If theres one thing the Houston-based Dude can be counted on to do and do well, its good-natured stoner raps that somehow manage to sound molasses-soaked and nimble at the same time. The Rap-A-Lot emcees sixth full-length release, Aprils Suite 420, is more of the samebut the way he goes about delivering it is whats special and worth sticking around for. Over his favored G-funk beats, Devin talks weed and women from a refreshingly everyman and excitingly layered point of view that contrasts sharply with the big-money braggadocio of the multi-platinum-selling set. He might not have grown up much since his debut dropped in 1998, but The Dude knows he has a good thing going. With Neema, Props, Gnotes. NICK FELDMAN
Fri., Aug. 27, 9 p.m., 2010
