Devin The Dude - To Tha X-Treme
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 5.0 out of 5 Stars
Devin The Dude is drops one of the most anticipated albums of 2004. The new CD is the latest on Rap-A-Lot Records & features 8Ball, KB Man Child, & Erica Morton along with his new single "Anythang".
1. Devin's Medley-- old skool vibe with a medley of Devin clips over various beats
2. To Tha X-Treme-- good funky blend of keyboards and space age pimpin beats while Devin raps in that laid back flow about smoking weed and gettin high. The hook has a Roger Troutman-like "smokin weed, feelin fine, steady gettin bloweddddd.." Tight ass track that runs you a lil over 6 minutes long.
3. Kooter Brown-- this one has a soulful sample which "all life used to be so wonderful" not quite sped up to be considered on the Kanye West tip. Devin raps about how the world has changed today where everyone looks out for the numero uno. Another nice track you can site back and chill to.
4. What?-- this one has a happy-go-lucky-take a stroll in the park beat. Devin raps about takin a walk with his girl when he comes across his baby's mama (granted he didn't know he had a kid with her). The worst nightmare for a single male. Now his girl don't trust him for shit while Devin tries to explain how he could fuck up. The track is hilarious especially at the end when Devin gets that phone call from his booty call.
5. Freak-- Devin gets on the mic with a tale of the freaky girl that all males dream about. You know that girl that wants it anytime, anywhere. But that can cause some grief when your boys find out about her. Nice track.
6. Right Now-- this one has a laid back guitar beat over a hi-hats and a simple bassline. In his laid back soulful flow, Devin raps about how he gets on a plane and a lady doesn't want him to sit down next to her. But Devin won't even that let bring him down from his high since he's feelin "breezy" at the moment. Very tight track that you'll bump over and over.
7. Too Cute (f/ Erica Morton)-- this would probably be the best attempt at a commercial single in that it fits the mold of today's rap in which the rapper trades bars with the singer, in this case Erica Morton. Devin is tryin to pick her up and she's not trying to hear it from him. Another nice one you can vibe to.
8. Don't Go-- another laid back sit back-and-chill or relax track from The Dude. Devin raps about gettin together with somebody else's girl and makin love and then havin to split when her man comes home early. Nice track worth checkin out.
9. Come On & Come-- it doesn't take a genius to know what Devin is gonna rap about with a track title like that. Anytime, anywhere, Devin is ready to give some lovin out to help reduce the ladies' stresses of life. Nice track.
10. Go Fight Some Other Crime-- it seems like Devin has done this song more than once. Devin tells the tale of having his 79 Lac pulled over by the cops for no reason and now he having his car search for weed. Tight ass track that has every hint of truth in it as well.
11. Briar Patch-- tight ass laid back beat on this one. Devin drops a tight ass flow on this one as well and sings "don't throw me in the briar patch" over the hook. Man, it's one of those songs that words can't do justice. You just have to listen to it to hear how tight it is.
12. She's Gone-- this track has a somber piano laced beat which fits the content of the song in which Devin wakes up one day and his girl is gone and she took their relationship with her. Clean ass track that's worth checkin out.
13. Anythang-- the first single from the album has that old school R&B vibe to it. "Anythang is plenty man" sings one Devin The Dude. He raps about how everyone has problems or pain but not everyone chooses to bitch about what they don't have. If you live in a big city and see the homeless everyday, it makes you appreciate what they go thru everyday just to survive. Tight ass track that would be huge if RAL would promote the single with a video.
14. The Funk (f/ 8Ball)-- ghetto funky blues space age beat. Devin comes at these cats in the game that try to steal his old school style but they still come off lame on the mic. 8Ball comes nicely on the mic as well about how they know how to keep it "funky like a toenail". Throw in some "We want the funk" and you have another winner here.
15. Motha-- OK, back to the basics. You know Devin wasn't gonna get all the way thru the album without another track dedicated to weed, weed, and more weed. The Spanish flavor down in in H-Town will appreciate the "muy bein marijuana" hook. Tight track.
16. Party (f/ KB Man Child)-- this one will take you back to hip-hop circa 1970's-early 1980's. Reminds me a lot of the disco era in terms of the beat. I almost expected Sugarhill Gang to break out the Rapper's Delight on this one even though the song is about fuckin and just having a good time.
17. Unity For U & Me-- good laid back beat on this one. Devin raps about how this world would be a lot better place if we all took time to talk to someone who was different than we are. Since we all have our faults, we'd be better people and the world may have some peace. Amen brotha man!
Overall, the production on the album is solid in that laid back Devin The Dude style that has become his signature over the years. Don't expect bass pounding and thumping basslines from this H-Town native. Each song takes you on a trip through Devin's mind, body, and soul and just when you think that he's a little too much out there for you, you listen to the music and realize that it all makes sense. This CD is one of those that will be hard to top especially if you're a fan of Devin's, but at the same time, it's a real shame that mainstream America will probably never give this album a chance. Rap-A-Lot has done better with promoting its artists but Devin remains one of those rappers with a loyal following on the underground, but mainstream still refers to him as "the guy who rapped on Dr. Dre's song". This is worth checking out and one of the early picks for album of the year. But buyer beware, Devin is one of those artists who you either love or you think he's overrated. He's definitely not for everyone's tastes.
Devin The Dude - To Tha X-Treme