Devin The Dude Exhales

Devin The Dude has been a fixture in hip-hop for over a decade. His imprint on the sound of Rap-a-lot records has proven he is indeed a bricklayer for the movement going on in Houston, Texas. Countless features would lead many to believe he would have more than four albums under his belt, but when you manage your career the way Devin The Dude has, choosing not to over saturate the market has established his career and kept his voice a float.

Long before rappers harmonizing or better yet singing their sixteens was common place, Devin The Dude stood out amongst his peers. Establishing a style all his own was not hard for this emcee who intertwines sexual escapades that are downright raunchy to lovemaking at its finest with lyricism and comedy. This signature styling made him the perfect feature on such classics like Dr. Dre's "F--- You" from The Chronic 2001 and Scarface's timeless track "F--- Faces." As sexually overt lyrics became a growing trend, Devin The Dude managed to clearly separate himself from other sexually explicit rappers like Too Short.

Having touched the mainstream through other artists' albums, Devin The Dude is set and ready to take his underground legend status to levels his fans know he deserves. With his fourth release, properly titled Waitin' To Inhale, The Dude has not lost "it" at all -- in many ways he flows like an emcee with a mission. And while on this mission, he displays a clear understanding of the price of fame. Conveying his understanding of fame while enjoying the lifestyle on tracks like "What A Job" and "Somebody Else's Wife" are done with maturity and excellence.

While keeping busy promoting Waitin' To Inhale, touring and introducing his new group the Coughee Brothaz, Devin The Dude took time to chat it up with Ballerstatus.com about his new album and how he stays afloat.

Ballerstatus.com: I'm speaking to Devin The Dude, wow... how are you doing?

Devin The Dude: I'm doing good, just grinding it out, getting over the humps and bumps. I'm Smoothing it out, it's a beautiful day today.

Ballerstatus.com: You have this new album out and just to let you know my whole city (Seattle) is buzzing about it, would you say this is your best work to date?

Devin The Dude: Yes most definitely. The energy and feedback I'm getting is so strong. I sure do appreciate it.

Ballerstatus.com: On this album you hear the maturity and the growth. This Devin is a little reserved, but you are still doing your signature style. How were you able to couple the two?

Devin The Dude: Well, I guess chilling with my homeboys, my co-workers like the Odd Squad, my people that have been around since the beginning, so the music and the content is still the same. But I am getting older, I have more responsibility and that tends to alter the music just a little bit. That way things aren't too raw and it's good that I have my family members around me who won't let me stray too far away from what we usually do, but reminding me to chill out a little bit on some of the lyrics.

Ballerstatus.com: You have done so much in your career. How many years have you been around?

Devin The Dude: Since about '92 or '93. The Odd Squad came out with an album in 1994 titled Fadnuf Fa Erybody. Back in '89/'90, I was freestyling and working with rap, you know trying to get my foot in the door. Yea I'm pretty old school.

Ballerstatus.com: You are pretty old school if you think about it, but you are just as relevant now. What do you attribute that to?

Devin The Dude: Consistency and versatility.

Ballerstatus.com: People like you, Yukmouth and host of others have been able to maintain quite nicely with touring and albums that never brought about mainstream attention, while fads in hip-hop and other artists come and go. What are you doing differently?

Devin The Dude: It feels real good, you know? Now of course it feels good when you can go out with a host of others and do those big arenas, but when you can hold it down yourself in those smaller venues and the people come out to support in a big way, it lets you get close to the fans that are there for you and really support you. With those smaller venues, there's a lot of energy and you move the crowd with that because that's the real energy right there.

The dream of doing something like the Reliant Stadium when you first come out means you've got some really good luck or you've done a lot of praying. With that though, you really don't have room for improvement once you go big like that. When things happen for you fast like that, you have people around you, you don't know or know if you can trust them. You don't really know the game that much. Getting out and grinding and starting out with those little venues and clubs helps you grow and learn a lot throughout your journey.

Ballerstatus.com: People who buy your albums are really your fans and in most cases have been down with you from the start. You don't have to deal with the fickle fan and trends, do you feel like you are at an advantage because of your longevity?

Devin The Dude: Of course, that's your main focus right there -- the roots. The people who support you, people who gave you good advice and gave you a push every now and then when you just wanted to chill out. That's has played a huge part in whatever I do.

