"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.
Fighting
Goodie Mob Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To live life as I know
4:30 was the time, I'm feelin' a pain in my chest
I guess I smoke too much sess
Makin' a nigga mo' slow off the doe in Olympian bubblin' under who
Where's the crew thick mist in the trail
I'm feelin' pressure off the tess
Spine advertising swine on Channel 2 when in the same breath
Outbreaks on my skin don't blend with the way I want this thang to flow
If I can help the cause don't have to treat it with no tricks
You settin' me cancer on a stick, visualize destruction soon to come
Throwin' within this city we call Atlantis
Prayin' like a mantis everyday ain't good in the woods of Southwest
I stress in my rhymes fighting for yo' spirit and you mind!
So what it be like my brother be catching gangrene
The water be brown in the morning in my sink
Who that in my eyes some Clampett eaten away by fungi
Another virus disease, at ease, quick to lead a strike against Haiti
When half your army in the bed with pains in their back
And behind their head
Witch doctors giving more Medicaid but ain't no aid
But these ain't tha same from 'Nam, didn't give a damn
Who only wanted Saddam now your hands numb
Can't run old age before thirty
This what you wanted when you signed your (hand) 'cock on tha line
Fightin' for your spirit and your mind, service to my kind
Seems like we're fighting for our spirit and mind
They got us fighting for our spirit and mind
Still fighting for our spirit and mind
We can't stop fighting for our spirit and mind
Multiple stab wounds sticin' thru in the ol' school Cutlass Supreme
Thirty-five cents to my name and that's fo' a blunt man
The way thangs goin' today I might as well be dead, so dread
The voices on the radio got me steamed
Can't put a smile on my face cuz my pockets ain't straight
At least not the way I want 'em to be
Early as phuckk, eight fifty-one
Last night I barely got some Z's sleep uh
I can't ol' Burd in the next room havin' nightmares
It sound like wind blowin' when she weep, speak
I can't I'm tired on the way to the slave camp
I utter very little words, I'm thinkin' about a ciggy I snatched
From the jaws of death, a sack of crumbled herb
Rollin' down Main Street
East Point, I swerve, Campbelton Rd, Southside
Eight fify-five, jacket at bus top standin', sweatin' but, I ain't
Smilin
Outside it's twenty below fool I'm ridin' to the liquor store
Closed down,that's alright I go holla at this beeso I know
Who work at the Texaco Gas station, pacin' back down memory lane
Feelin' strange can't explain, so bare wit me please
Thru this green light I sees
That tramp that gave me herpes wreck, wham, crash, stumblin' jumps out
The ride empty the Glock fo', five, D.E.A.D
Woke up handcuffed inside Grady
Tagged with an I-U-D intoxicated una dank
I took two swiggs outts my deuce-deuce, old E
Now Stephen K-I-N-G had the story all wrong
Blood last five points, I'm gone
As individuals and as a people we are at war
But the majority of my side got they eyes open wide
But still don't recognize what we fighting fo
I guess that's what I'm writing for to try to shed some light
But we been in the darkness for so long, don't know right from wrong
Y'all scared to come near it, you ignore the voice
In your head when you hear it
The enemy is after yo' spirit but you think it's all in yo' mind
You'll find a lot of the reason we behind
Is because the system is designed to keep our third eyes blind
But not blind in the sense that our other two eyes can't see
You just end investing quality time in places you don't even need to be
We don't even know who we are, but the answer ain't far
Matter of fact its right up under our nose
But the system taught us to keep that book closed
See the reason why he gotta lie and deceive is so
That we won't act accordingly
To get the blessings we suppose to receive
Yeah it's true, Uncle Sam wants you to be a devil too
See, he's jealous because his skin is a curse but what's worse
Is if I put it in a verse y'all listen to some bullshit first
We ain't natural born killas, we are a spiritual people
God's chosen few
Think about the slave trade when they had boats with
Thousands of us on board
And we still was praising the Lord now you ready to die
Over a coat, a necklace round your throat, that's bullshit
Black people ya'll better realize, we losin, you better god damn fight and die
If you got to get yo' spirit and mind back and we got to do it together
Goodie Mob means, "The Good Die Mostly Over Bullshit"
You take away one "O" and it will let you know
"God is Every Man of Blackness"
The Lord has spoken thru me and the G-Mo-B!
