CEE-LO

'Cee-Lo Green' is the stage name of 'Thomas DeCarlo Callaway' (born May 30, 1974), an American hip hop, funk, soul, and R&B musician. He is a singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a member of Goodie Mob and more recently Gnarls Barkley, and has also recorded two critically acclaimed solo LPs. Among Cee-Lo's solo hits are the singles "Closet Freak" (2002) and "I'll Be Around" (2003), produced by and featuring Timbaland.

Contents

Background

Family

Technique

Collaborations

Projects

Goodie Mob

Solo career

Gnarls Barkley

Cee-Lo & Jazze Pha

Love Stink

Trivia

Discography

Goodie Mob

Solo

Cee-Lo & Jazze Pha

Dungeon Family

Gnarls Barkley

Love Stink

Featured-On Songography

Featured-On Songography (Background Vocals)

Other (Writing, Producing, etc.)

References

External links

Background

Born in 1974 Georgia, Cee-Lo is one of a number of artists to successfully record as both a rapper and singer or general vocalist. He started his music career in his church. He's delved artistically into drawing, dancing, DJing, and fashion throughout his life, not wanting to be narrowly defined as an artist.

Family

His daughter, Sierra, was on an episode of MTV's ''My Super Sweet 16''. His son, Kingston, is featured on the intro of ''Cee-Lo Green... is the Soul Machine''.
Sierra is his stepdaughter; the daughter of his former wife Christina Johnson. Kingston is his only biological child.
Cee-Lo's mother was involved in a car crash leaving her quadriplegic. She died two years later sending him into a deep depression, as reflected in several songs on ''St. Elsewhere''.^[1]

Technique

While prominently billed as a rapper, Cee-Lo is also sometimes classified as either a gospel or faux-gospel singer. His latest album, the Gnarls Barkley project, featured him singing entire songs with only a few rap verses on any of the tracks, and he frequently sings hooks for other artists.
While rapping, Cee-Lo is very straightforward in his speech and can be ferocious in delivery, or soft and melodic as the song warrants. Structure is a big part of his style, and a moral or spiritual message is often present in his rhyme. Cee-Lo has also dabbled in "scat" rap flows on the song "Childz Play" featuring Ludacris and spoken word on "I Am Selling Soul".
When performing live, Cee-lo is known to hold the microphone similar to how one would hold a pen while writing.

Collaborations

He has appeared as a featured singing vocalist on songs by artists such as De La Soul, Kelis, Everlast, Common, Carlos Santana, Royce Da 5'9", Twista, OutKast, Rehab, Seeed, Black Eyed Peas, Danger Mouse & MF Doom, Musiq, Cunninlynguists, Diddy, Mad Skillz, Lil Kim, Erykah Badu and Trick Daddy, and sings background vocals on labelmates TLC's hit single "Waterfalls". He also collaborated with Trick Daddy and Lil' Kim on the smash 2005 song, Sugar (Gimme Some).
His successes as a songwriter and producer include the 2005 hit single "Don't Cha", originally recorded by Tori Alamaze, and then by The Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes.
Cee-Lo recently produced a track on Kelis' fourth album, ''Kelis Was Here''. The track is called "Lil' Star" and Cee-Lo is also a featured vocalist, singing the hook. He appears as a star formation in the video for Lil Star.
Cee-Lo has also produced a track called "Take Control" for Amerie's new CD ''Because I Love It'', where Cee-Lo sings background in the chorus, and which is the lead single of the album.
Cee-Lo will make an appearance on T-Pain's third single from ''Epiphany'', entitled "Church". The song also features Akon and Shawnna.

Projects

Goodie Mob

Main articles: Goodie Mob

Along with Big Gipp, T-Mo, and Khujo, Cee-Lo was an original member of the Atlanta hip hop group Goodie Mob. He is the youngest of the four. When commenting about his role in the group's collective sound, he likened his influence to water:
:''"I provide depth in my rhymes, but not too much depth to where you can't swim. Sometimes all you know about is what you don't know. It's intriguing. Large volumes of water can be intimidating, so if you go deeper, you don't know what to expect. I have the will to go deeper, to seek knowledge. Knowledge is not coincidental, it's given to you."''
Cee-Lo was featured in the following Goodie Mob albums before pursuing a solo career:

