Making good on the "dude" part of his name, the good-natured rapper
Devin the Dude eases through a fun and relaxed set of songs on
To tha X-Treme. A laid-back vibe (at least partially due to some serious smoke inhalation) pervades the album, making it a welcome change of pace from more gruff, heavier hip-hop.
Devin hilariously introduces the disc on "Devin's Medley," and then slides into the smooth, electronic-tinged title track. Other highlights include the dreamy "Right Now," which boasts a gentle acoustic guitar line and light percussion, and the entertaining stoner-meets-cop tale of "Go Fight Some Other Crime." By mixing deft pop melodies with tight rap beats and clever rhymes,
Devin has crafted one of 2004's most enjoyable hip-hop records.