"GOODIE MOb", as it's written on their album covers, means the "GOOD DIE Mostly Over bullshit". Cee-Lo notes in a song off the Soul Food album that, "[If] you take out one 'O' it stands for 'GOD Is Every Man Of blackness.' "
Its members were all born in Atlanta, and the group is based there with the rest of the Dungeon Family, a collective which includes OutKast, Witch Doctor and P.A. (Parental Advisory). Goodie was first heard reciting haunting politically charged poetry on several songs from OutKast's first album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. His reputation as a poet, thinker and social commentator is legendary in the southern hip-hop community.
Cee-Lo was the most visible member of the group prior to his departure in 2000 due in part to his distinct voice, while Big Gipp has made several rounds on other Dungeon Family members' albums, and T-Mo and Khujo form a duo within the group called The Lumberjacks.
Discography
Soul Food (1995)
Goodie Mob's debut was the Gold-certified album Soul Food in (1995). Produced by Organized Noize and critically acclaimed, the album went gold. It was on this album that the phrase Dirty South was actually coined, with a song of that same title. This album touched on many social and political issues such as racism, discrimination, geo-politics, and gentrification. Although the album dealt with such heavy issues, some songs still carried a lighter tone, such as "Soul Food," in which the crew expressed their love for home cooked meals. Along with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, this album put Atlanta's rap scene on the map.
Still Standing (1998)
The Mob's sophomore release was Still Standing in 1998, on which they continued their tendency towards social commentary, and Cee-Lo's penchant for singing began to show through more. The album was also produced by Organize Noize, except for contributions by DJ Muggs (which would lead to Goodie Mob's contribution on Soul Assassins I) and Mr. DJ. During this period the group made a cameo appearance in the film Mystery Men, with Cee-Lo crediting himself by his birth name, Thomas Callaway (though he refers to himself as "Carlito Green" in the liner notes). Still Standing was the group's second gold-selling effort. On the front and back covers, the letter "O" in "Mob" contained a chilling silhouette of a hanged man in the center.
World Party (1999)
Feeling pressure from the increasing popularity and sales of their fellow Dungeon Family group OutKast, Goodie Mob decided to sign with Arista Records for their third album. The record veered away from their gritty style that permeated their successful previous releases, instead incorporating lighter beats and party related subject matter, which many fans perceived as selling out in an attempt for mainstream popularity. The social tone which had pervaded their earlier releases was absent; one track on the album, "All A's," was criticized for reportedly containing homophobic lyrics. During production, unhappy with the project's direction, Cee-Lo abruptly left to pursue a solo career. Arista dropped the group following poor sales of the album.
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (2004)
The fourth album from Goodie, not featuring Cee-Lo, was something of a return to their earlier style, though fans were unhappy with the lack of Cee-Lo's presence. Many thought the "monkey" referenced in the title and shown on the cover was a reference to their prodigal groupmate, though the group claims it actually represents the music industry. Released the following year, Cee-Lo's second solo album Cee-Lo Green... is the Soul Machine featured a song called "When We Were Friends," which many also took for a diss to his former group.
Livin' Life As Lumberjacks (2005)
One Monkey's poor reception led Big Gipp to briefly leave the group as well, and T-Mo and Khujo released an album under the name The Lumberjacks called Livin' Life As Lumberjacks. The album continued the trend of somewhat lessened social commentary, getting into the crunk style that by then had pervaded Atlanta's music scene. Though Cee-Lo was still absent, Big Gipp appeared twice on the album to form the trio once again on the tracks Superfriends and 24/7/365.
Possible Reunion
It has been reported that all four Goodie Mob members are back on good terms and have reentered the studio to release a brand new album. Cee-Lo and Big Gipp have both referenced this in multiple interviews. No release date has been set, nor any details concerning the possible album released.
The four members recently appeared on stage together on October 1, 2006 following a Gnarls Barkley show, stating that they were back together or at least on good terms. No details were given concerning a possible reunion album at the time.
