Cee-Lo

Closet Freak: The Best of Cee-Lo Green the Soul Machine (Arista)

As the hip-hop crowd scorns its favored MCs for departing from strict codes of rap conduct, the rest of the world typically celebrates those brave enough to test uncharted waters. Former Goodie Mob lyricist Cee-Lo invokes sweaty gospel sermons blossoming within bountiful rabbit holes of dripping-wet psychedelia. Moving far beyond the standard fare of a Southern rapper, this year’s Gnarls Barkley project thrust Cee-Lo’s pensive meanderings into outer orbits of public acceptance. Familiarizing fresh recruits with a decade’s backstory, Closet Freak hallucinates instrumental enhancements by Timbaland, Pharrell, Jazze Pha, and those most noble ATL geniuses Organized Noize.

***.5

This article appears in December 29 • 2006.

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