Review Summary: Blunts, bitches, and no money: The life of Devin the Dude.
Devin the Dude has been in the music biz for awhile now. He has collaborated with Dre and Snoop, as well as Lil Wayne and Andre 3000. Needless to say, he's been around, with both rappers and women. In his 4th album, "Waitin' to Inhale", we get the typical topics of a rapper's lyrical repertoire: sex and drugs. Yet, instead of getting the same old tired beating of a drum alongside graphic depictions, we get something peculiar.
The attitude of the entire album is captured perfectly in the skit "Boom". Devin calls tech support asking in a thick southern accent "I'm lookin' fer dat boom... dat boom, dat bang.... dat boom dat makes yer license plate n' trunk raddle... like 'n a hip hop track... a booooom booom boooom.. like 'n yer truck". It is from then on that the tone is set for the rest of the album. We find that Devin takes the role of class clown rather than gangsterfied thug.
A funky guitar lick using what sounds like a kill switch is paired with a deep bass beat to start us off on "She Want That Money". Devin's introduction to the track is priceless, he comes across a prostitute who "...was trying to sell some pussy to me for 'bout 40 dollars a nut, and I like to nut like three times, so that's 120 dollars I can save if this bitch just gives me some pussy for free." Later the prostitute says "Deeee, do you love me now?"
Devin, being the player that he is, retorts:
"biiitch, what are you smoking?
your pussy ain't no better than the rest" and kept stroking.
She started crying, but still she kept her legs open,
steady wishing and hopin'
that she could be Mrs. Coplin."
The track "Hope I don't Get Sick A Dis" further complements Devin's comedic approach. The chorus goes:
"I be kickin it,
Stickin this dick off in these bitches,
It's gettin ridiculous,
I hope I don't get sick of this."
He trails off as if he is crying; Soul filled backing vocals croon clearly illustrating the irony of it all.
The hilarity reaches a high point on the track "She Useta Be". Devin re-lives memories of his high school crush:
"I was high as a kite, I thought the time was right
To ask her for a dance - she said, "Naw, that's alright!"
"But, about 150 pounds and 10 years later" he encounters her again and vividly describes:
"I tried to run, I tried to duck
But I couldn't get away, she was wide as f*ck!"
Even though he says:
"That ho is huge!"
and
"From elegant to elephant."
Devin eventually "had to go over and had to hit it and split it..."
In the tracks "Lil Girl Gone" and "No Longer Needed Here" Devin attempts to take on some darker and more serious subjects. Unfortunately these tracks lack the lyrical prowess needed to support such heavy topics. An exception is the track "Almighty Dollar" which makes light of a serious issue. Because Devin plays to his strength, he is able to really make the track enjoyable.
The beats and the overall sound on the album are just immaculate. The entire album is dripping with funky guitar riffs, soulful choruses, and heavy basslines. Clearly much time and effort was put into crafting the sound for this album. The results really speak for themselves. Even at lyrical low points, the album is carried by these funk and soul inspired sounds.
"Waitin' to Inhale" is not a revolutionary album in content, nor concept for that matter. Despite this, the funky riffs and soul fused sounds paired with Devin's lighthearted and comical delivery make for a great time. What is truly refreshing about this album is its humility. This album does not take itself too seriously; This allows the listener to simply have fun with it. So sit down, give this album a spin, and be prepared for some quality entertainment.
Best served with a blunt and a brew, or two.
Recommended Tracks:
She Want That Money
Almighty Dollar
What A Job
She Useta Be
Nothin' To Roll With
Til It's All Gone
