They say variety is the spice of life. For Devin the Dude, it’s been the foundation of his career. From his days as a member of the Houston rap group, the Odd Squad, to his solo success and eventual crowning as one of the best emcees to have ever rapped, Devin’s agility has served him well. Whether he’s working with rappers like De La Soul, Nas and Dilated Peoples or with vets like Raphael Saadiq and Dr. Dre, his uncanny ability to dominate a track has made him a legend in his own right. Currently on tour promoting his latest release, Landing Gear, the Dude breaks down his musical philosophy and explains why he gets so much international love.
Why He’s So Versatile:
From a certain age I sued to collect albums, I used to listen to blues, country, R&B, all types of music — and there [was] no such thing as color. So when I got a chance to finally do music and was finally blessed to make a record, I kind of didn’t see any particular brand, I just did my music.
Why He Gets International Love:
I just came back from a small European tour, went to Germany for a couple of weeks. I did Stockholm, Copenhagen, Sweden … I went to London for the first time. Some of those places were a first and it was a really cool atmosphere over there. Surprisingly, they knew the words to all of my songs. It was kinda cool.
Why He’s Not Retiring:
When I was 18, I didn’t ever think I would rap when I was 30. I was like, ‘oh no, I’m gonna be finished with that.’ But when I got to 28, 29 I said, hey, it was just like the beginning for me and the love … for the music just never did vanish or go anywhere. It’s a love thing I guess. Who knows when you’re gonna stop making it or when the love’s gonna die out or if and when it will die out?
