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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Devin The Dude takes us "To Tha X-Treme" for the 4th time., March 29, 2007
The 1st track that I ever heard Devin The Dude on was "F... Faces" which had Scarface teamed up with Too Short, Tela and also Devin The Dude from Face's 2 CD set entitled "My Homies". On the same "My Homies" set were 2 solo tracks from Devin entitled "Do What You Want" and "Boo Boo'n". I liked both of those tracks as well. Once I found out that Devin would be releasing his own solo CD entitled "The Dude", I knew that I would pick the CD up as soon as it was released. The title track was definitely my favorite song on the entire CD. I also enjoyed "Sticky Green" w/Scarface, "See What I Could Pull", "Don't Wait" w/DMG & Spice 1, and "Show 'Em w/K.B. Overall, "The Dude" was definitely a good CD. I later found out from people that I knew that followed Rap-A-Lot Records more that I did was that Devin The Dude was also on 2 group CDs: Odd Squad's "Fadanuf Fa Erybody", which was released in 1994 and Facemob's "The Other Side Of The Law" which was released in 1996. If anyone knows how to get their hands on the Odd Squad CD please let me know. Devin The Dude's 2nd solo CD "Just Trying To Live" was released in 2002 and to this date I feel that this is his best solo CD. Devin had appeared on a track entitled "F... You" with Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg on Dr. Dre's "Chronic 2001" CD. To repay the favor, Dr. Dre produced "It's A Shame" which I feel is Devin The Dude's best song ever. When you mix Devin's explicit tales of women, his favorite drug of choice and just strugglin' in the neighborhood with Dr. Dre's classic sound, it's hard to ever top a match like that. I still enjoyed tracks such as "Lacville '79" which even had a video to it, "Who's That Man, Momma", "Doobie Ashtray" which was produced by DJ Premier, "Just A Man" w/Raphael Saadiq, "Some Of 'Em w/Nas & Xzibit and the title track which featured Odd Squad. Devin's 3rd disc "To The X-Treme" was a little too extreme for me. I commend Devin for trying to experiment with other things, but he was at his best when he stuck to his same formula as he did with the stellar title track and on "The Funk" w/featured 8Ball from 8ball & MJG.
On the 4th go round, Devin The Dude is back to the way we love him best on "Waitin' To Inhale". He wastes no time setting the tone on the Odd Squad featured "She Want That Money". As Devin and his crew tell a funny tale of how a woman who is chasin' paper and is even willing to perform sexual favors in order to get it. Of course, they aren't having it and the song ends up being a humorous track. On the "Almighty Dollar", which is definitely one of the best beats on "Waitin' To Inhale", Devin tells another tale about being broke and trying to stretch the little bit of money that he has left to get what he can get. The song is hilarious as Devin tells how he tries to give a poor man a $1 and he says he doesn't want it and $3 would be better. "I Hope I Don't Get Sick Of This" has Devin talkin' of how he hopes that he doesn't get sick of the way he has his way with the opposite sex. This track will be nothing new to people who have listented to all of Devin's solo CDs. On "What A Job" Devin definitely has a change of pace to rest of the CD as the track features Snoop Dogg and Andre 3000. All 3 MCs tell us about the good and bad of having hip hop as an everyday job as most people just have a regular 9-5 and work 5 days a week. Chuck Heat definitely did a good job on the track and everyone comes through with a nice verse, especially Andre 3000. On the hilarious, "She Useta Be", Devin tells us about a girl that he was trying to have some fun with in high school that wouldn't give him the time of day back then. She was a cheerleader and nice looking back then and now she has gained 150 pounds and wants to give Devin the time of day now. This is another one of Devin's clever, humorous tales. On "Lil Girl Gone", Devin is joined by Lil Wayne and Bun B of UGK to tell a tale of how young women start out on the right path and for whatever reason, whether its their parents that fall on hard times or they just become victims of the streets, things just don't end up right for them. All of the rappers have nice verses especially Bun B who hits the subject right on the head. "No Longer Needed Here", is one laid back and smooth track. Devin is talking about a woman that he is with that is making excuses of why they can't be together and now she wants to just be by herself. More than likely, she is just listening to her friends on the sidelines that are unhappy with their situation and now they are trying to influence what she does. "Just Because" was a little too much for me. I can understand why Devin would want to make a song like this for a woman that broke his heart and rolled out on him. However, he takes things just a little too far with the things he says that he wants to do to his ex. "Cutcha' Up" is another hilarious track but I admit that I didn't know that he was talking about a plant until I read the reviews here on amazon. It did sound as if he was trying to pull a R Kelly but I now I understand the true meaning of the song.
The only tracks that would get the skip button for me would be "Nothin' To Roll With" which is almost as bad as "Party" from "To Tha X-Treme" and "Just Because" because of the subject matter. Overall, Devin The Dude has definitely made a better CD than "To Tha X-Treme". To his core fans, they will definitely enjoy "Waitin' To Inhale". However, Devin The Dude isn't for everybody. His explicit sexual tales and him always talking about his favorite drug of choice will get on some people's nerves. Also, if you don't like sexually explicit humor, you may not like him as well. However, I feel Devin is a nice change of pace to what most people perceive as Down South rap music and I have supported his CDs ever since "The Dude". If you liked "The Dude" and "Just Trying To Live" then you should also pick up "Waitin' To Inhale".
P.S. Also check Devin The Dude out on
"Gots To Go" from David Banner's "Baptized In Dirty Water" w/Bun B
"Where Can We Go" from The Alchemist's "1st Infantry" CD
"So Tired" from Hi-Tek's "Hi-Teknology 2" CD w/Bun B & Pretty Ugly
James' Top 5
1) What A Job w/Snoop Dogg & Andre 3000
2) Lil' Girl Gone w/Lil Wayne & Bun-B
3) Almighty Dollar
4) She Want That Money w/Odd Squad
5) She Useta Be
Honorable Mention:
Cutcha' Up
Hope I Don't Get Sick A This
No Longer Needed Here
Don't Wanna Be Alone
Broccoli & Cheese
Ranking Devin The Dude's Discography:
1) Just Trying Ta Live
2) The Dude
3) Waitin' To Inhale
4) To Tha X-Treme (It's not the title track's fault)
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, very entertaining, April 30, 2007
I read a review that said that it is impossible to not be turned into an instant fan after listening to a Devin The Dude album and that is so true.
I have never heard any of this Dude's albums even though I always found his guest appearances funny. I decided to take a chance on his latest and I haven't been disappointed at all.
Lyrically Devin is the funniest thing I've ever heard. Its crazy how he can be funny even though he tackles some of the most over used subject matters. For example "She Useta Be" about a girl that was hot when she was young and put on a FEW pounds later on. Another is the Eminem influenced ode to killing his partner. Devin makes these topics fresh again.
Musically the album is very laid back defying the raunchy lyrical content but goes well with his lazy rap flow. Being independent Devin can ignore all rules regarding sampling and he really takes liberties with a wide range of samples which I cannot always place.
The album also scores because of Devin's ability to switch it up and take on more serious topics like on "Lil' Girl Lost" and "What A Job". Both tracks are definite highlights of the album.
Ultimately there is no need to be over analytical on this one, some will hate and some will love it, I just happen to be one of those that love it
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much love for the Dude, April 10, 2008
If you're a Devin the Dude fan and liked "Waitin' to Inhale" you will love his latest release "Smoke Sessions Vol. 1". Fresh off his 15 year contract with Rap-A-Lot Records, Devin gives his fans his all on Smoke Sessions with his trademark relaxed and comedic approach to lyrics and rhyming. Smoke up with Dev.
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