20 Years of 20/20: Dilated Peoples’ Major Label Farewell

Today is February 21, 2026. If we rewind the clock exactly two decades to this day in 2006, the Los Angeles trio Dilated Peoples released their fourth studio album, 20/20. In a world where trends shift faster than Evidence can drop a bar, this album remains a staple—a reminder of a specific era when “True School” hip hop fought to maintain its integrity within the belly of the major label beast.

Evidence, Rakaa Iriscience, and DJ Babu used 20/20 to close their chapter with Capitol Records. It was their “farewell” to the label, the conclusion of a four-album deal that began back in 2000 with the seminal The Platform. While previous efforts like Expansion Team and Neighborhood Watch (which spawned the Kanye West-produced hit “This Way”) flirted with crossover success, 20/20 was a deliberate return to basics.

The title carries a dual meaning. On one hand, it’s a metaphor for clear vision—the group’s ability to see their position in the industry with total focus after years in corporate hallways. On the other, the album is peppered with skits featuring the legendary B-Real (as Dr. Greenthumb) discussing a fictional strain of weed that allegedly grants supernatural clarity. While some critics at the time, like those at The Guardian, found the concept “claustrophobic,” for heads, it was a welcome return to the gritty L.A. streets without the unnecessary “bling.”

Sonically, the album was notoriously “front-loaded,” packing its heaviest punches in the first half. “Back Again,” produced by The Alchemist, still hits incredibly hard twenty years later. That pulsing piano and Babu’s razor-sharp scratching on the hook define the Dilated signature sound. Evidence dropped one of his most iconic lines on this track: “It’s a new year, ok, I got shit to confess / Like I don’t smoke any more… but I don’t smoke any less.“

Rakaa Iriscience showcased his political edge on “Alarm Clock Music,” addressing post-9/11 tensions and paranoia. Meanwhile, Evidence maintained his signature “slow-flow” on “You Can’t Hide, You Can’t Run“—a style he would later master throughout his solo career. The collaboration with Talib Kweli on “Kindness for Weakness” provided that essential East Coast/West Coast balance, and the reggae-infused “Firepower” with Capleton proved the trio could experiment without losing their core identity.

Looking back from 2026, we can see how pivotal this album was for their transition back to independence. Evidence released the critically acclaimed Unlearning Vol. 2 just last year (2025), while Rakaa and Babu are still tearing up stages worldwide (shout out to their Zagreb show earlier this month). 20/20 wasn’t a commercial behemoth—it peaked at number 97 on the Billboard 200—but it solidified their foundation. It paved the way for them to eventually sign with Rhymesayers for the 2014 reunion Directors of Photography on their own terms.

The album received a well-deserved 180-gram vinyl reissue via Music On Vinyl in 2022, proving its longevity among collectors. For anyone crate-digging through hip hop history looking for that authentic boom-bap sound that refused to sell out despite the big budgets, 20/20 is an essential piece for your collection. Twenty years later, the vision remains just as clear.

Blackout Hip Hop and Rap Slušaonica have teamed up to bring us a very special event. On February 28th, DJ Babu and Rakaa Iriscience—two-thirds of the legendary Dilated Peoples from Los Angeles—will be performing at Masters Club in Zagreb. Appearing as Expansion Team Soundsystem, they bring a blend of classic and progressive sounds along with that authentic MC-DJ dynamic. This Saturday, the stage will also be occupied by local heavyweights; Blackout’s Phat Phillie and DJ BeroZmay are preparing a top-notch musical selection, while Pendrek takes on the role of the evening’s host. We’re in for another night of first-class Hip-Hop and great vibes in Zagreb!

Tickets are available via StereoTicket.com — the capacity is limited to 150 tickets.

Special thanks to our partners Ziggi Papers — all attendees will receive a custom-made Expansion Team Soundsystem pack.

For more info and further details, visit the event’s Facebook page.