Soul Food [PA]

Performer: Goodie Mob
Artist: Joi; Outkast
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Goodie Mob: Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, T-Mo, Big Gipp (vocals). Additional personnel: Cool Breeze, Dre, Big Boi, Rico Wade, EJ The Witch Doctor (vocals); Martin Terry (guitar, acoustic guitar); Colin Wolfe (guitar, bass); Tommy Martin (guitar); Marlene Rice (violin, viola, strings); Sir Dean Gant, Carlos Glover (keyboards); Preston Crump (bass); Organized Noize Productions (programming, sound effects); Mixzo (programming); Jon Marett, Christopher Boea (sound effects); The Family Tree, Joi, Brandon "Shug" Bennett, Sleepy Brown, 4.0, Roni (background vocals). Producers: Organized Noize Productions (tracks 1-8, 10-19); Mixzo, Organized Noize Productions (track 9). Engineers: Bernasky Wall, Tim Harrigan (track 1); Bernasky Wall, Carlos Glover (track 2); Jon Marett (tracks 3, 8, 14); Neal H. Pogue, Bernasky Wall, Tim Harrigan (track 4); Neal H. Pogue, Bernasky Wall (tracks 5, 12-13); Neal H. Pogue (tracks 6, 9); Bernasky Wall, Mark Lowe (track 7); Brian Frye, Bernasky Wall, Carlos Glover, Paul Diaz (track 10); Tim Harrigan (tracks 11, 19); Bernasky Wall (track 15); Carlos Glover (tracks 16, 18); Neal H. Pogue, Tim Harrigan (track 17). Personnel: Goodie Mob (background vocals); Cool Breeze, Cee-Lo (vocals, background vocals); Dr� , Khujo, Rick Wade, T-Mo, Big Boi, Big Gipp, C-Lo (vocals); Martin Terry (guitar, acoustic guitar); Colin Wolfe, Tommy Martin (guitar); Marlene Rice (violin, viola, strings); Dean Gant, Sir Gant, Carlos Glover (keyboards); Organized Noize (drums, keyboard programming, sound effects); Mixzo (drum programming); 4.0, Brandon Bennett, Joi Gilliam, Sleepy Brown, Family Tree (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Nealhpogue; Organized Noize; Bob Brockman. Recording information: Bosstown Recording Studio, Atlanta, GA; Curtom Recording Studio; Purple Dragon Recording Studio, Atlanta, GA. Photographer: Jim Porto. Unknown Contributor Role: Davett Singletary. Along with Outkast, Goodie Mob emerged as a leading light in the Atlanta, Georgia, hip-hop scene of the mid-1990s. While both groups would become major forces in Southern rap, Goodie Mob remained the more understated and straightforward of the two acts, with its social consciousness and sincerity garnering considerable respect. The ensemble's outstanding '95 debut, SOUL FOOD, opens with the beautifully melodic gospel number "Free," before launching into bold, poignant rhymes on tracks such as "Thought Process" and "Sesame Street." Lifted by Organized Noize's inventive production and joined briefly by Outkast's Dre and Big Boi, the four members of the Mob--Big Gipp, Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, and T-Mo--are all in top form on this outing, though it's already clear that Cee-Lo, with his deft flow and soulful singing, would become the breakout star. Though Goodie Mob produced two more albums before Cee-Lo's departure, the group would never top the vital, vibrant performances on this exceptional album. Along with Outkast, Goodie Mob emerged as a leading light in the Atlanta, Georgia, hip-hop scene of the mid-1990s. While both groups would become major forces in Southern rap, Goodie Mob remained the more understated and straightforward of the two acts, with its social consciousness and sincerity garnering considerable respect. The ensemble's outstanding '95 debut, SOUL FOOD, opens with the beautifully melodic gospel number "Free," before launching into bold, poignant rhymes on tracks such as "Thought Process" and "Sesame Street." Lifted by Organized Noize's inventive production and joined briefly by Outkast's Dre and Big Boi, the four members of the Mob--Big Gipp, Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, and T-Mo--are all in top form on this outing, though it's already clear that Cee-Lo, with his deft flow and soulful singing, would become the breakout star. Though Goodie Mob produced two more albums before Cee-Lo's departure, the group would never top the vital, vibrant performances on this exceptional album. Along with Outkast, Goodie Mob emerged as a leading light in the Atlanta, Georgia, hip-hop scene of the mid-1990s. While both groups would become major forces in Southern rap, Goodie Mob remained the more understated and straightforward of the two acts, with its social consciousness and sincerity garnering considerable respect. The ensemble's outstanding '95 debut, SOUL FOOD, opens with the beautifully melodic gospel number "Free," before launching into bold, poignant rhymes on tracks such as "Thought Process" and "Sesame Street." Lifted by Organized Noize's inventive production and joined briefly by Outkast's Dre and Big Boi, the four members of the Mob--Big Gipp, Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, and T-Mo--are all in top form on this outing, though it's already clear that Cee-Lo, with his deft flow and soulful singing, would become the breakout star. Though Goodie Mob produced two more albums before Cee-Lo's departure, the group would never top the vital, vibrant performances on this exceptional album. Over the years, Southern rap has come to be associated mostly with hit-factory labels like No Limit and Cash Money, or in its early days Miami bass music. In general, it's never been afforded much critical respect, but that started to change in the '90s, when Atlanta established itself as the home of intelligent, progressive Southern hip-hop. Despite some excellent predecessors, Goodie Mob's debut album, Soul Food, is arguably the city's first true classic, building on the social conscience of Arrested Development and the street smarts and distinctive production of OutKast. In fact, the production team behind the latter's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, Organized Noize, is also present here, and really hit their stride with a groundbreaking signature sound that reimagines a multitude of Southern musical traditions. Soul Food is built on spare, funky drum programs, Southern-fried guitar picking in the Stax/Volt vein, occasional stabs of blues harmonica, and strong gospel overtones in the piano licks and meditative keyboards. There's an even stronger spiritual flavor in the group's lyrics, based on a conviction that religion has been the saving grace of African-American culture as it's endured centuries of oppression. The album even opens with lead rapper Cee-Lo singing an original spiritual called "Free." Goodie Mob is firmly grounded in reality, though -- they rail against a system stacked against poverty-stricken blacks, and are more than willing to defend themselves in a harsh environment, as on the gritty street tales "Dirty South," the eerie single "Cell Therapy," and "The Coming." The meat of the album, however, lies in its more reflective moments: the philosophical "Thought Process"; "Sesame Street," a reminiscence on growing up poor and black; "Guess Who," one of hip-hop's greatest mama tributes ever; and the warm title track, which is about exactly what it says. If soul food was aptly named for its spiritual nourishment, the same is true of this underappreciated gem. ~ Steve Huey

Rap Pages (12/95, p.27) - 9 (out of 10) - "...The insight and methods these four employ sets them apart from the rest of the flock. Their ability to look beyond the quick cash, murder-murder-murder-kill-kill-kill scheme of things is a bonus..." NME (Magazine) (5/4/96, p.59) - 7 (out of 10) - "...a sample-free, collective hip-hop based on played and programmed instruments, that nods at funk and southern soul, yet ultimately exists as a backdrop for the four main raw and untutored voices..."

Atlanta-based rap group Goodie Mob (whose name means "The Good Die Mostly Over Bull") were among the first to emerge from Atlanta, Georgia's fertile hip-hop scene. Combining hip-hop with soul music, poetry, and a more organic, less commercial brand of lyricism, Goodie Mob have been trying to recreate the critical success of their debut SOUL FOOD since its 1995 release.

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