Cee-Lo Interview
By Black Dog Bone
From Murder Dog Vol. 9# 2
How did you become this Cee-Lo now, who is perfectly imperfect? Tell me the transition you made from day one in the music business to now.
I guess they are transitions, but they are more or less an evolution process. A metamorphosis that seems quite natural. As an artist I think that it’s a crime to the canvas to paint the same picture over and over, so that keeps me aspiring for more, to new heights, even something simple as that. And then you know, fatherhood and being a husband, head of the household, all these different things takes a toll in shaping and molding your perspective and your priority. It just depends.
I’ve been having conversations with a lot of people about the evolution of Hip Hop and what is the next thing coming. What’s your take on that?
Honestly, I can’t even argue in Hip Hop’s defense that we’re even at the pinnacle of what we’re capable of. And I speak collectively. I’m not sure what Hip Hop intends on doing. I use myself as a catalyst and an example of what is possible because like I’m Hip Hop, and hopefully my peers—who are more I guess directly associated with what, cause I’m probably considered a little bit more broad than standard Hip Hop—maybe ultimately they’ll look at me as one of their peers that’s setting sail into some uncharted territory, become inspired and empowered by that act of individualism and wish to navigate toward some new stuff. Just try, like fearless and be daring. Attempt. Experiment.
Do you think there will be more revolutionary-type groups, like how Goodie Mob was, or Public Enemy?
I don’t know if there’ll be any more revolutionary groups. You know, Dead Prez is talking a lotta revolution. Their approach seems genuine to me. But then again, when you think about it, a lot of your cause, when you speak in terms of revolution, is directed at a certain party in the fault of something being the way it is. Sometimes you gotta master the act of being in the system and not of it. Make those very people that oppress you fund your revolution. My album is still revolutionary to me. It’s not as abrasive as Goodie Mob, cause I’ve just moved up in ranking, like I’m no longer infantry. I’ve moved up to a general or a corporal status. I can’t survive at that position if my strategy is to get my soldiers killed. I’m not tellin’ my soldiers to be reckless, to get out there and die about anything.
Tell me how you came up with the concept of the album. Was it something you had been working on or was it a sudden inspiration?
There was nothing overnight about that album. I’ve been planning this album, I mean, it’s taken a lifetime to create this particular album. It’s just the beginning. This is just my first solo album. It’s just the beginning. I’ve plotted and planned and strategized, but also allowed a great degree of it to remain organic and impulsive and spontaneous.
So you definitely plan on making more solo albums?
Yep. I intend on making a whole lotta music. There’ll be other Dungeon Family albums. When I get home I’m supposed to get back to work with OutKast on their new album; of course Goodie Mob is gonna come back again. The status on that is indefinite, like right now, because Gipp is about to do a solo album and I don’t know. We aren’t broken up or anything.
What do you think about the rise of the South in the rap world?
It’s cool. I think it’s cool, just as long as the artists don’t become complacent and allow the accolades make the quality suffer. I don’t trust an abrupt embracement, like it’s been a long time coming. Now it’s more or less a handshake and we lookin’ eye to eye. You know how they take whoever caught the winning pass at the end of the game and put him on their shoulders? Don’t do me like that just yet, you know what I’m sayin? I’m still provin’.
