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.
The Platform
Dilated Peoples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Uh-huh, yeah, the Platform sound)
"Dilated" "Mind created minds"
(We takin this worldwide) "Every word is heat"
"Dilated expand" "That Platform sound"
[Iriscience]
Aiyyo The Platform, watch the stormtroopers swarm
The Death Star's more than the devilish dawn
It's where Evil and The Force manifest their form
It's no good without bad and no night without morn
It's relativity, balance, stability
It's creativity, talents, ability
Rakka shift the modes of the wizard and the warrior
Hip hop-up and move to strike like a lawyer
Quick to be like "Fuck a rapper after what I'm after"
Friendly how you front, but behind me talkin backwards
Basically I'm down to build but stay ready for battle
Plus most of you ? oh, I mean cattle
The catalyst, never rock the mic in vain
Energy ain't created or destroyed, it's changed
The Dilated Peoples hit you wit the Big Bang
And theories that the Red Shift couldn't explain
Platform
"You want to front war" "You've done nothing"
[Chorus] 2x
Aiyyo The Platform, takes respect to perfect the artform
At times a battleground where rappers get their hearts torn
"You want to front war" "You've done nothing"
[Evidence]
'cause when I step off, then step back on
Son you'll never catch me preach-ing what I'm not practic-ing
Word War II, Platform the illest flows
I know my hunger's real, I still get nauseous at shows
My motto, I didn't write but this I quote:
"It ain't where you put your words, it's where you don't"
End quote, and wit this in mind
Yo I bring flows more rare than black quarterbacks
I never got sacked, or pushed ten yards back
We could go rhyme for rhyme, line for line or track for track
And after that, the crowd'll react
To the future we are the magnetic attract
Two-thousand twenty, confusin no doubt
I catch the story of your life on VH1 Where Are They Now?
And as for mine, I'll be sixty in my prime
Still science and theories, and droppin rhymes on time
Platform
"You want to front war"
Chorus 2x
[Iriscience]
Aiyyo I seen apathy, met love and know hate
I'm heavy on the mic, can you handle the weight?
Either you learn to adapt or you're sealin your fate
Only brave when you get more dusted than home plate
Rockin D&D wit the Alchemist and Babs
And after the lab, we send Ev to catch the cab
Platform troop, make moves and stay true
Rock Steady-Zulu creates a devastate crew
[Evidence]
Yo I Platform my strategy, mix words wit alchemy
Evidence, I won't get caught shot on the balcony
Between you and I, I'll tell you, here's the diff
Gun to your head, your dead, pointblank, I shapeshift
That's right, study Chemistry like Al
Life, use your potential or Steve Howe
I'm about to call it quits, like too much weight'll break your rack mount
The man'll make you move yo, so make your move a backout
"You want to front war"
Chorus 2x
"Every word is lethal" "Dilated expand"
"That Platform sound" "You've done nothing"
"That Platform sound"
The lyrics of Dilated People's song "The Platform" are a commentary on hip hop as an art form, the importance of individual talent, and the significance of the Platform sound. The song opens with a reference to Star Wars and the Platform being a battleground where good and evil, as well as talent and ability, coexist. The concept of relativity is highlighted, suggesting the importance of balance and stability in both music and life.
The verses by Iriscience and Evidence complement each other, with Iriscience being heavy on words and ideas and Evidence using a mix of words and alchemy for his strategy. They both share their views on the importance of staying true to oneself and not being afraid to stand out. They also comment on the issues of fake rapper fronts, the unpredictability of the future, and how life can be fleeting. The message of the song is that hip hop can be a powerful platform for expression, but it takes respect and hard work to perfect the art form.
