You realize that something like Gnarls cannot be pretended? At a time when our culture and community is deteriorating people are seeking refuge in other means of music. [And] so there I am again, out trying to create a place for us as black artists. I’m on my hands and knees paving a two-way street to come to and fro as I wish. This wasn’t a one-way road out of there [for me].

DX: And you mentioned earlier you’re gonna be coming full circle with the new Goodie Mob project. You guys made the formal reunion announcement over a year-and-a-half ago, and you made an appearance on Ali & Gipp’s album last year, but still no new Goodie Mob material has surfaced yet, how come?
Cee-Lo: The Goodie Mob situation does not have a label home as we speak. A few people have inquired, but still no respectable deal or offer [has been presented]. Quite honestly, Goodie Mob was and is still expected to be a threat to [the] establishment. And you have to have that type of sentiment in common to endorse it [as a company]. It just does not ring [of] commodity or being sold.  

DX: Well shit, it’s [really] gonna be a problem [for y’all] if Hillary Clinton gets the [Democratic] nomination, ‘cause I remember y’all went at Billy when it was not the cool thing to do. I still remember that and respecting that. [Y’all were] one of the few Hip Hop acts to do that in the ‘90s.
Cee-Lo: Oh yeah, definitely. That [fear of the group’s content] is a real thing. And so our revolution may end up having to be independently funded.

DX: Can [your label] Radiculture just put it out?
Cee-Lo: Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying. But I couldn’t just put it out because I’m also a member of the group, [and I’m bound] exclusively to the Gnarls situation and the solo situation that I have at Atlantic. And speaking of Radiculture, our [label’s contractual] situation is up as well. It’s an imprint again.

DX: Have you guys recorded [together again] yet, or are you waiting to get the label situation finalized?
Cee-Lo: We’ve done a few songs [already]. But everybody [has] to maintain in the meantime. Like, me and [Big] Gipp are actually in [Atlanta] as we speak. I was just with Gipp the other day. And T [Mo] was out of town doing a run. So everybody’s got their own work going on. But the bigger picture is to get [us] all back together [on one album]. And I will try not to be stretched so thin at the time [that we do]. But I do have a [pre-existing] itinerary as well that’s gonna keep me moving all the way until October. We haven’t even toured for the new Gnarls record yet. I want to maintain the optimism about it all though, ‘cause it is my intention [to record a new Goodie Mob album]. We’re just gonna have to work out a lot of the politics and logistics.

DX: How much Organized Noize involvement [in the album] do you think there’s gonna be?
Cee-Lo: Believe me, everybody wants to get involved. So the O.G.’s will definitely be involved.

DX: So you can do that Dre vs. Lo thing on the album.
Cee-Lo: [Laughs] I’m not messing with you on that, man.

DX: I’m not trying to get you to talk shit. Honestly, I’d love to hear that, on some “Meth vs. Chef” type shit.
Cee-Lo: I would do it! Dungeon, I consider us to be the Wu of the south. I miss them too. I just spoke to Raekwon recently. I’m a big fan of them as well. I woulda never known that Ghostface would go on to become one of my favorite emcees.

DX: While we’re talking about Goodie Mob, did the rest of the guys ever tell you their thoughts on “Glockapella”?
Cee-Lo: I talked to Khujo once [about it] and he said, “I like it. It’s hard!” Then one day T-Mo told me it shocked him but was pleasing in a kind of ironic way ‘cause he said that he thought I could care less [about the group split]. When I wasn’t addressing anything directly [initially after the split] he just thought I had gotten my royalties and [was] sitting somewhere like, “Man, fuck it. I don’t even care.” But to know that I was hurting behind it, it pleased him in that way like, “Damn, he care enough to get mad about it.”

DX: I don’t wanna revisit ancient history, but was this shit really all over World Party not being up to snuff, or was it ‘cause you and Gipp were buttin’ heads, or did you just really want to start your solo career? What was the real catalyst for the split eight or so years ago?
Cee-Lo: It was really about the direction [the recording of 1999’s World Party] was taking them creatively. And I just thought [if] the overall dissension  amongst us was evidence of nothing it was time for me to make a move. I was starting to become a little claustrophobic as well, and feeling very unfulfilled. I’m like, “If this is where we’re going…” Like, it almost scared me if it did [succeed]. Although I knew it wasn’t gonna work, but [I was] almost like, “Damn, what if it does work? Will this be what we end up doing?” I didn’t like the thought of that. We talked about it, but at the time it was just do or die and it seemed like everybody else was more convinced about the record than I was. It just didn’t make for unity.   Continued on page 3 »