The Phone Call He Didn’t Believe

Devin has told the story a few times: Dr. Dre reached out while building 2001. A Rap-A-Lot contact warned Devin that Dre would call his house—then the phone rang. Devin picked up, still skeptical it was really him. The voice on the other end? “Do what the f— you wanna do,” a nod Devin instantly recognized before joking back, “Yo Dre, kick in the bass!” HipHopDX+1

Inside the Session

When Devin arrived, Dre played through a stack of instrumentals (“like 107” by Devin’s count) on a DAT. Devin kept reacting to one number—12—which became “F*** You,” a standout cut on 2001. He wrote and tracked the hook there, in the room. HipHopDX

Why It Mattered

The moment bridged two power centers: West Coast precision and Houston’s conversational storytelling. Dre already knew Devin’s Odd Squad work—proof the respect was real and pre-existing. The cameo helped elevate Devin’s profile while keeping his laid-back, everyman voice intact. HipHopDX

Bonus Context: Houston Roots

Devin’s lane was shaped earlier with Odd Squad (Devin, Rob Quest, Jugg Mugg) and Houston’s chopped-and-screwed ecosystem, where DJ Screw even DJ’d the demo that helped Odd Squad get signed. That slow-rolled sensibility—space, patience, detail—made Devin a perfect fit for Dre’s surgical studio approach.

The Coughee Story

Long before Coughee became a brand, it was a code word.

For decades, Devin the Dude and his circle used “Coughee” as shorthand for cannabis, friendship, music, and the laid-back lifestyle that became synonymous with Houston hip-hop culture. The term appeared throughout conversations, songs, and studio sessions, eventually becoming part of the mythology surrounding Devin and the Coughee Brothaz.

Years later, that culture would evolve into a brand.

The connection began when Minneapolis entrepreneur and artist Manny Phesto booked Devin the Dude for a performance in 2013. What started as a business relationship developed into a friendship that continued over the following decade. A few years later, the two collaborated musically, further strengthening the connection.

As conversations expanded beyond music, Devin connected with Manny and longtime business partner Vincent Santucci, co-founders of The Cloud Committee and Seward Solutions. Together, they saw an opportunity to build something authentic around a name that already carried decades of cultural significance.

Today, Coughee is developed through a partnership between Devin the Dude, The Cloud Committee, and Seward Solutions.

The Cloud Committee began as a California Prop 215 medical cannabis collective and has since evolved into a brand development company focused on creating products rooted in culture and authenticity. Seward Solutions develops the brand’s sustainable packaging and product infrastructure.

Coughee isn’t a celebrity endorsement or a licensing deal. It’s a brand built by people who have lived the culture behind the name.

What began as a code word became a community. What became a community became a brand.

Welcome to Coughee.