Line by Line Meaning
You've done nothing
The Platform sound
You've done nothing
The Platform sound
Dilated
Mind created minds
Every word is heat
Dilated expand
Dilated expand
That Platform sound
Aiyyo The Platform, watch the stormtroopers swarm
The Death Star's more than the devilish dawn
It's where Evil and The Force manifest their form
It's no good without bad and no night without morn
It's relativity, balance, stability
It's creativity, talents, ability
Rakka shift the modes of the wizard and the warrior
Hip hop-up and move to strike like a lawyer
Quick to be like "Fuck a rapper after what I'm after"
Friendly how you front, but behind me talkin backwards
Basically I'm down to build but stay ready for battle
Plus most of you ? oh, I mean cattle
The catalyst, never rock the mic in vain
Energy ain't created or destroyed, it's changed
The Dilated Peoples hit you wit the Big Bang
And theories that the Red Shift couldn't explain
You want to front war
You've done nothing
Chorus
Aiyyo The Platform, takes respect to perfect the artform
At times a battleground where rappers get their hearts torn
You want to front war
You've done nothing
'cause when I step off, then step back on
Son you'll never catch me preach-ing what I'm not practic-ing
Word War II, Platform the illest flows
I know my hunger's real, I still get nauseous at shows
My motto, I didn't write but this I quote:
"It ain't where you put your words, it's where you don't"
End quote, and wit this in mind
Yo I bring flows more rare than black quarterbacks
I never got sacked, or pushed ten yards back
We could go rhyme for rhyme, line for line or track for track
And after that, the crowd'll react
To the future we are the magnetic attract
Two-thousand twenty, confusin no doubt
I catch the story of your life on VH1 Where Are They Now?
And as for mine, I'll be sixty in my prime
Still science and theories, and droppin rhymes on time
You want to front war
You've done nothing
Chorus
Aiyyo The Platform, takes respect to perfect the artform
At times a battleground where rappers get their hearts torn
You want to front war
You've done nothing
Aiyyo I seen apathy, met love and know hate
I'm heavy on the mic, can you handle the weight?
Either you learn to adapt or you're sealin your fate
Only brave when you get more dusted than home plate
Rockin D&D wit the Alchemist and Babs
And after the lab, we send Ev to catch the cab
Platform troop, make moves and stay true
Rock Steady-Zulu creates a devastate crew
Yo I Platform my strategy, mix words wit alchemy
Evidence, I won't get caught shot on the balcony
Between you and I, I'll tell you, here's the diff
Gun to your head, your dead, pointblank, I shapeshift
That's right, study Chemistry like Al
Life, use your potential or Steve Howe
I'm about to call it quits, like too much weight'll break your rack mount
The man'll make you move yo, so make your move a backout
You want to front war
You've done nothing
Chorus
Aiyyo The Platform, takes respect to perfect the artform
At times a battleground where rappers get their hearts torn
You want to front war
You've done nothing
Every word is lethal
Dilated expand
Dilated expand
That Platform sound
That Platform sound
You've done nothing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALAN MAMAN, MICHAEL TAYLOR PERRETTA, RAKAA W. TAYLOR, KENDRICK JERU DAVIS, KIRK JONES, FRED JR. SCRUGGS, TYRONE TAYLOR, CHRIS E. MARTIN, SHELLY MANNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@antovalbu98
Dilated Peoples are hands down the most underrated group in hip hop history
@King_Arthur_
Them or Jurassic 5
@bvincesf
Because Eminem and AftaMath stepped on them because of Everlast....just ask Madchild. Inhibited their ability to Crossover...shoutout EPMD.
@ebik3nny300
The Alchemist is a mad and severely underated beat maker. Nuff respect from Nigeria🇳🇬 It's September 2022 and still lyrically, the dilated peoples can never be annihilated....and B-Real spotted
@thecat8727
"2020, confusing no doubt".....
@RoarOfJahLion
Was thinking the same, big up
@xXRedyzXx
@@RoarOfJahLion lmfao yeah that verse FINALLY hit me this year hahaha how appropriate
@Rparhar91
He called it lol
@kennethborregaardrasmussen742
They planned it!
@trentyates418
Yes fam