"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.
The Day After
Goodie Mob Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew one day we would
All these years of strugglin'
Were never understood
Now my eyes are open and I can clearly see
We didn't die for nothin' cuz we're finally free
My Grand be gone after a 103 years of blood sweat and pain
The last words that the nurse heard was the song she sang
Died tired of this living thing
Most I knew never made it to drinking age
Sometimes I fight Gipp
Should I spend or should I hold on for what tomorrow brings
Fly ain't that roll egg, so many lips in my head
Seeing some act up from one taste out the cup
Can't build me up to cut me down
Gipp is in your game, but Gipp won't play your game
In the day after
I been this way since birth
Heaven upon sent a newborn to tell it like he see it
No lies thru the eyes of an angel suggest you don't tango
Every angle be obtuse, ain't no truce, it's war
It won't stop, to compromise wouldn't stop the bloodsheddin'
It's Armageddon in the streets of each inner city
Ain't takin' no pity on this unjust callin' it trust
I'm on the bus starin' out of a window
Thankin' 'bout them happy days I had
Over the summer growin' up fast to face life and harsh realities
That come wit the territory didn't know when I was young
So many get hung to hang
Take away the bad and bring back
The good that die mostly over bullshit
Takin' a gun and pulled it on an innocent friend of mine
That could have been yours
How can I stop the war and all the crime inside the minds that's
Programmed to destroy
From the beginning when will it end
On the day after judgement
I'm so happy we made it
I knew one day we would
All these years of strugglin'
Were never understood
Now my eyes are open and I can clearly see
We didn't die for nothin' cuz we're finally free
I'm so happy
Meant I'd be spoiled rotten
A fin here a fin there but receipts please
For my feet I need a new pair of hi rollin'
But the car ain't stolen
Pistol still smokin' from herndon homin' in on somebody
Gotta pay for restitution with heavily on my mind
Free from mental debris hose me down
There my physical frame lay returnin' to its rightful place
A quest for forgiveness answer
The death toll talley but my soul was spared
How is your prepared medium rare if you dare disobey
Well done race you the last one to orion star
Smellin' like shit in a glass jar
The bomb light years away from earth secure a space for my family
The mother of my first conceived and all the weak relatives
I hurt only when I laugh ha-ha
On display afta judge none careless atmosphere
Opportunity knockin' answer it knewin you would
Good thangs come to those dat wait
Took a loss on church strait
The nifty fifth whut better place
Fo' mo enenmy to hide than behind religion
Done gee seen on I pray for you but I won't follow you to yo end
I know of a place not too far away
That maybe you and I can both go someday
But I gotta make sure cause I ain't tryin' to stay here
Don't y'all realize that the end is so near
But don't have fear cause you still got time
I hope you wanna come when I'm done with the rhyme
Let me explain so you won't claim you didn't know
And you can make sure that this is where you wanna go
It's all about preparing yourself for the return
And a trip to your soul is the only way you'll learn
But if you choose not to go that ain't my concern
I guess in hell you'll just have to burn
The devil tell lies and try to trick yo soul to receive it
They tell you that my Lord ain't coming' back and you believe it
Regardless if you listen to me
In the end we'll see
I'm so happy we made it
I knew one day we would
All these years of strugglin'
Were never understood
Now my eyes are open and I can clearly see
We didn't die for nothin' cuz we're finally free
I'm so happy
The lyrics of Goodie Mob’s “The Day After” express a mix of emotions, including relief, contemplation, and concern. The song acknowledges the difficulty of life and its many injustices, with references to the deaths of loved ones and the challenges of growing up in inner-city environments. Despite this, the song ultimately conveys a sense of optimism and hope, with its refrain that “we’re finally free” suggesting that the struggles of the past have been overcome.
The first verse of the song specifically acknowledges the singer’s grandmother, who passed away at the age of 103 after a life of hardship. The final words she spoke were a song, and her grandson takes comfort in the fact that her struggle was not in vain. The second verse reflects on the singer’s own life, from his birth to the current moment. He reflects on the injustices he has seen and experienced, such as senseless violence and the systemic oppression that plagues inner cities. Despite this, he maintains that he is on a quest for forgiveness and urges listeners to prepare themselves for the return of the Lord.
