Jarv Dee and Devin the Dude at Nectar Lounge

The night of April 17 at Nectar Lounge brought together a mix of local talent and a legendary headliner, with Jarv Dee & The Blakhouse Band opening for Devin the Dude. The audience skewed older, with mostly fans in their thirties and forties, and a sprinkling of twenty-somethings in the mix. Regardless of age, the room was full of people who genuinely loved hip hop, and that energy carried throughout the entire show.

The night started with DJ Indica Jones playing a mix of underground, old school, and mainstream hip-hop songs as people began to trickle into Nectar Lounge.

J-Mar Da Sik then kicked things off with a fun opening set. Representing the Seattle/Tacoma scene and Du4Self Records, he set a strong tone that warmed up the crowd. Nobi followed with an emotional and energetic set, and people started to lock in and vibe more actively to the music.

I was excited when Jarv Dee came on stage, because I haven’t been to a Jarv Dee show in over a decade (the last time I saw him was back in 2015 or so). Having personally known Jarv since his days in Moor Gang and Cloud Nice, it was great to see how much his music has evolved over the years. A few members of the Moor Gang/Cloud Nice crew were in attendance that evening, and I briefly talked to Rob Skeetz and Gabby outside while Nobi was performing his set.

Dee’s set was energetic and well-rounded, combining newer songs with fan favorites like “I Just Wanna.” His latest music with The Blakhouse Band includes the 2021 Blakhouse EP, featuring collaborations with Seattle’s Stass Thee Boss and the legendary group Shabazz Palaces, and his 2025 album Blakhouse 2: Trial By Fire.

A standout moment during Jarv’s performance came when Gifted Gab joined him on stage for “Watch This,” which drew a strong reaction from the crowd. Seeing Jarv and Gabby perform together was a reminder of how deep the Seattle hip hop scene runs, even for those like me who haven’t been following local music too closely in recent years.

The night ultimately belonged to Devin the Dude, who’s currently out on tour and still commands a dedicated following. As soon as he hit the stage, the crowd pressed forward and the energy shifted. Fans knew all the words to his songs, and the ladies in the audience were especially hyped and yelling out the lyrics along with him.

All in all, it was a room full of real hip hop heads, and Devin delivered exactly what they came for: a classic hip hop set that closed the night on a high note. I was happy to see Jarv and Gabby, and I witnessed a legendary Southern hip-hop artist whose performance really moved the crowd.