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Dilated Peoples performs "The Shape of Things to Come"

Every good MC loves to bust rhymes over some solid beats, but lately the allure of gold-plated fame and diamond-bezeled dollars has emerged as the madame of commercial rap. In many cases, genuine love for hip-hop has been replaced by a desire for its shinier trappings. So when a group of B-Boys forgoes ego and celebrity to promote authentic hip-hop, they’re not just viewed as being rebels—they’re seen as revolutionaries. Revolutionaries are definitely manifest in L.A. group Dilated Peoples—two MCs and a DJ who have been a staple of the West Coast underground scene since the mid 1990s. The group’s most recent album, 20/20 (Capitol), lets fans know that the group is still seeing clearly. “Don’t worry if I write checks/ I write rhymes,” group member Evidence boasts on the album’s lead single, “Back Again.” This line sets the tone for a record with a raw and honest sound that has always served as Dilated Peoples’ foundation. The group’s live show is also rumored to be one of the best in hip-hop. Fellow Los Angelean Defari and North Carolina act Little Brother fill the bill as opening acts.

Saturday, March 11 at 8pm. The Buffalo Icon, 391 Ellicott St. (842-0167) $18-$20.