The third and final verse has a more esoteric feel, with references to outer space, religious institutions, and the devil. The singer expresses a desire to escape the earth and to secure a place for his loved ones, recognizing that the end of the world may be near. He warns listeners not to be deceived by the devil’s lies and encourages them to prepare themselves for the return of the Lord. Overall, “The Day After” is a complex and thought-provoking song, blending introspection with social commentary and a sense of hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so happy we made it
The singer is glad they have reached a successful point in their life
I knew one day we would
The singer had faith that they would ultimately overcome any hardships they faced
All these years of strugglin'
The singer faced many challenges throughout their journey
Were never understood
Others did not fully comprehend the struggles the artist faced
Now my eyes are open and I can clearly see
The artist has gained a new perspective on their life
We didn't die for nothin' cuz we're finally free
The singer's hardships were not in vain, they have achieved freedom
My Grand be gone after a 103 years of blood sweat and pain
The singer's grandparent passed away after living a long, difficult life
And never complained
Despite the challenges faced, the grandparent did not express discontent
The last words that the nurse heard was the song she sang
The artist's grandparent passed away while singing a song to their nurse
Died tired of this living thing
The grandparent was ready for the afterlife
Most I knew never made it to drinking age
Many people the singer knew died before they reached adulthood
Sometimes I fight Gipp
The artist and Gipp have disagreements
Should I spend or should I hold on for what tomorrow brings
The singer is contemplating whether to spend their money or save it for the future
Fly ain't that roll egg, so many lips in my head
The singer has thoughts racing through their mind
Seeing some act up from one taste out the cup
The singer observes people behaving recklessly after consuming a drink
Can't build me up to cut me down
Others cannot raise the artist's spirits only to let them down
Gipp is in your game, but Gipp won't play your game
Gipp is involved in someone's situation, but will not conform to their expectations
In the day after
In the time after judgement day
I been this way since birth
The singer has always been this way
Heaven upon sent a newborn to tell it like he see it
The artist believes they were sent from heaven to tell the truth
No lies thru the eyes of an angel suggest you don't tango
The artist advises against lying as they can see the truth like an angel
Every angle be obtuse, ain't no truce, it's war
There is no peaceful solution to the current situation
It won't stop, to compromise wouldn't stop the bloodsheddin'
Even a compromise will not end the violence
It's Armageddon in the streets of each inner city
There is chaos and destruction in every inner city
Ain't takin' no pity on this unjust callin' it trust
The singer has no sympathy for this unfair situation and regards it as misplaced trust
I'm on the bus starin' out of a window
The singer is lost in thought while on a bus
Thankin' 'bout them happy days I had
The singer reflects on past happy memories
Over the summer growin' up fast to face life and harsh realities
The artist grew up quickly and faced the harsh realities of life
That come wit the territory didn't know when I was young
The artist did not fully understand what would come with growing up
So many get hung to hang
Many people are killed by hanging
Take away the bad and bring back
The singer desires to eliminate the negativity and replace it with positivity
The good that die mostly over bullshit
Many good people die over meaningless things
Takin' a gun and pulled it on an innocent friend of mine
An innocent friend of the artist had a gun pulled on them
That could have been yours
The situation could have happened to anyone
How can I stop the war and all the crime inside the minds that's Programmed to destroy
The singer ponders on how to end the war and stop the criminal tendencies of those who seem programmed to destroy
From the beginning when will it end
The artist questions when the conflict and violence will come to an end
On the day after judgement
After judgement day
Meant I'd be spoiled rotten
The singer expected to be spoiled
A fin here a fin there but receipts please
The singer requests receipts for small monetary transactions
For my feet I need a new pair of hi rollin'
The artist desires a new pair of expensive shoes
But the car ain't stolen
The artist's car is not stolen
Pistol still smokin' from herndon homin' in on somebody
Someone fired a gun and the bullets are still smoking
Gotta pay for restitution with heavily on my mind
The singer worries about the financial consequences of their actions
Free from mental debris hose me down
The artist desires to be rid of their mental burdens
There my physical frame lay returnin' to its rightful place
The artist's body will be returned to its proper location after death
A quest for forgiveness answer
The artist is searching for forgiveness
The death toll talley but my soul was spared
Many people died, but the singer's soul was saved
How is your prepared medium rare if you dare disobey
The artist warns that one must be prepared or risk consequences
Well done race you the last one to orion star
The human race has achieved many things, but they still have a long way to go
Smellin' like shit in a glass jar
The singer is not having a good day
The bomb light years away from earth secure a space for my family
The singer envisions securing a safe environment for their family in the future
The mother of my first conceived and all the weak relatives
The artist wants to protect their loved ones
I hurt only when I laugh ha-ha
The artist only experiences pain when they laugh
On display afta judge none careless atmosphere
After judgement day, there will be no more carelessness
Opportunity knockin' answer it knewin you would
The singer urges the listener to seize opportunities when they arise
Good thangs come to those dat wait
Patience will lead to positive results
Took a loss on church strait
The artist experienced a loss due to attending church
The nifty fifth whut better place
The artist believes in the afterlife
Fo' mo enenmy to hide than behind religion
Religion is often used as a cover for wrongdoing
Done gee seen on I pray for you but I won't follow you to yo end
The artist will not blindly follow someone to their death, but they will pray for them
I know of a place not too far away
The singer knows of a place that is within reach
That maybe you and I can both go someday
The singer hopes to visit this place with someone else
But I gotta make sure cause I ain't tryin' to stay here
The singer does not want to remain in their current situation and needs to be certain of the details of the place they wish to visit
Don't y'all realize that the end is so near
The artist believes that the end of the world is approaching
But don't have fear cause you still got time
The artist reassures the listener that there is still time before the end
I hope you wanna come when I'm done with the rhyme
The singer wants the listener to join them on their journey
Let me explain so you won't claim you didn't know
The singer wants to make sure the listener understands the situation
And you can make sure that this is where you wanna go
The artist wants the listener to be certain they choose to go to this place
It's all about preparing yourself for the return
The artist believes that one needs to prepare for when the Lord returns
And a trip to your soul is the only way you'll learn
The artist believes that one can only learn by exploring their soul
But if you choose not to go that ain't my concern
The singer will not pressure the listener into joining them
I guess in hell you'll just have to burn
If one does not prepare for the Lord's return, they will burn in hell
The devil tell lies and try to trick yo soul to receive it
The singer warns that the devil will try to deceive one's soul
They tell you that my Lord ain't coming' back and you believe it
The devil tries to make people believe that the Lord is not coming back
Regardless if you listen to me
Even if the listener does not heed the singer's words
In the end we'll see
The artist believes that the final result will ultimately reveal the truth
I'm so happy
The artist is joyful
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CAMERON F. GIPP, PATRICK L. BROWN, RAYMON AMEER MURRAY, RICO RENARD WADE, ROBERT TERRANCE BARNETT, THOMAS DECARLO BURTON, WILLIE EDWARD KNIGHTON
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