Goodie Mob On NPR: Not As Goodie As You Might Expect Posted by Lucas Garrison on 08/20/13 | Filed under Streams, Goodie Mob, NPR

I think either Nathan or I have mentioned before how incredible NPR is. For a radio station that does just about everything, they manage to do it all so well; this includes music. You might think hip-hop would get overlooked as NPR’s target demographic probably isn’t too big into rap, but NPR has done interviews and first listens with the likes of Rapsody, K.R.I.T, Prodigy, Statik Selektah, and J. Cole just to name a few.

Well, add Goodie Mob to list of impressive NPR subjects, as they were recently part of the “Microphone Check” series. The series, hosted by Frannie Kelly and Ali Saheed Muhammad is always an enjoyable listen as you get to hear from the artists first hand and check out some of their new and old music while you are at it. I was especially excited for the Goodie Mob edition because I didn’t even know a new album was in the works. Overall the interview is interesting, but I have to say, there were a few things said by Cee-Lo and his crew that didn’t sit right with me.

Considering they have been in the game since the 90’s, Goodie Mob has knowledge and understanding of the game that is a joy to get some insight to. However, like Daryl “D.M.C” McDaniels. Goodie Mob’s age seems to have them, too, sounding like grumpy old men who are mad at the new generation of rappers because they aren’t just like them.

GIPP: These kids, it's more followers out here — no leaders. Where the leaders? No leaders — as soon as a trend or soon as these kids see something on TV — our thing when we grew up, soon as we saw something new we were looking to start something else new. These kids look — whatever people do, every night on the Internet and instantly bite it. That was Rule #1 in our hip-hop book. No Biting. But since it's no rules anymore, like brother say, it's anarchy.

CEE-LO: Like 30 bars, for free, on a mixtape — to get hot. Then you get the major deal off of the acknowledgement of a talent, but we have lost the art of song structure and conceptualizing complete thoughts as far as albums — long play, events, epic sagas, you feel me?...Why can't we be imaginative? We're willing to take some risks. 18 songs on a album — all 18 ain't got to be a club banger — s—-. Are you in the club that long?

This section sort of put a damper on an otherwise interesting interview. Its frustrating for me to see greats like Goodie Mob, who, with NPR, have the chance to show people who don’t know much (if anything) about hip-hop that there is more to the art, but instead, they hop on the same tired diatribe about how the new generation has lost its way and are “followers” and carbon-copies who only make club bangers. It is disappointing because I thought Cee-Lo (who in the interview, claims to be a hip-hop head) and the rest of Goodie Mob, might be more in touch with the underground community, but I guess I was just projecting my hops on to them. Granted there are plenty of artists who only make club songs, but there are so many artists, both underground (and breaking into the mainstream), who do so much more and it’s a shame to see some legends in the game scoff at hip-hop today because it isn’t the same as the 90’s.

Right off the bat, after Cee-Lo said “we have lost the art of song structure and conceptualizing complete thoughts as far as albums — long play, events, epic sagas, you feel me,” two albums came to mind. First, Kanye’s "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", an album I have recently grown to appreciate and enjoy much more than I initially did. The album is so intricate, luxurious, and cinematic and, while it does have the materialistic/excess aspects, Kanye really wrestles with those things more so than just saying “look how much money I have.”

The other album I thought of, which, I think is the stronger one against Cee-Lo’s claims is Kendrick’s "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City". This album is exactly what Cee-Lo says is a lost art. The whole thing is one big story or “epic saga” and its success really shows people are hungry for a more authentic rich listening experience. Oh and if you don’t think Kendrick Lamar is a leader than I don’t know what a leader is. The success of these two albums is proof that not all music that is popular is crappy and its a shame to see Cee-Lo (who is no stranger to the radio) clump these types of albums in with the radio-friendly genre.

Anyway, I could go on listing artists who you and I both know don’t make empty, club songs and are most definitely not “followers” but since I highly doubt they will see this there isn’t a point. I’m sure Goodie (and McDaniels) think they are doing some service to the game by denouncing the new generation, but they are only setting it back. You would think these legends would have better understanding of the industry, both mainstream and underground, but it looks like they only focus on what’s playing on the radio. When they share kind of narrow-minded view point—especially to a source like NPR, where the demographic isn’t exactly a your average hip-hop head—it really hurts the artists who are different and trying to make music of significance. If people hear someone in the industry criticize it so heavily, do you think they are going to give artists like Kendrick or K.R.I.T a fair shot? They will only dismiss them like Goodie Mob is doing. If they really want hip-hop to change, they should be doing all they can to show people that there are artists like them, who are making complex authentic music and are equally deserving of the average NPR listeners time and money. By the way their single off the forthcoming album, "I'm Set" has some pretty generic lines in it; just some food for thought.



Aside from that one part, it was a really interesting listen. Goodie Mob is so unique and different and after hearing them speak, you really get a sense that it is who they are. They might be a little out there but it is what makes them so special. By the way, their new album, Age Against the Machine, is set to drop on the 27th - again, click here for the stream - so definitely keep an eye out for that. Their opinions on hip-hop might not be refreshing, but their music always is.

See Also:  Goodie Mob Proclaim “I’m Set” On Yet Another Rare Release From The Group (Listen & Download)
See Also:  Run-DMC Founder Thinks All New Hip-Hop is Wack, Is Completely Wrong