The lyrics of Goodie Mob's "Fighting" is a commentary on the plight of black people in contemporary society. The song is a cry for freedom and liberation from the systemic oppression that has plagued the black community for centuries. The verses paint a picture of a society that is rife with drugs, crime, poverty, and disease. The first verse describes the physical effects of drug abuse, while the second speaks to the recurring nightmares and trauma suffered by people in poverty. The chorus emphasizes the importance of "fighting for your spirit and your mind" despite the obstacles.
The second verse addresses the way in which systemic oppression is designed to keep black people in a state of ignorance and fear. The singer argues that the education system and the media are tools used to miseducate and manipulate black people to remain submissive. He stresses the importance of self-knowledge and spiritual awakening to gain the freedom and justice that the black community deserves.
Overall, the song's message is one of empowerment and resistance against the societal and systemic barriers that black people face daily. It is a compelling and passionate commentary on the current state of affairs and an urgent call to action to dismantle the oppressive systems and regain dignity and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Put me in a serious situation hope I get another chance
To live life as I know
I hope I get another chance to live life as I know it and not be put in a serious situation
4:30 was the time, I'm feelin' a pain in my chest
I guess I smoke too much sess
It was 4:30 and I was feeling pain in my chest, maybe from smoking too much marijuana
Makin' a nigga mo' slow off the doe in Olympian bubblin' under who
Where's the crew thick mist in the trail
I'm feelin' pressure off the tess
Marijuana is making me slow and it's hard to find my way through the thick mist; I feel pressure from society
Spine advertising swine on Channel 2 when in the same breath
You tellin' me don't eat from that plate increasin' my blood
The media is hypocritical for advertising unhealthy food while simultaneously telling me not to eat it
Outbreaks on my skin don't blend with the way I want this thang to flow
If I can help the cause don't have to treat it with no tricks
My skin conditions are getting in the way and I want to help without resorting to tricks
You settin' me cancer on a stick, visualize destruction soon to come
Throwin' within this city we call Atlantis
Prayin' like a mantis everyday ain't good in the woods of Southwest
I stress in my rhymes fighting for yo' spirit and you mind!
Indulging in unhealthy habits is like setting myself up for cancer and destruction; I am fighting for people's spirit and mind
So what it be like my brother be catching gangrene
The water be brown in the morning in my sink
Who that in my eyes some Clampett eaten away by fungi
My brother is getting sick, the water in my sink is dirty, and my eyes have an infection
Another virus disease, at ease, quick to lead a strike against Haiti
When half your army in the bed with pains in their back
And behind their head
Witch doctors giving more Medicaid but ain't no aid
But these ain't tha same from 'Nam, didn't give a damn
Who only wanted Saddam now your hands numb
There are diseases spreading and people are not getting the help they need, even the military is affected, and the government doesn't care
Can't run old age before thirty
This what you wanted when you signed your (hand) 'cock on tha line
Fightin' for your spirit and your mind, service to my kind
I can't age quickly, I am fighting for my spirit and mind, serving my people
Seems like we're fighting for our spirit and mind
They got us fighting for our spirit and mind
Still fighting for our spirit and mind
We can't stop fighting for our spirit and mind
We are fighting for our spirit and mind, and we cannot stop
Multiple stab wounds sticin' thru in the ol' school Cutlass Supreme
Thirty-five cents to my name and that's fo' a blunt man
I have stab wounds, and only 35 cents to my name which isn't enough to buy anything but a blunt
The way thangs goin' today I might as well be dead, so dread
The voices on the radio got me steamed
Can't put a smile on my face cuz my pockets ain't straight
At least not the way I want 'em to be
I'm feeling so negative, the voices on the radio are pissing me off, and I can't even smile because I'm so broke.
