DVON's Full Review: Expansion Team [PA] by Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples, are, unquestionably, one of the best Hip-Hop groups yet to not emerge from the Underground. Having heard their debut album The Platform, I had high hoped for this album. Blending social and political consciousness, battle rap's and Old School braggodocio into the varying beat stylings, it remains to be the most brilliant album of the year 2001, as well as one of the few sophomore albums thats held up against its predecessor. While artists like Jurassic 5 and Ras Kass, who, as well, are from the L.A Underground Hip-Hop scene, are better lyrically, Dilated Peoples approach to the Hip-Hop genre is both innovative and original. Though not quite as Old School as Jurassic 5, having the lyrics or subject matter of Ras Kass quite as in depth, they have, undeniably, created a sophomore album that is both original and classic in its overall utilization.
The beats on the album are both Old School and minimalistic. Instead of relying on "jiggy" production and over-produced beats and samples, the producers rely more on drum loops, few bass lines instrumentation and sampling which creates the albums overall feel. While many may not embrace the minimalistic, Old School production, fans Hip-Hop of the years 1988 through 1993 will recognize some of the albums basic elements. While much of what the album has to offer in terms of beats and production isn't anything complex, thats not to say that its not innovative. Blending Underground-influenced beats with Old School production and samples, it creates a feel that few other album can. However, its nothing that will have you rewinding due to a dancable beats, these are just backdrops that provide soundscapes for the artists to rap over, and, seeing as how this is they're only purpose, you can't fault the producers for these tactics.
Of all things, the variety of the beats and the different elements within them are enough to make them listenable. Tracks such as Worst Comes To Worst use scratches and cuts in the chorus with a lighter-toned tempo, "violin" strings, synthesizer organization, scarce drum loops and a sampled beat to provide the backdrop. While many other producers utilize this style, few incorporated DJ scratches and but choruses any longer. That is, to say, its the albums key point in its dexterity. The albums variety is what makes it, ultimately, as listenable as it does. Instead of focussing on one distinct sound, it creates an album that melds different varities and rhythms into the already original format. While drum loops and bass lines are common, the aforementioned scratches are in abundance on Expansion Team. While beats like Dr. Dre's self-proclaimed G-Funk is legendary, theres nothing on this album thats new, but thats not to say theres nothing worth of value. Instead of going with any samples they could, the producers used samples that would create an overall better track, as well as create the atmosphere. While some instrumentation is used, the few that is, is also a plus for the album beatwise.
Other parts of the album take on an Old School feel. Live On Stage, Clockwork and Self Dfense come to mind. Excluding samples from the latter track, the listenable variations are both original and innovative. Focussing on Old School elements such as minimalistic backdrops and up-tempo drum loops. While it may not sound like anything listenable, with Dilated Peoples overall rapping, it overshadows the minimalistic Old School elements. While many of the beats take on this variation, the lyrics themselves help to keep the beats from seeming under-produced. Even though the production can be simple at times, its half of the sound of the album. Without having this, the overall effect of the album would be poorly executed. Even with this said, the flows/cadence of each emcee help to elevate the production and create a better sense of direction. Although most of the album is Old School and melds Old School elements, the variations and accompanying lyrics fit well and create the albums overall feel quite well.
From the Dilated Junkies interlude that focusses solely on scratches and DJ work, to the Old School tracks to the experiemental tracks, the beats and production are, undoubtedly, some of the best I've heard. Even though it contains nothing that many will embrace, the albums ability to have a sense of dexterity and expansion in its sound is enough to warrant them innovative. Combining elements that are both refreshing and fairly good, the albums overall feel is umatched due to the utilization of these elements.
While the beats and production are some of the best I've heard on an album, Expansion Team truly shines lyrically. While members Evidence and Iriscience aren't as lyrically skilled as say Jurassic 5 or Ras Kass, but Dilated Peoples are, none the less, create a lyrically varied album. Social consciousness is melded into Old School braggodocio and battle rap's. While the album may not have the subject matter of a Public Enemy album, the subject matter and Dilated Peoples lyrics are fairly good and make a listenable album. When Evidence and Iriscience bring up subject matter, they delve into the evil of having money, the media and fake emcees. Not to be confused with "player haters," but the unskilled emcees in which they use to create battle rap's. Although the subject matter isn't anything you haven't heard before, its none the less better than what most of the Hip-Hop genre compiles.
