The list of rappers who have changed hip-hop is a very short one. On that list you might see Jay-Z, Nas, and Biggie pop up. One MC who need not be forgotten is the legendary Cee-Lo. Taken with hip-hop from an early age, Cee-Lo’s first step towards rap greatness was as a founding member and also the youngest member of pioneering Atlanta group, the Goodie Mob.

After leaving the Goodie Mob, Cee-Lo went on to establish himself as a solo artist. His two solo albums, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections and Cee-Lo Green…Is The Soul Machine were critically acclaimed but failed to put up big numbers. The latter however would set the tone for a huge step in not only Cee-Lo’s career but for hip-hop.

In 2005 Cee-Lo would team up with extremely talented producer Dangermouse then famous for his mixing of Jay-Z’s The Black Album with The Beatles’ The White Album called the Grey Album to form an alliance made in heaven now known to the world as Gnarls Barkley.

Their debut album, St. Elsewhere released in 2006 would rattle the world with it’s leadoff megahit single “Crazy”. The song featured Cee-Lo si nging and not rapping. Not only did Cee-Lo achive platinum success and worldwide recognition but he also opened the doors for other alternative rap acts to take center stage. It was only the beginning for Cee-Lo as Gnarls Barkley’s second album has recently dropped and he is recording his latest solo album.

Sixshot.Com’s Jon Michael was able to sit down with Cee-Lo to discuss his new record label Radiculture Records, his longevity in the rap game, and the highly anticipated Goodie Mob reunion album.

Sixshot.Com: You recently did the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors. What was that experience like for you?

Cee-Lo: It was very, very positive and it was a privilege, you know what I’m saying? These are pioneers so it was very humbling and inspiring all at the same time.

Sixshot.Com: So you were a De La Soul fan for a while I’m assuming?

Cee-Lo: Yes, absolutely. I speak the language of the Native Tongues.

Sixshot.Com: You switched up the wardrobe a few times during the show. What inspired that?

Cee-Lo: I was just more or less diversifying my portfolio. (Laughs) I just wanted to be completely distinct with it, you know what I mean?

Sixshot.Com: You have a new label Radiculture records. Why did you decide to start your own label and what can we expect from it?

Cee-Lo: Radiculture if you break it down is jut like the supernatural. It’s what you have inside you and it gets broken down in some form or fashion into art. This is like the ultimate urban alternative. I feel like having these alternatives is beneficial to the whole process.

Sixshot.Com: What are some of the traits you look for in an artist that you would sign to Radiculture records?

Cee-Lo: I definitely look for an original and honest talent. I would also look for someone who is well versed and well read in terms of music. They wouldn’t just be boxed in to one genre or style of music. I want somebody who is devoted to the music and love it. In my opinion, music should be or could be missionary work. It’s the difference between somebody just making music and somebody who truly appreciates the art; you know what I’m saying? There are artists who have set the tone and cleared the path for other alternative artists to be around due to their past successes.

It’s not to compete though. It’s just to co-exist. There’s a time and a place for everything, you know what I’m saying? I don’t necessarily want to hear Gnarls Barkley in the club. I want to hear T-Pain; you know what I’m saying? (Laughs) That’s what I want to hear. I want the rest of it to be available though and I want to raise the bar because I want quality. I want quality music and quality content to be the focal point. I feel like certain acts weren’t allowed equilibrium to exist. Too much of anything is not a good thing so I believe there needs to be a balance. I have a very deep-rooted concern with that and I wage war against it, you know what I’m saying?

Sixshot.Com: Another thing that a lot of people are excited about is the Goodie Mob reunion. Can you tell us how that came about?

Cee-Lo: Yeah, actually I have a ranch outside of Atlanta and I thought that was the best place for us to be. We could get to know each other again and become familiar with each other again as people. Then we could also get it done as far as the music goes. We’re like family still; you know what I’m saying? We were just together last night.