Black Ice
Goodie Mob Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you catch that phone call most of y'all that met me
Thought I was tall, Gipp flipped like a dip
Slipped fell on the black ice
Did you think twice, homeslice came and he went
Satisfied got bent bars ain't shit
Meetin coast to coast yeah I laughed and boast
Man do-si-dos, too many comin close to
Touch what I never touched befo', seen what I never seen befo'
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
Circulate like a Sunday paper
Capers caught long time, to cheap flicks, good picks
Paid hard, watch the hard turn sideways
Pick the tale for real sales to those who lose cash
Players keep your life for now
Feelin good and warm, windows rolled tight
Thirty-five degrees, nippy tonight, don't forget the chapstick
Lips dry quick, when the jack out
Make you wanna act out, take the slack out
Some people black out, hibernatin 'til we came back out
Touch what I never touched befo', seen what I never seen befo'
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
Touch what I never touched befo', seen what I never seen befo'
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
I been in it for the past few days
Tighter than fades I'm knowin my plays
Now can I rap? Can I adapt? Not really sure yet
Who that lookin over the shoulders of those writin dreams
Fiendin for the taste of menthol
Missed class stayed in the hall
Lookin for a squeeze play, better yet a holiday
Stayed away from the pyramid board game
Broke it down to a neighborhood slang
Cash befo' fame
Sky high
Now who done stepped in?
The nigga the B-I-G the secret weapon Boi
Slicker than Black Ice, throwin these flows like rice at weddings
So quit flexing, we speakin about
Somethin that's refreshin to the earlobes
Pay for the room and still be in pimp mode
Like icebergs, Chryslers and Buicks
Some niggas ain't on they jobs so them suckers here to lose it
Abuse they privileges and now the whole village is, been shot to pieces
Cause niggas are bitin that same stupid shit I mean that feces
Boy don't beep me, if you ain't got no work
I'm strictly bout these verses like the ones you hear at church boy
Search boy, talkin' about your dough long like Lurch, boy
Every time I heard you rhymin like a fucking jerk boy simp, yeah!
Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me yo' eardrums
It was a beautiful day off in the neighborhood
Yellows and greens and blues and browns
And greys and hues that ooze beneath dilapidated woods
Ain't a thing could explain what pertains
To cocaine it's a stain that rain
See summer roll around niggas holla bout change
Then they steady move them ki's like Bob James
Cause old man winter's arrived, the temperature dives
November just died, December's alive
Thus it ain't no typical ride
Just individual's way to bring home
The bacon when bacon was all gone
Makin it our own, takin me all wrong
We've all indulged in the bulge of those no-no's
No you ain't solo, it's even lower levels you can go
Take sun people, put 'em in a land of snow
Touch what I never touched befo', seen what I never seen befo'
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
The lyrics to Goodie Mob's "Black Ice" are thought-provoking and reflective of the complexities in life. The song features the group members reflecting on the different experiences they've had and the lessons they've learned. The line "Now you know and I know I done bumped every hole in the wall y'all / Did you catch that phone call most of y'all that met me / Thought I was tall, Gipp flipped like a dip" talks about how people perceive them, which is not who they are. The line "Slipped fell on the black ice / Did you think twice, homeslice came and he went / Satisfied got bent bars ain't shit" talks about how life is unpredictable, and things can happen unexpectedly. The song is also talking about how they've experienced and seen things that they haven't seen or touched before, and how these experiences are a part of their growth and development.
The song title "Black Ice" is used as a metaphor for life's unpredictability, just as black ice is invisible and can cause unexpected accidents. The song also references the effect of cocaine on people's lives, and how people often make bad choices due to their addictions. Goodie Mob is urging people to take ownership of their lives and rise above their circumstances, as seen in the line "Makin' it our own, takin' me all wrong / We've all indulged in the bulge of those no-no's / No, you ain't solo, it's even lower levels you can go."
Overall, "Black Ice" is a reflective and introspective song that tackles life's complexities and encourages people to take ownership of their lives and rise above their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you know and I know I done bumped every hole in the wall yall
I've been around and seen it all, done it all
Did you catch that phone call most of y'all that met me
Did you hear about my reputation before meeting me?
