Devino Fortunato was an Oakland-area rapper who burst onto the scene with 2002's Cognac Loungin' for the upstart Bay Area label Real Smooth. While his work as an EMT kept him busy by day, by night it was the G-funk world of liquor, cars, women, and hustling. It was the latter that informed the content of his debut, an independent album that nevertheless boasted high-quality West Coast-style production and Fortunato's own boast-filled flow, which at times suggested the unadorned honesty of 2Pac. After his spectacular debut, Fortunato appeared at numerous Real Smooth events with labelmates Xeno and Tazz. ~ Johnny Loftus