Babu: The DJ, Evidence and Rakaa: the MCs better known as The Dilated Peoples returned to the scene with their new album, Neighborhood Watch. Forget the talk! Lets go to the review and give them a GeoClan.com Global rating.

“Marathon” is pure Dilated as Alchemist uses a bass guitar rift looped, and Evidence and Rakaa blaze the beat by telling people they’re not here for a short stint but more for the longevity. You give you a little history of their time in the games as well.

“Neighborhood Watch” is the title track and it uses a sample from “Night Games” written by Virginia bland and Fred Robinson. The track talks about what they see in the neighborhood as well as what you need to see. They make themselves part of the established, like an authority, as the give you what has transpired over the years. The beat reminds you of a slow creeping walk up the street.

“Tryin’ To Breathe” it the next track and on it the fellas tell us that they are just trying to live and do what they have to do. This means despite the trials and tribulations from home and the office. Rob “Reef” Tewlow does this beat that sounds like an awakening or the rays f sun shining if you could here the process. Tewlow uses elements from “It Aint Rainin’ (On Nobody’s house But Mine)” written by Larry Reynolds.

Heavy bass and piano work is given in “Caffeine” which sounds like a western movie from the 40‘s. Evidence go specifically at MCs that don’t come hard everyday. Evidence dominates and solos on this Nucleus track and gives homage to people who paved the way like Julio G., a West Coast original from back in the day.

The images of running and things happening fast dominate the feel of “Who’s Who”. The Evidence and DJ AM produced track uses Gary Wright’s “Can’t Find The Judge” and the premise of the song is forget what you know and have a good time. The song is filled with scratches and talks about things you do in the club. They are sure to mention Rocksteady and other old school pioneers.

Devin The Dude joins the team on “Poisonous”, a track about the dangerous girls that are nothing to trust. Devin says she will: “play your heart like Toys R Us”. The beat is piano laced and is done by the Alchemist. They give tips for the men that needs to taken heed of.

“Reach Us” uses a slow flow Joey Chavez beat with a Reach Us loop to talk about everything that tries or unintentionally reaches us or touches our lives. They make sure the talk about the battles in rapping, the record business, the fans who look up to them and their own lives.

“Big Business” is a hot Babu track and Rakaa talks about the business called America’s capitalist motives and practices. The song
sounds like a caper with people taking little steps trying to get away with something. The group talks about growing up in this country and how the people looking at you and there are things you still can’t do in the country. A real political song, it is short but lets you know rap for these guys is more than saying commercial names and talking about different ladies.

“Love and War” uses an old Prodigy (from Mobb Deep) line “I got lots of love for my crew that is” and talks about that dynamic between friends and foes. Fighting obstacles is also a heavy topic on the Peoples minds and they share their wisdom on a host of topics in this song.

J-Rocc of the Beatjunkies shows love on the “1580 Skit” and that leads to “World on Wheels”, the next track. The Alchemist comes from the stratosphere on this one as the group talks about growing up in the 80’s during the Reagan era. They give you moments you can think about you days with. The World Of Wheels is an old LA establishment where groups can perform. This track is full of scratches and sound effects as you will hear and appreciate.

The posse cut from some of the West Coast’s truly underappreciated is “Closed Session” featuring the Peoples, Planet Asia, Defari and Phil Da Agony. The track uses a few elements from “Pack Of Lies” performed by The Counts and the four MC’s do their damn thing talking smack about how great they are and what happens when you mess with them. Babu produces the six-minute track.

“This Way” is a really crazy track because it talks about making positive change and getting rid of those vices that chain some of our minds, bodies and spirits. The beat and chorus done by Kanye West take you church and the rappers on the track give you the sermon. Kanye’s verse is hot and shows he can rhyme with just about anyone, even if it uses the topic in a roundabout way. The sample of “Old Man” written by Jimmie Cameron and Vela Cameron for that sound that is memorable even when the song is over.

The album closes out with “DJ Babu In “Deep Concentration” where Babu does his thing on the “Wheels of steels”, the turntables.

I like this album, for its banging beats and nice lyrics about everything from life on the streets to the government. I’ll give it 4 globes a solid effort that shows the growth of the group. You need to go and cop that!

Any questions, comments, suggestions email Clayton Ruley at clayton@geoclan.com.