Following the trail
of Geto Boys and the like, the legendary Goodie Mob has reunited to release an
album featuring all four original members, according to once departed Goodie Mob
colleague Big Gipp.
“All four of us are back in contact,” Gipp told AllHipHop.com.
Goodie Mob’s breakup three years ago spurred reports that founding members
– Cee-Lo, Khujo, T-Mo, and Gipp – conflicted as Atlanta made room
for the duo OutKast.
But comparing the squad’s split to that of the Geto Boys, who also divided
and are now back together, Gipp insisted that members of the Mob departed due
to separate solo aspirations.
never really was [any] animosity,” said Gipp. “It’s just,
when people grow up and grow in different directions, sometimes you run into
times when you’ve got to do things on your own.”
Two years ago, as the Goodie Mob was announcing their greatest
hits collection, Dirty Soul Classics, however, Cee-Lo explained that
he couldn’t foresee a reunion.
“We ain’t never gonna get back together,” Cee-Lo told AllHipHop.com
at the time. “There was hope at one time, but they done been so slanderous
and disrespectful. You know, they attempting to do an album without me [One
Monkey Don’t Stop No Show].”
Cee-Lo was the first to part ways, releasing his debut solo
album, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, in 2002, then Cee-Lo
Green is the Soul Machine in March 2004. The remaining three Goodie Mob
MCs released One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show in June 2004.
Gipp, who left the group afterward, has plans to release a collaboration
album titled Kinfolk with St. Lunatics member Ali.
Goodie Mob is often noted for pioneering southern rap on a major scale, at a
time when the East and West Coasts dominated the rap scene. The Atlanta group
released their first album, Soul Food, in 1995.
The scheduled release date of the Goodie Mob reunion LP has
not been announced.
Last month, remaining
members Khujo Goodie and T-Mo Goodie released Livin’ Life Like Lumberjacks
under their new moniker The Lumberjacks, featuring production from Organized
Noize, Goodie Mob, Coolbreeze and other Dungeon Family artists.
Gipp also makes an appearance on the album.