MUSIC MONDAYS: THE BEST OF CEE-LO GREEN

Ah happy Monday! I saw Gnarls Barkley last night at the bowl. It was pretty good, but the whole time I kept thinking about how much better Cee-Lo used to be. Sure he gets to really show his creativity in this format, but remember when this man used to rhyme!?

I saw Goodie Mob in '96 with The Roots and Grandmaster Flash. For those who don't know, Goodie Mob were/sorta still are the Atlanta based hip-hop group (cohorts of Outkast) where Cee-Lo got his start. This concert was... wow. Goodie Mob were absolutely mind blowing. Like they completely upstaged The Roots. It was a 10 piece band with back-up singers and all. Their first album Soul Food is a minor masterpiece of sorts. Their second album Still Standing was pretty damn eh. A few nice tunes, but overall a drop-off. Not as big a drop-off as their third album "World Party" though. With the except of maybe one song, that album is truly trash. Then Cee-Lo left and they released an album called "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show." They claim that this is in no way a reference to Cee-Lo... Look at the album cover though!



Cee-Lo patched things up and Goodie Mob is going to release another album one day, or so they say.

Cee-Lo's first solo album is quite good. "Closet Freak" was a blistering single I tell ya, blistering. His second album despite the title "Cee Lo Green is the Soul Machine" was actually pretty mediocre and not at all what you'd expect from a "Soul Machine." More like "Cee Lo Green is the C&C Music Factory." Okay, maybe not that bad.

Then he had some others stints with folks like Jazzy Pha and his least memorable moment, penning and producing "The Pussycat Dolls" DON'T CHA.

Let's focus on the highlights though... All pre-Gnarls, video heavy... enjoy

CELL THERAPY from Goodie Mob's "Soul Food"(Cee-Lo goes second... wild video too)



WATCH FOR THE HOOK Cool Breeze ft Goodie Mob and Outkast... There's some great rapid fire trading between Cee-Lo and hmmm not sure who that is. Cool Breeze maybe?



Now take a break and prepare yourself...

The best and perhaps most disturbing Cee-Lo video is "Gettin Grown" from his first solo album. A few people last night were saying how he looks like a giant baby. Well here he is seen with an adorable baby... oh and he dresses up as several Teletubbie like creatures that represent his various vices. Man. REQUIRED VIEWING... Of course none of the links let me embed... So just visit the site. It's worth it.

Also check out the Closet Freak video.