Sixshot.Com: What would you say sparked the idea for a reunion?

Cee-Lo: Well we’ve never really been totally separate and I could never erase, upstage, or outdo what we have accomplished together as a group. Me doing some of my own things sort of became like a spectacle but I never disassociate myself with them. Like I said, we’re still like family at the end of the day. We’re bound by blood and ink. It’s scratched into my skin for the rest of my life. I’ve done my own thing and when a man sets out to do something he wants to prove that he can do his thing on his own. I proved that I’m capable of that but at the end of the day people know and they should know what Goodie Mob accomplished together. It’s still all the same man. I’m still waving the same flag and standing under the same banner.

We did have some differences as people and some creative differences. At the time we needed a little space and in the time I believe we kind of went from boys to men so to speak. Things happen along the way but it’s been such an interesting journey up to this point, you know what I’m saying? We ain’t never not been in each other’s company. There was just a point where we weren’t totally accessible to each other. I feel like this is the right time this album, the perfect time. I think the climate is right and the circumstances that we’re dealing with just make this a great time for this project. Economically, politically, socially, this is the right time. All of those factors and just setting the stage for Goodie Mob to come out and be a breath of fresh air. I think that’s the position and the platform that’s right for the album. We began there and we still stand there, you know what I mean?

We still care as much about what goes on in out culture and our community as we did back in the day. I feel like this time gave people a chance to really miss us. I mean it took us this long to just realize who we are to each other as people. I feel that as a collective we can still produce. We’re doing the thing to maintain and preserve this movement, like everybody is good. I can’t say the same thing about a lot of people who started out when we started out.

Sixshot.Com: I feel you, which brings me to my next question. How do you feel you’ve been able to have the longevity that you’ve had in hip-hop?

Cee-Lo: I think a lot of it has to do with determination, you know what I’m saying? Another thing is that rap is stylistic and fashionable which under some circumstances can lead to disposable music, which is definitely something I have tried to stay away from throughout the duration of my career. It could get to a point when an artist’s music becomes expendable. For example you could go into Foot Locker and get five white tees for twenty dollars, you know what I’m saying? Let’s be honest, in a sense I’ve been on the outside looking in so it’s kind of like I’ve been watching myself. I feel like I’m young enough to relate to the youth but definitely old enough to be an elder.

It’s like I set forth to make music to show that it can be done coming from where we’re coming from. I love being an MC so hip-hop is my heart, that’s my soul. I feel like one problem is that a lot of the younger generation is just aspiring to be rich and they just want to stop there. If you’re going to aspire to that then there is a whole lot more that you can accomplish. If you see that you have the skills and the musicianship to do this then there are certain responsibilities that go along with it. Some people even believe that hip-hop is easy or doesn’t take time to make which is obviously not true. We have to respect our own thing in order for it to be respected by others.

I’m concerned about hip-hop, not being dead but dying. Then again, aren’t we all? The reason why I’m alive is because this is what I spent my life doing. People tend to prepare for failure more than they do for success. Hip-hop has become like a smoking section lately man. That’s my new thing. You’re sitting in that smoking section smoking your own cigarettes and getting that second hand smoke. You’re destined to die.

Sixshot.Com: So Cee-Lo what can we expect to see in the future, what do you have in the works?

Cee-Lo: I’m actually recording right now man. As you know we have the Goodie Mob record that we’re working on. We’re going to find a situation for that soon. That’s how all my projects have started out, independent. We doing it out of pocket as we speak. I also have a solo album, which will come out maybe next year through Atlantic. We just going to take it in stride man.

Sixshot.Com: Anything you want to say to all those die-hard Cee-Lo fans out there?

Cee-Lo: I just want to thank them for noticing and I hope they’re proud of me. People see things and it reminds them of themselves and that’s what it is. I just want my people to be proud of me. These fans make hip-hop possible. You know me man I could do this all day. Q and A is my forte. (Laughs)