Early as phuckk, eight fifty-one
Last night I barely got some Z's sleep uh
It's really early, and I didn't get much sleep last night
I can't ol' Burd in the next room havin' nightmares
It sound like wind blowin' when she weep, speak
I can't deal with my neighbor's nightmares; it sounds like the wind when she cries
I'm thinkin' about a ciggy I snatched
From the jaws of death, a sack of crumbled herb
Rollin' down Main Street
I am thinking about a cigarette I took, that it was so good I felt like I cheated death, and smoking herb while driving down Main Street
Eight fify-five, jacket at bus top standin', sweatin' but, I ain't
Smilin
Outside it's twenty below fool I'm ridin' to the liquor store
Closed down,that's alright I go holla at this beeso I know
Who work at the Texaco Gas station, pacin' back down memory lane
It's cold outside, and I'm feeling stressed while waiting at the bus stop; I go to the liquor store, but it's closed so I visit an old friend who works at a convenience store.
Can't explain, so bare wit me please
Thru this green light I sees
That tramp that gave me herpes wreck, wham, crash, stumblin' jumps out
The ride empty the Glock fo', five, D.E.A.D
Woke up handcuffed inside Grady
Tagged with an I-U-D intoxicated una dank
I can't explain what happened, but I see the person who gave me herpes then crash my car; I got arrested and woke up in the hospital
As individuals and as a people we are at war
But the majority of my side got they eyes open wide
But still don't recognize what we fighting fo
As people, we are at war, and many are aware of it, but still don't know what we're fighting for
I guess that's what I'm writing for to try to shed some light
But we been in the darkness for so long, don't know right from wrong
Y'all scared to come near it, you ignore the voice
In your head when you hear it
I am writing to try and help, but people are so used to the darkness that they don't know what's right or wrong; people are scared to acknowledge their inner voice
The enemy is after yo' spirit but you think it's all in yo' mind
You'll find a lot of the reason we behind
Is because the system is designed to keep our third eyes blind
The enemy attacks our spirit, but we think it's just in our head; we are behind in society because the system wants to keep us ignorant
But not blind in the sense that our other two eyes can't see
You just end investing quality time in places you don't even need to be
We aren't completely blind because our other senses can perceive, but we invest time in places that don't benefit us
We don't even know who we are, but the answer ain't far
Matter of fact its right up under our nose
But the system taught us to keep that book closed
We don't know who we are, but the answer is right in front of us; the system taught us to ignore it
See the reason why he gotta lie and deceive is so
That we won't act accordingly
To get the blessings we suppose to receive
The reason the system lies and deceives us is to prevent us from receiving blessings we deserve
Yeah it's true, Uncle Sam wants you to be a devil too
See, he's jealous because his skin is a curse but what's worse
Is if I put it in a verse y'all listen to some bullshit first
The government wants us to be evil too, and they hate themselves; however, people often ignore this message and focus on trivial things
We ain't natural born killas, we are a spiritual people
God's chosen few
Think about the slave trade when they had boats with
Thousands of us on board
And we still was praising the Lord now you ready to die
Over a coat, a necklace round your throat, that's bullshit
We are not born killers but are spiritual people; when we were slaves we still had faith, unlike now when we fight over material possessions
Black people ya'll better realize, we losin, you better god damn fight and die
If you got to get yo' spirit and mind back and we got to do it together
Goodie Mob means, The Good Die Mostly Over Bullshit"
You take away one 'O' and it will let you know "God is Every Man of Blackness"
The Lord has spoken thru me and the G-Mo-B!
Black people need to wake up, fight and die for their spirit and mind; Goodie Mob means that the good die because of trivial things. If one "O" is taken away, it spells "God". The Lord spoke through Goodie Mob.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN DAVIS, LEROY BARNETT, NICHOLAS COLGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind