or this track sound so East? Anyway its a bomb
Trent Yates
@Carlo Leoni it's sounds so east.