Most of the album utilizes Old School braggodocio and battle rap's. While they're not quite as lyrically advanced as many other battle rap's, they work well with the beats and production of the album, if not creating the blueprint for the album to follow. Even with this said, the lyrics themselves make up for the lack of subject matter, which, in itself, isn't necessarily a bad thing. Breaking away from the current trend of Gangsta Rap and boasting, they deliver shots to these artists with some fairly good metaphors and similies which are the main focus on the lyrics. With this said, the rhymes are inspired and, in cohesion, fit well with the metaphors and similies. While not anything that is incredibly innovative, theres an amount of thought that works well with the album. Although the lyrics and wordplay aren't top notch, there as close as I've seen in a Hip-Hop album, even though they're not quite up to par with lyricists such as Canibus and Ras Kass.
"I'm a poet, with the warrior spirit inside,
Chokin rappers out like hicks on and pride,
We all share the same sun givin us light,
But remember, sink or swim, time winnin's a fight,
Expansion Team takes rows, takes oceans, takes flight,
Then takes over the stage 'til the morning breaks night"
While some may put Dilated Peoples down for bragging and the like, the skill they exhibit is nothing short of stellar. Combining fairly good wordplay, metaphors, similies and rhymes, they create lyrics that are both innovative and original. Although the album isn't filled with over and over wordplay, straight one after another, theres enough included that have some rewinding moments. While more tracks with subject matter could have been included, Dilated Peoples stick to what they know best and utilize this to create a lyrically varied album.
While most of Expansion Team are braggodocio track and battle rap's, a few of the tracks take on a form of social consciousness. Although the topics are in depth, Evidence Iriscience do a fairly good job of making valid points rather than just rapping about these topics and giving no input or their own commentary. With this said, the subject matter may not be as in depth as a Public Enemy album, the topics are somewhat original and fairly good to bring up in Hip-Hop. Delving deeper into these topics would have helped quite a bit though, knocking a group that are mainly battle rappers make these subject matter-influenced tracks seem like a small miracle. While moments that contain topic matter are few and inbetween, thats not to say that they're a downfall to the album. If anything, they add quite a bit to Expansion Team. With Evidence and Iriscience keeping the same form of lyricism and wordplay, it creates a sense of direction rather than forced subject matter tracks.
"You can use cash for tools, to get parks and pools,
Community centers, rec rooms and schools,
Book money, off the books and food money,
Rent money, electronic money and crew money,
First thing, flippin over dollars, searching"
Trade Money, however, may convey the best message overall. An artists album may sell and that artist may recieve money, thats not saying that it accumulates to happiness, which is what that particular track explains. As well as uses of money rather than flossing it to show off cars, platinum chains, etc... Which, in itself, creates one of the best tracks, lyrically, on the album. Although it doesn't go in depth, or for that matter, bring up points that many wouldn't have thought of, but the overall utilization and few valid points that actually leave you thinking are the main highlights of these particular tracks.
Lyrically, this is one of the best albums of 2001. Bringing back the metaphors, similies, wordplay and Old School subject matter to Hip-Hop, it remains to be, if not, the best album of 2001. While it isn't filled social consciousness, bragging or battle rap's, the mixture creates an undeniably fresh album.
The guest artists, while not adding anything, don't detract either. Featuring Tha Alkaholiks, Phil Da Agony, J-Roc, Rhettmatic, Melo-D, Defari and Black Thought, they top off the album with their own unique styles. J-Roc, Rhettmatic and Melo-D provide DJ scratches and turntabilism on Dilated Junkies where as the other artists guest star on tracks. Brining forth Old School elements on their own styles to the tracks they appear on.
The lyrics, once again, are incredibly good. Creating tracks that stick to the artists original formula rather than selling-out, they create tracks that are both original, and at the same time, off-beat. With this said, it adds quite a bit to album with the inclusion of these artists. Although the album would have been just as good without the guest appearances, they none the less make the album all the much better.
With Expansion Team, Dilated Peoples create, quite possibly, the best album of 2001. Bleding Old School beats and production, top notch lyrics and wordplay and guest artists that make the album all the much more listenable. Unquestionaly, Dilated Peoples have proved that sophomore albums can be as good, if not better, then their debut album.
BELOW IS A TRACK LISTING AND THEIR OVERALL RATING:
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