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DEL.ICIO.USSee Cee-Lo Go (Finally)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta rapper-singer-producer Cee-Lo sits atop the Grammy nominations with a record of the year nod, and boy has it been a long time coming.
As anyone who’s followed his career knows, the talent born Thomas Callaway has toiled long and hard in the music industry. First it was with local rap foursome Goodie Mob. Then he released two more albums as a solo artist.
None of those efforts got the attention Cee-Lo’s receiving now, as a member of the duo Gnarls Barkley. And “Closet Freak: The Best of Cee-Lo Green the Soul Machine” makes one wonder what took so many, so long. From the powerful gospel-like opener “Free” to his searing verse on Goodie Mob’s “Cell Therapy,” this somewhat premature greatest hits collection is a worthwhile addition to the collection of anyone who is just hearing of Cee-Lo on his latest group’s Grammy-nominated hit “Crazy.” And for the others who’ve loved him all along, what a pleasant reminder as to why.
Since the topic has been broached, why do you think Cee-Lo and Goodie Mob didn’t get the attention their groundbreaking CD “Soul Food” deserved? Were they too positive for those diamonds and platinum-focused, Puff Daddy times? Were hip-hop audiences just not ready to take southern artists seriously then? And what about now? As big as “Crazy” has been in pop and dance circles, hip-hop stations never really warmed to the single. Is the genre still too narrow-minded for someone as wonderfully broad as Cee-Lo?
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Comments
By Songwriter
December 20, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
Being a songwriter and aspiring artist myself, I can tell you that “black” music is screwed up and why the industry is suffering as a whole; because it is such a large part of it. Our music is so contrived and limited, there are no fresh ideas. Everything is recycled and it only comes down to image which oftentimes has to be negative in order for you to sell or be “successful”. Artists with true talent and deeper substance get no respect in our community. The only exception is probably the 35+ crowd which tends to appreciate more. The larger portion of the consumer demographic though is basically 16-25 and the 25 year olds might as well be 16 year olds with the way they carry themselves.
I heard Cee-Lo’s talent years ago. Artists such as he, Corrine Bailey Ray (though she is British), etc. are considered too ecclectic have to go overseas to be appreciated. That’s one thing I can give Europeans credit for, they appreciate ALL good music. I do have to give Atlanta credit too though, it is the ONE market that no matter how “off the wall” an act is or how crazy the music is, if it’s out of ATL they are supportin’ it!
Can you say “Hey Yah”?
By Willie Coyote
December 20, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a Cee-Lo / Goodie Mob fan since they (and Outkast) first came out in ‘94. They have never gotten their due respect. Originally I think it was due to a reluctance by many to give credit to southern lyricists. Now there is too much non-original bs that people only listen to because they think they are supposed to. People like Cee-Lo are labeled as “Alternative” when they are truly hip hop artists who come with originality and quality every time.