Back in the day, when discipline via belt and/or extension cord was perfectly legal, there were two things you “bet’ not” get caught with in your mama’s house: a bad report card and a Richard Pryor album. If you got an “F” in English, you’d expect to get a whupping along with an “I only did it because I love you” speech.
But if you ever got caught listening to one of Pryor’s comedy albums (where there were plenty of A’s, B’s, F’s, and S’s in the English language) you’d get one of those beatings that taught you how to use syllables (“what-did-I-tell-you…”).
Devin Copeland, better known as Devin the Dude, definitely knew the repercussions of listening to a Richard record, so he always had a Plan B in case his mother walked in the room. “Man, shiiiit,” he grins while reminiscing about listening to Pryor. “I was never caught because I always had an alternative vinyl on the side to cover it up.”
In between switching and hiding records, Devin managed to listen to just enough Pryor, Redd Foxx, Rudy Ray Moore, and Blowfly to create his own brand of rap music that meshes adult humor with exceptional lyricism.
“I used to love to listen to comedy, and I’d get a blast from the vinyl they had back in the day,” says the Houston native. He also was inspired by the likes of Johnny “Guitar” Watson, The Bar-Kays, The Ohio Players, and Bootsy Collins. “When I started rapping I figured I’d put some humor in it,” he says.
Even though his unique style and ability to keep people laughing through their tragedies can easily garner Devin distinctions like “The Richard Pryor of Rap,” a deeper look would show you that unlike Mr. Pryor, Mr. Copeland would much rather make fun of life itself than poke fun at his own.
“The people want to hear certain things but it wouldn’t make them happy or feel good if I’m always talking about me,” says Devin when asked why he doesn’t say much about his personal life. “I would like to have something that they can listen to and relate to other than talking about what my problems are.”
Without relying on bleak tales about gunplay, botched drug deals, and dead homies, or imaginary tales about Maybachs sitting on 24’s, Devin has developed a cult following by crafting tunes centered around the struggles of an ordinary man.
His first and second solo outings, 1998’s severely slept-on The Dude, and 2002’s critically-acclaimed Just Tryin’ Ta Live, came packaged with an original blend of witty, laid-back lyrics from the mind of man who is a perfect fit both of the A.D.I.D.A.S. acronyms (All Day I Dream About Sex and All Day I Drink And Smoke).
But his latest offering To The Xtreme has Devin wearing F.I.L.A.’s (Finally I Left Adidas) this time around as the album is mellower and less explicit.
“On the first CD it was a lot of partying and a lot of fun,” says the artist who made his formal introduction into the game in 1994 as a member of The Odd Squad. “But as time goes on it gets more serious and it becomes more of a job so I just wanted to get laid back with it instead of wilding out too much.”
Though Devin is growing towards producing more “serious” music, it has been his carefree nature that has lauded him a rare respect from fellow artists that has led to coveted cameo appearances on projects by Scarface, Dr. Dre, The Roots, De La Soul and even the ill-fated Jay-Z/R. Kelly Best of Both Worlds album.
Devin’s popularity among his peers has also caused many out-of-the-loop music listeners to ask: “What record label is he on?” The answer is Rap-A-Lot, the legendary Houston-based record label that is responsible for iconoclastic acts such as the Geto Boys.
Rap-A-Lot has been the home for a stable of respectable artists including Dirty, Yukmouth, Tela, Big Mike, and the recently defected Do or Die. In other words, a label that has national distribution but minimal pop appeal.
“Labels have asked me if I’m still on Rap-A-Lot, when is my last album with them, and all of the questions that go around being interested,” he says. “But nobody has just straight up asked me ‘Hey, why don’t you come over here with us, man?’”
He continues by defending his decision to stay with the label gave him his start in the rap game. “It has its advantages. We get a lot of respect and get a lot of things accomplished because [Rap-A-Lot] don’t mind me moving around and doing different things myself. Its almost like I’m still independent. They don’t try to structure me or tell me to do this and that to get more record sales. I get to be my own person and I don’t have to go out of character.”
Similar to his comedic influence Pryor, Devin is never out of character; you never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. That’s the main reason why so many curious adolescents felt the wrath of the leather strap after getting caught listening to Pryor on wax - which causes you wonder if Devin’s kids get in trouble for bumping daddy’s CDs.
“No, but they used to back in the day,” laughs the father of four. His children range from ages two 13. “Now that they’re older I’m a little bit more lenient on them and I let them listen to [my music]. But certain songs, I be like, ‘Naw, naw, naw, you gotta turn that one off!”
- Maurice G. Garland
