DILATED PEOPLES AT THE 22ND PRZYSTANEK WOODSTOCK

California’s Dilated Peoples will play on the Main Stage of the XXII Przystanek Woodstock!

16 JULY 2016

They released four acclaimed albums, toured and enjoyed success as solo artists, then returned after an eight-year break to reunite the band. Dilated Peoples are back with “Directors of Photography”. Evidence, Rakaa (Iriscience) and DJ Babu present new recordings that perfectly demonstrate each member’s individual abilities while proving the extraordinary chemistry they share. The new release shows that the artists have reached the highest level of skill and craftsmanship.

This is how we see the world and how we see each other, says Evidence. In film, the director of photography chooses the shots and framing. We work the same way. We may not make the beats, but we choose the tracks, mix them and talk to the producer. We take full responsibility for selecting the sounds and for what we do.

The latest album proves that the band have remained faithful to their style and retained their characteristic sound. At the same time, they have added entirely new elements to the recordings, spectacularly broadening their already impressive musical repertoire. Against Alchemist’s piano and drums, Evidence and Rakaa deliver razor-sharp rhymes accompanied by DJ Babu’s sophisticated scratches. On “Good As Gone”, Dilated Peoples rhyme fiercely over DJ Premier’s dramatic, moving beat. Evidence discusses his crew’s resilience while talking about artists who began their careers in the 1990s and have since faded into obscurity.

Kicking someone when they are down is a nasty thing to do, says Evidence. But sometimes in this business you can be inspired by people who have made it, or draw motivation from the stories of those who have fallen out of the running. You tell yourself: “Forget that. I'll be one of those who make it.” I've seen a lot of friends who have had to go back to work. A lot of friends have given up. I use that.

Dilated Peoples also rap about the experiences that shaped them as musicians. On the stunning “Cut My Teeth”, Evidence recalls growing up in Venice Beach, while Rakaa travels back in time to Mid-City, Los Angeles. Growing up in Southern California was full of challenges. Despite Los Angeles being the capital of the entertainment industry, the city’s residents are exposed to a particular kind of isolation, explored by Rakaa in “Show Me The Way”.

It's the feeling of having everything you need to fulfil your dreams but being unable to feel it more deeply, merely accumulating things, says Rakaa. I mean being separated from the pyramid and the fire inside it.

Rakaa pours that inner fire and passion into “Country Of The Self”, rapping about the industry’s darker side and humanity’s exploitation of nature for profit. Since the last album, he has returned to college and earned a degree, taking time to explore subjects that have long fascinated him. “I’ve always been interested in things like propaganda and social manipulation, so I got a degree in advertising,” he says. “While studying, I came across Adam Curtis’s documentary series ‘The Century of the Self’. Like the films, this song examines the foundations of consumer society, looking for the causes of the self-centredness and the breakdown of family and social structures that we are witnessing.”

Dilated Peoples have always agreed on one thing: the DJ's important role in their releases. On “Figure It Out [Melvin’s Theme]”, we can admire DJ Babu's skills. The track is full of scratches that reveal this master of the decks' artistry.

I cannot imagine a Dilated Peoples album without a DJ track, says DJ Babu. And for me it is almost personal, because I wanted to tell the DJ community: “Oh, you forgot about DJ Babu? Forgot about the master of the decks? The guy from Beat Junkies? Then let me refresh your memory.” I think the beat I created for this track gave the whole album a new character: it is classic yet contemporary, without unnecessary pretension. I wanted to get to work and take matters into my own hands. I think this recording captures the best scratches I have managed to record in my entire career.

Dilated Peoples began as the duo Evidence and Rakaa, releasing their debut single, “Third Degree”, in 1997. The release also featured “Confidence” and “Global Dynamics”. DJ Babu joined the crew a year later. Their shows feature brilliant exchanges of rhymes between the rappers and extraordinary displays of DJ Babu’s skills on the decks, proving that hip-hop performances can be entertaining while showcasing a DJ’s abilities. As their profile grew, they signed to Capitol Records, which released their first 4 albums: “The Platform” in 2000, “Expansion Team” in 2004, “Neighborhood Watch” in 2006 and “20/20”. After “20/20”, the members released a series of warmly received projects, frequently collaborating with one another.

So, when Dilated Peoples began recording ‘Directors Of Photography’, the members discovered just how much the energy and focus that each brought to the group had changed.

The biggest change is how hard they push one another, DJ Babu says of Evidence and Rakaa's collaboration. Every verse, every word and every chorus was created and destroyed, revised and scrutinised, again and again. Sometimes it was frustrating and demanding, but I think you can hear our hard work and commitment in the recordings.

On “Directors of Photography”, Dilated Peoples demonstrate just how far they have refined their craft. They have returned to a musical genre that does not look kindly on veterans.

I think this time we made a statement that the three of us are still here. We're still rhyming from the heart, making hip-hop of the highest quality, says DJ Babu. We've never chased trends in music or in the world, but we're innovative and classic, and in many respects we've remained independent. You could say that with this album we've come full circle in our work.