Down home wisdom cultivated in Atlanta’s red clay dirt, scathing socio-political commentary, and eerily perceptive lyrics that bordered on precognition, Goodie Mob (Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, T-Mo, Khujo) blasted onto the rap scene in 1995 with their debut, Soul Food. The Dungeon Family collective had made a splash with their forward-pushing-yet-earthy sound via OutKast’s 1994 debut, southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. But while they hailed from the same camp, Goodie was different. A little more mature and world-weary; the Mob was grittier, and more abrasive, Goodie’s mud-soaked first album was plated and served to rap fans with no chaser.

While often woefully overlooked, their sophomore release, 1998’s Still Standing is arguably one of the strongest rap albums of the past 30 years; and might be their most sonically cohesive project to date. After the lackluster reception of their commercial-leaning 1999 album, World Party, and following the release of their 2004 break-up album, One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show (which was released without group member Cee-Lo Green), Goodie went on an extended hiatus. After focusing on side projects and their solo careers, the crew reunited and dropped two more albums — 2013’s politically charged, glossy Age Against the Machine and 2020’s Survival Kit; which found them revisiting their classic sound while incorporating current themes and styles. 

Goodie Mob remains one of the most dynamic, subtly influential groups in Hip Hop. We picked their 25 dopest songs.