Thought I was tall, Gipp flipped like a dip
People thought I was impressive, but Gipp changed his mind
Slipped fell on the black ice
I made a mistake, stumbled into trouble
Did you think twice, homeslice came and he went
Did you hesitate before taking action? Someone came and left quickly
Satisfied got bent bars ain't shit
I'm content with my life and don't need material possessions
Meetin coast to coast yeah I laughed and boast
I travel around and brag about my experiences
Man do-si-dos, too many comin close to
I'm dancing around, but my enemies are getting too close
Touch what I never touched befo', seen what I never seen befo'
I'm experiencing things for the first time
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
I'm excited to start a new day
Circulate like a Sunday paper
I'm moving around frequently
Capers caught long time, to cheap flicks, good picks
Crime is punishing, but some low-budget movies are good
Paid hard, watch the hard turn sideways
I worked hard and had to change direction when things got tough
Pick the tale for real sales to those who lose cash
I'm telling true stories to those who have been scammed
Players keep your life for now
Be careful while doing risky things
Feelin good and warm, windows rolled tight
I'm comfortable in my car
Thirty-five degrees, nippy tonight, don't forget the chapstick
It's chilly outside and we need to take care of our lips
Lips dry quick, when the jack out
Lips get dry when smoking crack
Make you wanna act out, take the slack out
Drugs make you act out, but you need to focus on getting better
Some people black out, hibernatin 'til we came back out
Some people lose consciousness or gave up until I came back around
I been in it for the past few days
I've been busy for the last few days
Tighter than fades I'm knowin my plays
I'm well-prepared
Who that lookin over the shoulders of those writin dreams
Who's watching those chasing their dreams?
Fiendin for the taste of menthol
Craving menthol cigarettes
Missed class stayed in the hall
Skipped class and hung out in the hallway
Lookin for a squeeze play, better yet a holiday
Looking for a romantic or relaxing experience
Stayed away from the pyramid board game
Avoided pyramid schemes
Broke it down to a neighborhood slang
Used local dialect/phrases
Cash befo' fame
Money is more important than fame
Now who done stepped in?
Who just entered the scene?
The nigga the B-I-G the secret weapon Boi
Referencing themselves as a secret weapon, possibly a reference to their talents
Slicker than Black Ice, throwin these flows like rice at weddings
A comparison used to emphasize their smoothness and skill in rapping
So quit flexing, we speakin about
Stop bragging, we're talking about
Somethin that's refreshin to the earlobes
Something that sounds good
Pay for the room and still be in pimp mode
Amidst luxury and professionalism, the rapper is still acting like a pimp
Like icebergs, Chryslers and Buicks
A reference to powerful things that flow smoothly
Some niggas ain't on they jobs so them suckers here to lose it
Some people aren't working hard enough and are bound to fail
Abuse they privileges and now the whole village is, been shot to pieces
Taking advantage of privileges resulted in chaos and destruction
Cause niggas are bitin that same stupid shit I mean that feces
People are copying unintelligent ideas and it's annoying
Boy don't beep me, if you ain't got no work
Don't contact me if you have nothing valuable to offer
I'm strictly bout these verses like the ones you hear at church boy
I'm serious about my musical work
Search boy, talkin' about your dough long like Lurch, boy
Looking for someone bragging about their money like Lurch from The Addams Family
Every time I heard you rhymin like a fucking jerk boy simp, yeah!
Disliking the way someone raps and questioning their abilities
Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me yo' eardrums
Asking for the audience's attention
It was a beautiful day off in the neighborhood
A nice day in the neighborhood
Yellows and greens and blues and browns
Colors of the landscape
And greys and hues that ooze beneath dilapidated woods
Different shades of colors seen in decayed woods
Ain't a thing could explain what pertains
It's hard to describe what's happening
To cocaine it's a stain that rain
Drugs are a problem and it's hard to get rid of
See summer roll around niggas holla bout change
People hope for change in the summer
Then they steady move them ki's like Bob James
They start selling drugs
Cause old man winter's arrived, the temperature dives
Winter has come and the temperature is dropping
November just died, December's alive
November is over and December has begun
Thus it ain't no typical ride
It's not an ordinary journey
Just individual's way to bring home
A unique way to make money
The bacon when bacon was all gone
Making money when there wasn't much to be made
Makin it our own, takin me all wrong
Doing things differently and being misunderstood
We've all indulged in the bulge of those no-no's
We've all been tempted to do something bad
No you ain't solo, it's even lower levels you can go
You're not alone, things can get worse
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAMERON F. GIPP, DAVID A. SHEATS, ANDRE BENJAMIN, ANTWAN PATTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janepatton8100
The South got sumthin to say...