★ ''Soul Food''

★ ''Still Standing''

★ ''World Party''
During making of the album ''World Party'', Cee-Lo left the group to pursue a solo career under Arista and the remaining members continued to perform together under the Goodie Mob name with Koch Records. They did however collaborate in combinations in the Dungeon Family album ''Even in Darkness''. Although the next Goodie Mob album seemed to mock Cee-Lo with its title, ''One Monkey Don't Stop No Show'', the group expressed that it was more of a jab at Arista and the music industry as a whole.
In 2005, Cee-Lo and Big Gipp were both noted in interviews as saying the entire group is back on good terms and that they have been in the studio working on a new Goodie Mob album. No title or release date have been given for the new project. The song "Hold On" from Big Boi of OutKast's Got Purp? Vol 2 album was the first newly recorded Goodie Mob song with all four members since ''World Party''. (Khujo later revealed to fans at an album signing for his new album "Mercury", that the song "Hold On" was originally recorded in 1995 before Soul Food was released.)

Solo career

Cee-Lo's Arista career was short-lived, as he was dropped after only two albums due to low record sales. His first album, ''Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections'', was heavily in the vein of various other Dungeon Family releases, with southern soul/funk/jazz backings produced solely by himself (except for the single "Closet Freak", produced by Timbaland) and boasting appearances by fellow Dungeon Fam members Big Gipp and Backbone.
The album explored his departure from Goodie Mob and his solo growth in the song "El Dorado Sunrise (Super Chicken)", as well as socio-political issues, and showcased his singing. The album did not sell very well, but Cee-Lo achieved some airplay with the single "Closet Freak".
His second Arista album, Cee-Lo Green... is the Soul Machine brought a more branched-out sound and more deeply explored southern rap music. This is evidenced by collaborations with Ludacris, T.I., and Pharrell and production from Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Jazze Pha among others. The only other Dungeon Family member that appeared on his second release was Big Rube.
This album saw Cee-Lo delve into other styles besides traditional rap (see Technique). Timbaland once again proved to be Cee-Lo's single producer as their song "I'll Be Around" received mild airplay. They performed the single on an episode in the second season of ''Chappelle's Show''. "The One" featuring Jazze Pha and T.I. was also released as a single.
On the heels of the success of Gnarls Barkley, Arista has decided to release a 19-track "Greatest Hits" collection of Cee-Lo songs. It features 15 Cee-Lo solo tracks, three Goodie Mob songs, and Cee-Lo's debut on the OutKast song "Git Up, Git Out". It's tentatively called ''.

Gnarls Barkley

Main articles: Gnarls Barkley

Along with DJ Danger Mouse (of ''The Grey Album'' fame), Cee-Lo is currently part of a collaboration called Gnarls Barkley, Cee-Lo's most acclaimed and best selling work of his career. They first met when Danger Mouse took second in a talent contest and opened for OutKast and Goodie Mob at a University of Georgia concert in 1998. Afterwards, Danger Mouse gave Cee-Lo an instrumental demo tape and told him to call him if he was interested. They never made contact again until Cee-Lo was contacted to be featured in a remix of the Danger Mouse and Jemini song "What U Sittin' On?" from the album ''Ghetto Pop Life''. They worked together again on the 2005 Danger Doom (Danger Mouse and MF Doom collaboration) album The Mouse and The Mask on the song "Benzi Box" where Cee-Lo sings the chorus.
Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo's first collaborative album, ''St. Elsewhere'', was released on April 24, 2006 in the United Kingdom and May 2, 2006 in the United States. ''St. Elsewhere'' entered the charts at #1 in the UK, as did the first single "Crazy". "Crazy" is the first single to go straight to #1 in the UK based on digital download sales alone. The album is Cee-Lo's greatest selling venture yet, currently having shipped over 1,000,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Cee-Lo & Jazze Pha

Cee-lo is collaborating with producer Jazze Pha to release an album called ''Happy Hour'' on Jazze’s record label. The songs "Happy Hour" (as well as the remix with Bun B, Snoop Dogg & Tone Tone), "Man of the Hour", and "Disco Bitch" (featuring The Pussycat Dolls) from the album have already been released as singles and B-sides. Jazze Pha has produced numerous hit singles with many artists, but this project is his rapping and singing debut. Cee-Lo is co-producing the album with him, so both artist and producer share equal roles in vocals and production.
Although previously shelved, the album is expected to be rescheduled for release after the success of ''St. Elsewhere'' by original label Columbia Records.

