Devin the Dude Leaves Rap-A-Lot Records

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  31 Comments

After a more than 15 year partnership with the label, Houston MC Devin The Dude announced on Monday (February 4) that he will not be renewing his contract with Rap-A-Lot Records. In a statement announcing the decision, Devin insists that the split is not the result of any rift between him and the storied record label. “Rap-A-Lot has been my family for a long time and there’s no bad blood at all,” he explained. “But change is a part of life and I feel like this is the time to make a change and focus more on the business side of my career, I’ve had a nice run so I’d like to develop artists and give some of these other cats out here a platform to shine.” Devin signed with Rap-A-Lot in 1992 as a member of the group Odd Squad and has remained there throughout his entire professional career. He went on to release four acclaimed solo albums, The Dude, Just Tryin’ Ta Live, To Tha Xtreme and 2007’s Waitin’ To Inhale. Devin also appeared on The Other Side of the Law, the only project released by Scarface’s Face Mob collective. He is said to be considering offers from several different labels.

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  • Caine

    Devin my nigga. I wish him success with all of his future endeavors…

  • doobie

    sticky green, while im boo-boo n

  • The WorldFamous BP

    It’s really about time. Maybe now the world will get to hear the musical genius that is Devin the Dude.

  • King David

    Nice. Mr. Copeland is one of the most talented people in this genre we call hip hop and I hope he gets everything he deserves.

  • latino heat

    damn, i though it was “rap-a-lot 4 life”? seriously though, devin deserves somewhere that’s gonna get him the promotion he deserves. i think rap-a-lot was the ideal label for him. he’s not a major label type artist, not cause he don’t have the talent, because they will water down his whole style trying to make him conform to the bullshit everybody else is doing. and that’s what makes him the shit is that he has a completley different style. that’s why he didn’t sign with aftermath when dre wanted him, cause he wanted the artistic freedom of rap-a-lot. i don’t know what he’s gonna do know but i’m gonna keep supporting one of the few truly original acts in the game.

    • ATL = All Trannies Live

      Agreed^^^^^

      If he signed with a major label the next time we hear him Omarion and Soulja Boy gone be singing the hook. Booooooooooo

      Devin please don’t go mainstream. I’m begging.

    • stickygreen

      gotta go with you on that
      homie is talented as ….

  • C

    Damn Devin. I hope your new label don’t try to change your style.

  • Zo

    Nigga just changing bathrooms is all! Go head big dawg do yo thang!!! Good luck!

  • Yo-Yo

    Yo, lets get Devin on Aftermath…..Hot shit with him and Dre. Hell Yeah

  • Goin’ craaazey feelin’ like I’m feelin’–

    ‘Bout time… I grew up on Rap-A-Lot and I listened to most of those artists. The sad fact is there’s no exposure for them other than the flagship artists, Face and the Geto Boys– and even they were never fully pushed to garner real attention. Devin has as much potential as they do/did regardless of his subject matter, simply because of the creative ways he approaches those things. Hopefully, it’s not too late to capitalize. Much luck and success.

  • http://www.sp1200.net mirked

    hopefully he can find a better home or does he have plans already?

    http://www.sp1200.net

  • Deez Nutz

    HE IS THE MOST UNDERRATED ARTIST IN THE MUSIC COMMUNITY…PURE GENIUS!!! He’s beats are always tight, he brings a realness to his music on some everyday shyt and can sing and rap…I hope he goes to a major that can use him right…I would say Aftermath but his album may never come out.

  • Loony

    Devin is that dude!

  • Saint

    THANK GOD DEVIN LEFT THIS BEHIND IT IS LONG OVER DUE!!! NEARLY 6 or 7 YEARS AGO DR.DRE OFFERED TO BUY HIS CONTRACT FROM RAP-A-LOT BUT TO NO AVAIL THEY DIDN”T WANT TO RELEASE HIM (FOR GOODNESS SAKE WHY) THEY HELD THIS GUYS CONTRACT WITHOUT HELPING HIM GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHEN DR.DRE COULD HAVE SINGLE HANDEDLY CHANGE HIS LIFE FINANCIALLY BUT WE KNOW WHERE THE HATE IS!!! GOOD FOR YOU DEVIN ENOUGH SENSE NOT TO RE-SIGN WITH THEM!!!!

