07th Aug 2010
Multi-talented and flamboyant, Cee-Lo initially made a name for himself and his trademark crooning as part of pioneering Dirty South rappers Goodie Mob before he broke away in the early 2000s for a colorful solo route. Along with fellow Atlanta rappers OutKast, Goodie Mob laid out the blueprint for the Dirty South style during the mid-’90s, making serious waves with their debut album, Soul Food(1995). Cee-Lo was an important member of the group, often singing the hooks to many of Goodie Mob‘s best songs (e.g., “Cell Therapy,” “Soul Food,” “Black Ice”). But the group didn’t last too long, and after a few releases over a five-year span, Cee-Lo split with Goodie Mob for a promising solo deal with Arista.
In 2006, Cee-Lo enjoyed his greatest success to date as half of Gnarls Barkley, a duo also featuring producer Danger Mouse. “Crazy,” the lead single from St. Elsewhere, the duo’s debut album, was an instant hit in the U.K. and steadily rose to the top of the charts in the U.S. by the end of the summer. The critical acclaim and commercial success of Gnarls Barkley awarded Cee-Lo the most attention he’d ever enjoyed in his career to date. Cee-Lo and DMfollowed it up with a second Gnarls Barkley album, The Odd Couple, in early 2008. A frequent collaborator, Cee-Lo also worked with producer Jazze Pha for Happy Hour, Jazze Pha‘s singing and rapping debut, with Cee-Lo co-producing and sharing vocals. In addition, Cee-Lo teamed up with PlantLife‘s Jack Splash for the Heart Attack project.
|