Ballerstatus.com: You have created your own lane, no one can rap so eloquently, in a laid back fashion with a comedic twist about getting a woman out her clothes the way you do. Who is this guy Devin the Dude?

Devin The Dude: That person you just described, that's "The Dude" right there and Devin is kinda shy or better yet, a little more reserved. When you get in that essence and when I'm coming across with the music, that is "The Dude" (laughing) and it depends on how much I drink. I can come a little more direct and add some humor to it, so no one really gets offended that much.

Ballerstatus.com: I read somewhere that you are a huge fan of Richard Pryor. How do you add that comedic twist to the music?

Devin The Dude: Aw man, you know Richard Pryor was like an uncle to me. An uncle I never met. Growing up, I would always sneak and listen to him, like when I was in the third grade. Like him, I am not always funny. I can be serious at the same time. He was able to tell you his problems in a humorous way, so you didn't really have to go through it. When I got the chance to be old enough to be in the environments he was talking about, I was able to reflect back on his records or watch his videos and know not to do certain things. Like not doing certain drugs or how to handle/speak to your spouse/girlfriend, he really taught me a lot.

So when I started rapping, I always wanted to have distinctive type sound, an originality about myself with the humor added to it. When I wanted to laugh or have someone give me a chuckle or two, I was always able to look back to Richard Pryor for that as well as incorporate that in my songs. Like my song on this new album, "Broccoli & Cheese," I got that directly from Richard Pryor when he would use his Mud-Bone voice.

Ballerstatus.com: (Laughing) Other than me telling everyone to go out and get one of the hottest albums out right now, what are you doing to promote this album?

Devin The Dude: (Laughing) Thanks, I really appreciate that. We are doing a lot of spot dates, a lot of retail, radio and a lot of magazine interviews. I've been getting a great response from it. I'm feeling good and people like you are letting me know they like it. It gives me the jitters a little bit and anxiety, stuff like that. That word of mouth support is what keeps me going.

Ballerstatus.com: Have you shot a video for "What a Job?"

Devin The Dude: No, but we are working on some treatments and people are sending in some suggestions for that song. If me, Andre 3000 and Snoop could get together or we could shoot it separately (laughing), just to put it together would be great. I think it would be pretty cool.

Ballerstatus.com: You also have a song with Lil Wayne, titled "Lil Girl Gone," he's really making a name for himself these days, what was it like working with him?

Devin The Dude: Aw yeah, that's my little homeboy right there. He's really cool. We've been running into each other since back in the day, talking about working together. Fortunately, I had some songs that I had open spots for on the album. During the mixing and mastering of the album, my people were like, "It's time to start reaching out to some people" and he was one of the people who got on board with the project.

Ballerstatus.com: Did you get to work in the studio with Snoop and Andre 3000?

Devin The Dude: No, but it was still a blessing. We just shot the tracks over to them, that's how things are getting done these days and it cuts down on a lot of stuff.

Ballerstatus.com: Are you working the MySpace at all?

Devin The Dude: Myspace had been very significant effect. It's like, "Whoa, if you don't have one of those as apart of your marketing, that's crazy." It's like free promotion, all you have to do is tell someone slash such and such and the people got it. They can look you up and converse with you. It's free to the public and it's a good promotional tool to have.

Ballerstatus.com: What was it like putting this album together?

Devin The Dude: You know, it was kinda comforting. We had fun putting this album together. This time we were at a stable studio of our own -- me and the Coughee Brothaz. We were chillin' at the Coffee Pot, we were settled and got a chance to really sit back and listen to what we were doing. Coming back the next day to touch buttons and twist knobs really putting things together. I enjoyed it because we didn't have to move around a lot, which made it very comfortable.

Ballerstatus.com: What producers did you work with on this album?

Devin The Dude: DJ Domo, Rob Quest from the Odd Squad, I produced "Lil Girl Gone" ... Rich from Picnic in Dallas, Texas; my man Funky Fingers, he did some of the bass and guitar stuff on there; Chuck Heat from L.A., he produced "What A Job" and another track on there. We had a lot of fun. A lot of people came out and helped out to make this a pretty cool project.

Ballerstatus.com: What do you want to tell your fans?

Devin The Dude: I love and appreciate them, honestly. That is why I do it because somebody appreciates it. As long as they continue to appreciate it, I will continue to do it; they are the ones that keep me going.

p.s Devin you hot ass hell
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