  • TheRefriedMexican

    CALI HAS NUTTIN BUT LOVE FOR DEVIN AND I AM A BIG FAN BUT HIS LAST 2 ALBUMS “TO THA EXTREME” AND “WAITIN’ TO INHALE” WERE NOT SOLID AT ALL. IN FACT “WAITIN’ TO INHALE” I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY DAMN SAD EXCEPT FOR THE SNOOP AND ANDRE COLLABO. SO MAYBE CHANGE IS GOOD
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  • niggafrommemphis

    I hope where eva he goes he doesn’t sell out,he’s come to far to fake the funk.He ain’t alone either,scarface ain’t renewing his contract either.

  • chester le pumpkinhead

    you know what should happen, if dr. dre is such a big fan he should stop fuckin around and get devin a fuckin deal. matter of fact, he shoulda gave him a deal when he did the fuck you track off 2001. devin deserves a little apprecaition from such a “big Fan” like dre, so dre should stop fuckin around with the detox that won’t ever come out, and give devin a deal, and then work on detox. imagine devin on a detox track. one word>FIYAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Chad

      Funny you said that cause J Prince was gonna give Devin a contract release when 2001 came out and that song blew up…it was Devin that decided to stay on Rap-A-Lot…Prince thought he would make more cash and be mainstream on Aftermath…. for Devin to stay, Now that’s loyalty

  • Richard

    Ohio’s finest check me out and if you like what you hear add me thanks

    http://www.myspace.com/rimestrike1

    http://www.myspace.com/rimestrike1

  • Saint

    ON A VERY SERIOUS NOTE “CHAD” that dude never intended on giving him a release and that’s complete garbage about Devin wanting to stay and be loyal back when he was featured on the Chronic 2001! Trust me I know this is completely inside information this is “NO HEARSAY AT ALL 110% TRUTH! So Hopefully DR.DRE still has a interest and will help him some kingd of way.

  • K.ola

    Devin dropped the four most consistent rap ever…

    every one was great not just good and two are classics…

  • http://XXLMAG HTOWNDIP

    3RD WARD DEVIN IS FINALLY OUT ON BAIL FROM FT.RAP-A-LOT

  • ri067953

    Yo, Devin would never see the light of day on Aftermath. He would be a guest apperance, hook kinda of dude if Dre got ahold of him. Devin has a built in fanbase and wants to help sign new artist so he would be a perfect fit for Koch or Asylum.

  • http://bronxrap.com str8gutta1

    Devin is a cool dude, and his last album was hot!! For more info, be sure to check out BRONXRAP.COM!!!

  • juan mf g

    damn i buy all rap-a-lot shit i cant believe devin leaving but u gotta do what u gotta do im still gon buy his shit!

  • murdaface3

    the almighty dollar, it aint what it use to be………

    i hope he stay independent and get his own money, fucks signing to anybody else label, aftermath included, he one rapper that these labels dont need to try and turn into a ringtone rapper

    tennessee reppin’

  • latino heat

    devin, please don’t sign with aftermath! your album will never drop. u will be another headstone in the aftermath graveyard/ rapper lost and found. rakim, last emporor, stat quo, detox album, chairmen of the boards album with timbaland, dawn robinson (she’s not a rapper but u get the point). and i know i’m forgetting many others who have signed with the label and never seen the light of day. don’t do it to yourself devin.

  • rap-a-lot

    on the real, when your contract with rap-a-lot is up i dont think anyone resigns with them. Look at scarface, he left but he came back. Devin and Yukmouth scream rap-a-lot 4 life but they done renew they contract. Nobody will, look at z-ro. One more album and he is gone

  • http://wnyu.org/archives?c=thirdcoastclassics barney

    time to pull some radiohead shit

  • YUNG STRESS

    ITS KINDA HARSH THAT IT WENT DWN LIKE THAT BUT GOOD LUCK DEVIN. TX STAND UP HOMIE.