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Concert Sat Jun 21 2008
Triple Optics: Dilated Peoples @ Double Door
When people say they hate rap, they usually point at any number of commercially successful residents of the gangsta sub-genre. Citing the overwhelming negativity, all rap becomes these guys, even as a plethora of other artists slog through and make good music.
Dilated Peoples, the three man operation from Los Angeles, has long held the battle standard for the underground hip-hop sub-genre, rocked the Double Door last night. Opening acts 88 Keys and Aceyalone did their thing to varying effect (note to aspiring artists, if you forget your own damned lyrics, you better cover it up pretty well).
In my own preview of the show, I wrote that DJ Babu, the turnablist extraordinaire, wasn't expected to show up. In their previous visits to the Chi, he wasn't there. Oh, but he was definitely in the place last night, as the video feed projected to two huge screens focused on his hands and lyricists Evidence and Rakaa powered through a mix of old favorites and new material. Dilated's set was high energy which weren't doused by low microphone levels.
Overall, a very good show played in front of an appreciative crowd by artists who keep it decidedly non-gangsta. "We're proud of this underground shit," Evidence said. And we're happy to partake of it.