Neighborhood Watch
by Dilated Peoples
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Apr 6, 2004
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. The Guardian
    60
    Chunky, hook-laden songs like Tryin' to Breathe and This Way show a newfound sonic confidence, but Dilated Peoples remain astoundingly dull MCs, delivering earnest and predictable rhymes.
  2. Blender
    60
    The promising threesome spend most of their time in a creative rut, largely because of an unrelenting adherence to a diet of chunky beats and straightforward battle rhymes -- neither of which is particularly easy to digest.
  3. Vibe
    60
    The album is plagued by too many predictable bass lines and uninspired samples. [May 2004, p.163]
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  5. Mojo
    60
    This sounds like a decent Gang Star LP--no bad thing, but it lacks the spark of individuality. [May 2004, p.103]
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  6. Urb
    60
    All good, but not quite great. [Apr 2004, p.85]
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  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    60
    On Neighborhood Watch, their delivery is stale and unimpressive, much like the overproduced Expansion Team.
  8. AllMusic
    50
    Most of the blame for Neighborhood Watch has to go to the previously invincible Alchemist, whose productions are front-loaded on the record. Unfortunately, his beats aren't rugged or hooky, just astonishingly weak.
  9. Stylus Magazine
    50
    They can’t rap. Period.
  10. Playlouder
    50
    A waste of good beats.
  11. Spin
    42
    Evidence and Iriscience remain so humorlessly hard they could guard Buckingham Palace. [May 2004, p.108]
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  12. PopMatters
    40
    Sounds for the most part weak and tired.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Mike
    Sep 13, 2005
    7
    Yo this shit is hot.
  2. JasonT
    May 30, 2004
    5
    Evidence and Iriscience are perhaps the least talented emcees in underground hip hop today. The beats on this album are listenable, but Evidence and Iriscience are perhaps the least talented emcees in underground hip hop today. The beats on this album are listenable, but nowhere near enough to save listeners from drowning out the pointless lyrics.… Full Review »
  3. VinceH
    May 21, 2004
    7
    I am a HUGE Dilated Peoples fan and I have all their albums and vinyl singles dating all the way back to songs they did on rare compilations I am a HUGE Dilated Peoples fan and I have all their albums and vinyl singles dating all the way back to songs they did on rare compilations in the early 90's. So needless to say I was looking foward to this CD and was highly dissapointed. Evidence & Iriescience are lyrically dope as ever, and have opened up their style to encompass new themes and ideas. The production on the other hand is really weak. Even the usually dependable Alchemist brings some of his laziest beats ever, and the rest of the beats by Joey Chavez, Evidence & DJ Babu are forgettable and boring. If they had switched up the monotonous production or brought on some good guest appearances, this could've been better. Overall, it's still better than 80% of hip hop out there but it's their weakest album to date.… Full Review »
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