Is it a safe assumption that Cee-Lo was more persuasive in getting his ethnic points across in one verse than Nas was in an entire album?

Better believe that Slick…

In what was possibly the most responsible abuse of the word “nigga” ever witnessed in a song, (Lo dropped approximately 30 N-bombs in under 3 minutes), the prelude for Goodie Mo-B’s sophomore stride served not only as an immediate attention grabber, but as an internal analysis of one of the most controversial words this world has ever encountered.

That’s right kiddies. The 1998 Cee-Lo Green isn’t the same as the 2008 version. Before he was hanging with the weirdo with the ‘fro and winning Grammys off the strength of ink blot visuals, the eclectic vocalist was a vital member of the Dirty South pioneers, Goodie Mob. Despite his lovable nature and his singing abilities which caused him to be the standout member, he was just as militant as the rest of the posse. Check the lyrics of “The Experience” for further evidence.

Shit, I could’ve hit the club as fresh as I could be
Really all for another nigga to see
You know how a nigga get when he see another nigga outfit
Don’t want nobody to have what he ain’t got
Somebody get drunk, get mad, and get shot
That why the property value ain’t no good in a nigga neighborhood
A nigga could overstand if he only understood

Breaking down sociological issues in a manner that directly spoke to the hood came naturally to Lo, Goodie Mob, and Green sealed “The Experience” with a statement so inherent, so culturally relevant to the plights of the Black community…I don’t even have a ending for this sentence.

When in actuality the fact is you ain’t a nigga because you Black
You a nigga cause of how you act…

Go head and marinate on that. Only 1/14ths of the reasons why Still Standing is considered a seminal classic by so many.

Goodie Mob – The Experience