Love Stink

Formally named "The Heart Attack", Cee-Lo teamed up with Plantlife's Jack Splash to form this group. "The Heart Attack" project is due out later this year. Very little is known about this upcoming collaboration, but a CD sampler was packaged in some of the early copies of ''St. Elsewhere'' with '70s-influenced songs like "Gangsta Boogie" and "Right Now." "Gangsta Boogie" was recently released on the Disturbia soundtrack.

Trivia

★ Cee-Lo is extensively tattooed. Most of his tattoos are in non-English characters, but ''"R E V O L U T I O N"'' is spelled out stylistically in Old English font on his back (which can be seen on the back of his ''Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections'' CD case and in the ''Still Standing'' liner notes; under it, the Goodie Mob family tree from the cover of ''Still Standing'' is etched. "Trill", an Atlanta slang term, is written over his left ear. He references his numerous tattoos in a quick lyric from the song "Big Ole Words (Damn)" off of his ''Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections'' album saying, ''"[W]hat I believe within, I engrave it in my skin."''

★ His real name was given as Thomas Burton by journalists during the peak of Goodie Mob's popularity.

★ Cee-Lo, together with the Goodie Mob appears in the film Mystery Men as a member of the "Not-So Goodie Mob".

★ He was featured on MTV's ''Cribs'' with his former wife.

★ He is a fan of the 1984 comedy ''This is Spinal Tap'', and has quoted the catchphrase "Up to Eleven" in concerts.

★ Appeared on the cartoon show ''The Brak Show'', on Season 2's Episode 14 ("Brakstreet: Men In The Band"). He portrayed a nine mouthed rapper named "Prime Cut Miggity Mo Mack Daddy Jizza-Bang Doggie Dog Dog" who was in a rap competition. Each mouth sang a different vocal track.

★ Appeared as Godzilla in a parody of ''Training Day'' on an episode of ''Robot Chicken''. He also appeared as the "Tablesmasher" and a Dog Playing Poker.

Discography

Goodie Mob

★ ''Soul Food'' (1995)

★ ''Still Standing'' (1998)

★ ''World Party'' (1999)

★ ''Dirty South Classics'' (2003)

Solo

★ ''Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections'' (2002)

★ ''Cee-Lo Green... is the Soul Machine'' (2004)

★ '' (2006)

Cee-Lo & Jazze Pha

★ ''Happy Hour'' (Not Yet Released)

Dungeon Family

★ ''Even in Darkness'' (2001)

Gnarls Barkley

★ ''St. Elsewhere'' (2006)

Love Stink

★ ''Jack Splash & Cee-Lo Are The Heart Attack'' (Not Yet Released)

Featured-On Songography

★ By 'Common'

★
★ "A Song For Assata"

★
★ "Between Me, You, & Liberation"

★
★ "G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition)"

★
★ "Heaven Somewhere" with Omar, Bilal, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, and Lonnie "Pops" Lynn

★ By 'Danger Mouse'

★
★ "Benzie Box" by Danger Doom

★
★ "What U Sittin' On? (Remix)" by Danger Mouse & Jemini with Tha Alkaholiks

★ By 'Diddy'

★
★ "Everything I Love" with Nas

★
★ "Everything I Love (Remix)" with Nas and Jadakiss

★
★ "Reverse" with Shyne, G-Dep, Redman, Busta Rhymes and Sauce Money

★ By 'OutKast'

★
★ "Call Of Da Wild" with T-Mo and Khujo

★
★ "Git Up, Git Out" with Big Gipp

★
★ "In Due Time"

★
★ "Liberation" with Erykah Badu and Big Rube

★
★ "Reset" with Khujo

★
★ "Slum Beautiful"

★
★ "Speedballin'"

★
★ "Wailin'"

★ By 'Seeed'

★
★ "Aufstehn"

★
★ "Rise and Shine"

★ By 'Trick Daddy'

★
★ "In Da Wind" with Big Boi

★
★ "In Da Wind (Ride Out Mix)" with Big Boi

★
★ "Sugar (Gimme Some)" with Ludacris

★
★ "Sugar (Remix)" with Ludacris and Lil' Kim
Miscellaneous

★ "7th Floor/The Serengetti" by 'Witchdoctor'

★ "All I Know" by 'Field Mob' with T.I.

