Tag: Cee-Lo Green

Gnarls Barkley – “Atlanta” review

Gnarls Barkley is a neo-soul duo from Atlanta, Georgia consisting of producer Danger Mouse & singer/songwriter Cee-Lo Green. Both of whom met each other in the late 90s when Cee-Lo was performing at the University of Georgia & Danger Mouse won a contest to DJ the show. Their debut single “Crazy” celebrating its 2-decade anniversary next weekend would become one of the biggest hits of the 2000s, later dropping the full-length debut St. Elsewhere & a sophomore effort The Odd Couple under Warner Records. However in the wake of Goodie Mob’s disbandment & the Dungeon Family preparing for a follow-up to Even in Darkness in which Cee-Lo teased to be their “farewell album”, he & Danger Mouse are making a victory lap of their own releasing what they’ve been calling their 3rd & final LP through 10K Projects.

“Tomorrow Died Today” passionately begins with this atmospheric instrumental singing about how we’re all the same in death whereas “I Amnesia” soulfully asks if anyone would remember him if he came back to life from the grave. The only single “Pictures” blends neo-soul & country soul nostalgically remembering when they used to take the MARTA train system in the 8th grade just before “Line Dance” shifts towards a funkier vibe singing about thinking outside the box to get in his bag.

As for “Turn Your Heart Back On”, we have Cee-Lo over a peppier beat wondering if anyone’s listening or simply hearing leading into “Let Me Be” suggesting everyone to leave him alone so he can have some time & understanding. “Cyberbully (Yayo)” starts the 2nd half on a more futuristic note suggesting the possibility of a cyborg being inside of him while “Perfect Time” turns up the psychedelia singing about now being our greatest opportunity to do everything we want until our demise comes.

“Sweet Evil” confesses that he feels like a God in some earthly form while “Boy Genius” sings about everything being fine if someone doesn’t understand you because it might mean you’re a genius. “The Be Be King” expresses a desire of staying true to himself rather than wanting to be someone else like the rest & after “Sorry” issues an apology for losing the war of peace, the final song “Accept It” sends off the coda singing about Heaven being out there on the dance floor tonight in addition to the Devil hitting some moves when he has the chance.

There were always plans for Gnarls Barkley to make 1 last LP after The Odd Couple, but wound up going on hiatus until last Thursday due to other creative endeavors & have finishing what they started by making an entire full-length dedicated to the city that made them. Danger Mouse’s production incorporating contemporary R&B, pop soul, smooth soul & psychedelic soul paired with Cee-Lo Green’s introspective songwriting join the likes of Jill Scott’s independent comeback To Whom This May Concern & more recently GENA’s debut The Pleasure is Yours in terms of neo-soul thriving in 2026.

Score: 4.5/5

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Goodie Mob – “Survival Kit” review

Goodie Mob is an Atlanta, Georgia quartet consisting of Cee-Lo Green, Big Gipp, Khujo & T-Mo. Their 1995 debut Soul Food is easily one of the greatest southern hip hop records ever made & their 1999 sophomore effort Still Standing is really good too, but the 3 albums that’ve followed have been either hit or miss. However after a 7 year hiatus, they’re reuniting with Ortanized Noize for their 6th full-length album.

Things kick off with “Are You Ready?”, where Goodie Mob talks about strengthening the Black community over a rock-flavored beat. The next song “Frontline” talks about anarchy over a rubbery instrumental while the track “Curry Goat” goes at the studio gangstas over a ghostly beat. The song “No Cigar” with André 3000 sees the 4 asking who wants the smoke over bouncy trap instrumental while the track “Prey 4 da Sheep” with Big Boi finds the 4 talking about those lost in the matrix over a laidback beat.

After the “DC Young Fly Crowe’s Nest Break” skit, the song “4 My Ppl” is an empowering tribute to African Americans over a rebellious instrumental with some occasional horns & then after the “Big Rube’s Road Break” skit, the track “Off Road” is a wonderful feel-good anthem that I can imagine being blasted at BBQs next spring/summer.

The song “Try We” gets confrontational over a cavernous beat while the track “Me Tyme” is them saying all they want to hear is that they’re thinking about over a smooth boom bap instrumental. The song “Back2Back” talks about getting flirtatious over symphonically sensual beat while the title track talks about talks about going to war over a instrumental with a well incorporated flute & guitar.

The penultimate song “Calm B4 da Storm” warns the listener that they haven’t seen nothing yet backed by multiple beat-switches & after the “Big Rube’s Amazing Break”, the closer “Amazing Grays” talks about making your time count over a chilling instrumental.

If you wanna hear a great comeback effort from one of the greatest southern hip hop groups of all-time, I HIGHLY recommend this album because I honestly think it’s their best since Still Standing. Organized Noize provides a fantastic musical backdrop for Goodie Mob as the quartet do a great job at tackling the social issues that we’ve been facing throughout this hectic year.

Score: 4/5