By Malice Intended

With Do Not Distherb, Devin the Dude returns with a small helping of hedonistic tales that humorously illustrate the travails of an average brother just trying to live.  A mere appetizer before the main course, this EP release doesn’t have the breadth or scope of a long player.  It can be digested in a single listen.

The plodding stomp of “What I Be On” precedes the two note organs and Devin’s trademark off key singing.  It is another testimonial to the life of “The Dude” and all of the dilemmas that lie therein.   The carefree sway of “We Get High” is facilitated by bongos and a muddy electric funk bassline.  A slight synthesized whistle sets the humorous tone for this stoner anthem.  The crystal clarity of the mix makes it suitable for earphones and car stereo speakers.

The bold drums and electronic bleeps of “I Gotta Ho” create a dark chamber mood that Devin’s raunchy narrative cannot penetrate.  The musical backdrop is yet another example of crisp, funky production.  The Coughee brothers trade indistinguishable verses and the lyrics are laced with the sort of aggressive yet slightly humorous misogyny that Devin is known for.    The rippling 808’s and spacey fading keys of “That Ain’t Cool (Extended Edit)” are minimalist yet intoxicating as they tweet along like vital signs.

While the beats on Do Not Distherb mostly satisfy, they are not exemplary of the varied and soulful grooves to be found on Devin’s albums.  They all maintain the same drowsy tempo, perhaps in order to tie into the everpresent theme of smoking weed.  In the limited space of an EP release the subject matter feels especially redundant.  As a result, Devin’s persona will seem one dimensional to the uninitiated.

Never one to deviate from course, Devin remains true to himself and his enthusiasms on Do Not Distherb.  His fans will be appreciative as it provides exactly what they have come to expect.  That being said, Devin’s deceptively multi layered persona and musical tastes need more room to breath.

When forced to condense his weird world to just six tracks, he seems more like a novelty character than the relatable everyman we have come to know.  Do Not Distherb will do for now, but hopefully a more nourishing meal is yet to come.

3.25 out of 5

Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill

Follow Malice Intended on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Renaissance1977

Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion

Check out Planet Ill’s page on Essence.com

Follow us on Networked Blogs