Author Topic: Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live  (Read 719 times)

Vigilante

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Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
« on: September 03, 2003, 06:30:24 PM »


Pros
Devin's funky layed back style, Nice production

Cons
Repetitive subject matter

The Bottom Line
Time to get some of that West Coast funk into your system, the style that only 'The Dude' cultivates.

 
Full Review
I slept on Devin's first album, but after hearing his guest role on Dr Dre's '2001', i had little hesitation in picking up this album. Devin gives us 16 tracks of funky beats, with a mixture of hip hop, R & B, psycadelica and humour. Devin is the Dude, an original mix of layed back rhymes and crooning R & B, taking the listener into his world filled with weed, beer, women and cars.

Sure the subject matter is hardly original, and Devin wastes no time in repeating it, but the album is fresh sounding, and has just the right mix of Devin, flowing production, A-grade guest artists (Nas, Xzibit, Raphael Saadiq) and legend produces guest spotting (Dr Dre, Premo). Here is how the tracks went:

1. Zeldar - NA
Spaced out funky intro.

2. It's A Shame - 4.5/5
Dr Dre produced track. Excellent west coast type Dre track, this wouldn't be outta place on Dre's '2001' opus. Really funky track that will have you head nodding in no time.

3. R & B - 3/5
Typical Devin track as he croons about the virtues of 'reefer' and 'beer'. One for the pot heads.

4. Lacville '79 - 2.5/5
More west coast funk, with an understated groove beat. Subject matter changes to cars. OK.

5. I-Hi - 3/5
Unique sounding beat, creates a nice vibe to this track. Devin comes off sounding almost like Cee-Lo, in this psychacadelic track.

6. Who's That Man - 4/5
Devins layed back flow comes strong on this track as he sings about his sexual exploits. This track also has a really good chilled beat.
"if you got some shorties please could you make them stay home, unless they wann see some grown n***a shakin their bone"

7. Some Of Em - 4.5/5
The beat sounds like something from an Eminem album, pretty good. Here Devin is supported by two of hip hop finest, Xzibit and Nas. Track can't fail, as this interesting combo feed off each other. Nasir's verse is mind bendingly brilliant.

8. Go Somewhere - 3.5/5
Very funky track, this track is sooo layed back its paralysing. Nice.

9. Whatever - 3/5
Short track, that doesn't hold back, not for those who are easily offended. Interesting.

10. Would Ya? - 2.5/5
A weaker track, the beat is electro-spacey, but fails to grab, and Devin doesn't quite bring it.
"Them big ol' t****es and a***ses, what you use to catch n***s, to buy expensive clothes with shoes to match"

11. Doobie Ashtray - 4.5/5
Great DJ Premier produced track, subject matter, has been played out to death on this album already, but it's done real well. Devin's layed back flow with his R & B stylings, works tight with the beat.

12. Just A Man - 4/5
This is a tight R & B track, with Devin being wortherly supported by Raphael Saadiq. This is better than alot of the charting R & B tracks. Nice.

13. Fa Sho - 3.5/5
More serious beat on this track. The tempo change is needed, to give this album a bit more variety. Devin plays a more supporting role on this track. Good.

14. WXYZ - 3.5/5
Corny beat, sounds like it's straight from a boy group. But as soon as Devin lays his rhymes you'll realise this ain't no pop track.
"Yep, You f***ed up didn't ya, ya hid in the mob and now they tryin' to ya lynch ya"

15. Tough Love - 4/5
R & B sounding beat, Devin raps about relationships with women. This track is bangin', once again much better than half the charting R & B tracks at the moment.

16. Just Tryin Ta Live - 5/5
Chilled funk track, uses Devin's crooning and rapping combo to great effect. The sunject matter is also alot deeper than most tracks on this album. My favourite track on this album, it brings back G-Funk memories.
"we need to change our ways, doin' the same thang we did yesterday"

This is a solid West Coast funk album, nothing more, nothing less. It's really going to be case of if you like that thing or not. In a world filled with gangsta rap or conscious style hip hop, its good to have something more in the middle ground of chilled beats and good times. For me, this was a refreshing journey into a mixture of hip hop feeling and R & B sound. Devin blends so well into the sound of this album, that it erased my initial worry of listening to 16 straight tracks of him.

Basically if you want something to stretch and chill to, than this is well worth your hard earned. No doubt, Devin is now the king of funk.





Recommended
Yes

Great Music to Play While: Romancing
 


This album recieved 3 Mics in the Source.....BS
Go support him and go buy it!
 

_That_Cracka_J

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Re:Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2003, 11:20:27 PM »
Dope review.  My favorite track is "Some of 'em".
 

LyRiCaL_G

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Re:Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2003, 05:08:38 PM »
yo devins my nigga man, this shits sick, i dug his album no doubt, some sick joints on it............xzibit came correct on some of em and so did devin but damn, at that stage in time, nas was jus simply on fire and his verse on that joint their was mo evidence...........
 

Cold187um

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Re:Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2003, 06:06:41 PM »
my favs are "Zeldar" "Doobie Ashtry" "Lacville 79" (fuckin tight video :) ) and "Just Tryin To Live"

awesome album imo


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Lord Funk

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Re:Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2003, 06:55:41 AM »
Great album, great review.

Coupla comments - 'Doobie Ashtray' is five outta five to me. I don't think the topic is 'played out to death' if you listen closely - he's talking about more than beer and blunts, he's talking about life itself and it's ups and downs, then using the last roach idea as a metaphor. It's actually a pretty deep track IMO.

For me the key thing about Devin is his everyday persona. Here's how I see it: the whole bling-bling (sorry to use the cliche) and Cristal thing is cool, but personally I can't relate to it. Yet I'm not teetotal either, or adverse to having a laugh, so I'm not going to be listening to Paris' '40 Ounces and a Fool' all day either, much as I respect it.

Devin is a normal guy - he raps about having a couple of beers and a smoke and getting laid. Makes the whole album instantly accessible.

Oh, and it ain't really West Coast Funk, cause Devin's from the South :P
"I fornicate with porn stars, sluts and strippers.
 Well - only on the Internet but what's the difference?"

 - Mad Child from Swollen Members, 'Adrenaline'
 

UnstoppableForce

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Re:Devin The Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2003, 10:28:42 PM »
 8)