Shame on Hue–stone

Shameless Plug Presents Devin the Dude - June 19, 2009 @ Apache Cafe, Atlanta

By C. Daniel

Somebody done passed out on the floor. That shit was smokin’ good!

Call it a “Shameless Plug” if you want to – courtesy of a tight-knit clique: some of my more creative, intelligent and go-hard friends. Made up of Atlanta lifestyle powerbrokers Bem Joiner, Jabari Graham and Fadia Kader, Shameless Plug can get the job done and still have a damn good time. Always laid back and on the cutting edge in the ‘A,’ these are Joiner’s own words: “We just get together and put on events.” And it’s on fire everytime. Tonight, it’s thick in the building. Their most recent set features Devin the Dude before a packed house at Apache Café on Friday, June 19, 2009.

It’s pitched black in one of Atlanta’s definitive hubs for good art and live music. It’s blazin’ for real – no fuck that, it’s hot as hell in here. Shit, the wall even starts to sweat. DJ Dibiase does the damn thing goin’ all over the place. Breakin’ out everything from Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and “Da’ Butt” to Houston legends Big Mike (remember “I’m just a playa playa” from ’95) to UGK, the night is like cruisin’ in the South in the summer time wit the top down and a box full of White Owls. Hell, everybody is in one room – the Chevy ridahs, suburban college students and industry cats. Guess you have to be there to chief it – I mean see it.

Hip hop artist Nesby Phips and hip hop/jazz fusion band Jaspects (who performs an impressive rocked out instrumental rendition of Gnarls Barkley’s hit “Crazy”) opens the show, but it’s just not good enough for the crowd. “DEVIN THE DUDE!” they shout countless times. I think a couple of bottles might’ve flown over my head; the clouds of smoke are everywhere ‘tho. Then, Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” comes on about 12:30 a.m., and Devin rolls up on stage.

I’m talkin’ ‘bout his classics, y’all. With five critically acclaimed albums under his 15-year career, Devin the Dude is hands down one of the most well-known underground hip hop acts in history. Not only has the Houston-based artist collaborated with some of the most well-known names in hip hop (like Nas and DJ Premier to Andre 3000 and Jay-Z), but he’s also been praised by Spin and The New York Times for his funky rhythms, humorous sex scenarios and passion for – well, that good.

Shit, Houston producer Cory Mo even tells me the night before at DOOR 44, another Atlanta spot located in Midtown, that “Devin gon’ tear that shit up.” And that he does with his hour plus-long set.  He blazes “To the X-Treme;” “Do What’chu Wanna Do;” “Boo-Boo’n;” “Broccoli and Cheese;” “Doobie Ashtray” and “Anything.”  He screws up on “What a Job” ‘tho – naw, he slows the track down. Devin goes acapella with “Who’s That Man, Moma” and gives us a ‘lil hit of his cameos – “Fuck You” (Dr. Dre), “Fuck Faces” (Scarface), and “Ooh Na Na Na Na” (Lil’ Jon and the Eastside Boyz).

 Shit’s fire!