★ "Beautiful Fool" from 'Soundz of Spirit'

★ "Blackberry Molasses (Remix)" by 'Mista'

★ "Bragging Rights" by 'Bad Fathers'

★ "Caved In" by 'Cunninlynguists'

★ "Chuch" by 'Da Brat'

★ "Paid Dues" by 'Eightball & MJG'

★ "Do Something (Remix)" by 'Macy Gray'

★ "Do You Like The Way" by 'Carlos Santana' with Lauryn Hill

★ "Foxy Lady" by 'Power Of Soul - A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix'

★ "G.O.S.P.L.E" by 'Frank Real'

★ "Gone" by 'Esthero'

★ "Groundhogs Day" by 'Mayday'

★ "Groupie Sex" by 'Dave Ghetto'

★ "Held Down" by 'De La Soul'

★ "Hope" by 'Twista'

★ "I Told Ya" by 'Ali & Gipp' with Bun B

★ "Less Than an Hour" by 'Nas'

★ "I'm The Work" by 'Mr. Marcelo'

★ "Insp-Her-Ation" by 'Da Ranjahz'

★ "Like That" by 'The Black Eyed Peas' with John Legend, Q-Tip, and Talib Kweli

★ "Lil' Drummer Boy" by 'Lil' Kim' with Redman

★ "Lil' Star" by 'Kelis'

★ "Long Time Coming" by 'Jazze Pha'

★ "Lookin' At Us" by 'Black Rob'

★ "Lord Have Mercy" by 'Backbone' with Joi

★ "Momentinlife" by 'Musiq'

★ "My Time 2 Go" by 'P.A.'

★ "Organized Bass" by 'Kilo Ali'

★ "Ophidiophobia" from ''

★ "Playerz" from 'Ying Yang Twins' and 'Kurtis Blow'

★ "Politics" by 'Royce Da 5'9"'

★ "Quite Simply" by 'Tori Alamaze'

★ "Rap Star Status" by 'Big G.' with DJ Wil, Kool Ace, and Walla

★ "Sexual Chocolate" by ''

★ "Smilin' (You Caught Me)" by 'Sly & The Family Stone' with Big Boi, Scar and DJ Swiff

★ "Something Wrong" by 'Cognito' with B-Legit

★ "Storm Chaser" by 'Rehab' with Big Gipp

★ "Suzie Q" by 'Skillz' with Pharrell & Jazze Pha

★ "Take Control" by 'Amerie'

★ "The One (Part 2)" by 'Daz Dillinger' with T.I.

★ "Trapper's Delight" by 'Twista' with Jazze Pha

★ "U.N.I.T.Y." by 'Rahzel'

★ "Walk This Way" by 'P$C'

★ "We're All Gonna Die" by 'Everlast'

★ "What Is This?" by 'Scar'

★ "Where We Wanna" by 'C-Murder' with Goodie Mob

★ "You Know" by 'Heavy D'

Featured-On Songography (Background Vocals)

★ "Control" by 'Tori Alamaze'

★ "Curse On You" by 'Sleepy's Theme'

★ "Don't Cha" by 'Pussycat Dolls' with Busta Rhymes

★ "Pieces Of The People We Love" by 'The Rapture'

★ "Right Tonight" by 'Society of Soul'

★ "Waterfalls" by 'TLC'

Other (Writing, Producing, etc.)

★ "Don't Cha" by 'Pussycat Dolls' with Busta Rhymes (Produced)

★ "Like This" by 'Backbone' with Blvd. International & Oddball (Produced)

★ "Necessary" by 'Brandy' (Wrote)

★ "Take Control" by 'Amerie' (Co-Produced)

References

1. rollingstone.com
"The Acid Nerd Gangsters" (reprint of an interview originally published in ''Rolling Stone Magazine''), published August 9, 2006

External links

★ Official Jazze Pha & Cee-Lo website

★ Official Gnarls Barkley website

★ Crazy for Crazy Slate.com article about Gnarls Barkley