Break beats with these rhyme stones droppin on the song real heavy like a ton
But not to be mistaken with precious stones or DJ'ing we relating to jewels that leave the beat crushed.
This heat'll blow their wigs so keep'em laced up, no front
Our goal is to stay calm, nonchalant
If they want it, they can get it, it's a privilege the South said it
The old adage we multiply like Rabbits, I gotta hunch, uh
It's been a bunch of y'all neglecting the art
We caring about every word like we're raising the bar
The black ice types, on mics be like, when like minds see right thru the holes of space and beyond
Unpredictable like the seriousness of a bomb threat
Or flying over the Atlantic in, an unknown jet
This beat be the catalyst that ignites the apparatus, the pens savage raising havoc on enemies of intellect, uh
They want beef, we can have lunch many of us have wants
But it's only one of us who has funds
I'm not bragging, Im'a dragon
Repping dungeon fam son
Moving to the beat of one drum
Different strokes move the world, so my will is (Willis) to stay dungeon
They vets, wise as heck but aren't-old (Arnold) like Phil drumming
Sit calm (sitcom) or rerun (re-run) if this went over your onion
This verse is black ice so you didn't see it coming
@jenlefever5
'Circulate like a sunday paper...'
Timeless word flow... Neva to be forgotten! I tell my seven year old son, "boy, few more years and you've got some serious historical lyrical knowledge coming at ya... Knowledge from momma straight to you, from all the BuBoes who gave the knowledge to me when i was just a girl... Getting to know myself and hip hop, in the world, when i needed to escape from the world, and call else in between, moments when I was an Outkast, to other moments when society decided I wasn't, temporarily, cause nothing lasts, forever and always, everything is temporary, except for one thing, family, lets marinate on that for a minute..." And my son knows what that means, indeed, he does.
My son listens, to me, when I speak, every time... As if my words were strong enough, to pull us both out of present time and place, fluid is my delivery and he understand my flow... Amazed, I find him and his life force/energy to be... Yet, even more so, incredible, I find him and his mind space/ awareness to be..
Indeed, he is, all of these things I lay down in free-form, lyrics of my life_I give to him as he is the life-force, walking on, as he has already had to suffer the tragic death of his father, taken from us to soon, details of that to be continued another day...
It is now my job, to raise a man, without my man, with his father standing over us in his heavenly-angelic form, to know if Im giving him, all and everything he needs, every bit of wisdom that a young man needs, being not a man but a woman myself... Who is to know... Who is really to know...
But, as his mother and with all of my intuitive energy working full force, i can confidently say, my young man understand... He is incredible, and he completely knows my references, both to and of my path in life... Speaking of those moments of, 'back in the day'...
Extraordinary, he is, as he listens as I speak, and says to me, 'Momma, I pick up what you throw down...'
....
And the historical lyrical lessons are, indeed, to be continued....
@PinGMaj
Big Gipp deserves his flowers for this song. One of Goodie’s best tracks.
@sagganuts18
one of Andre's best verse in my opinion. Amazing rhyme scheme, paints such a vivid image.
@TheBeLuvdTRex
The nigga is gifted. Its sad he don't like to rap.
@Lord_Don
Average as usual
No gassin lil homie
@Lord_Don
Andre borrowed his flow from
Mr Ku - Born threat
You’re welcome
@Lord_Don
@Democrats Suck that's atl knowledge
You're a apple music boy... you're not here yet
@eliyyahsilva1282
Absolute top 3.
@floydwebb2377
What a time to be alive. Kids today will never understand how pivotal 90s hip hop was/is
@youreacrackhead8887
Nope they won't. I feel bad for them for all this garbage music they grew up on since the beginning of 2010s decade. 2000s had it's garbage music too
@silverjoystix4696
@@youreacrackhead8887 I agree to a certain extent. While today's music pales in comparison to what we grew up listening to, I don't want to completely say that new music is without merit.