DEVIN THE DUDE

Hip-hop's best guest makes us feel at home

By MARTÍN CABALLERO

del.ico.us | digg it! | reddit!

print | email | 0 Comments

Working as a journalist, the most important rule to keep in mind is objectivity. After speaking to enough artists, you come to the harsh realization that sometimes the guy whose song you play three times back-to-back every morning when you wake up is a complete assclown, or that behind some hopelessly terrible album is someone you could kick back and have a beer with. Either way, you have to do your job.

The problem with Devin the Dude is that he makes it hard as hell to stay objective. Never mind the fact that it takes 20 minutes worth of attempts to get the Houston rapper on the phone from his tour bus, which is somewhere in Nebraska, where even the Verizon guy doesn't get service. Disregard my unprofessionalism in keeping another unnamed artist waiting for his interview while I keep talking with Devin. Simply put, Devin has a way of making people love him by just being himself.

"People come to me all the time on tour offering stuff," says Devin with a laugh. "If they don't have any weed, then maybe they'll try to bring some girls around or something, this or that. Everybody tries to bring something to the table."

Weed and women are two familiar topics in Devin's repertoire, but it's his laid-back, comedic approach to raunchy material that separates him from the glut of his peers in the Dirty South. He's a hip-hop everyman who can eulogize the bitter end of a weed sack with genuine emotion ("Doobie Ashtray") or find the silver lining in sexing a big-boned chick (she can cook like nobody's business) on "She Useta Be."

But instead of coming off as a gimmick, the pursuit of pussy and puffing just makes him seem more real when he eventually does pen a personal song, like "I Need A Song"—off his latest album, Landing Gear—looking back at a broken relationship. "Every album to me seems like a day-to-day type of thing. Sometimes I feel like everything is going right, other times I feel nervous or feel like I need some help, then the next day I feel like I have it all. It's easy to do if you just be yourself."

After making his name as a member of Houston's Odd Squad, Devin embarked on a solo career that really caught fire once with a scene-stealing appearance on "Fuck You" from Dr. Dre's multi-platinum disc, 2001, in 1999. Since then, he's been one of the most popular guest stars in the business, appearing on songs with Dilated Peoples, Lil Wayne, Andre 3000 and Boston's own Special Teamz. His contract with Houston imprint Rap-A-Lot concluded, he's now working on developing his own Coughee Brothaz label to keep the Houston rap legacy alive.

Question 2 doesn't go into effect until next month, but I'm already making plans to meet up with Devin for a session when he comes through Cambridge as I'm switching over to the next interview. Objectivity be damned; Devin is that dude.

DEVIN THE DUDE

WITH COUGHEE BROTHERS, OAK LONETREE,

STUCAT, BRIX AND JUSTICE

WEDNESDAY 11.19.08

MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS

472 MASS. AVE., CENTRAL SQ.

CAMBRIDGE

617.864.3278

8PM/18+/$15

MIDEASTCLUB.COM

MYSPACE.COM/DEVINTHEDUDE