Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine (by Cee-Lo Green, Rap)

CEE-LO GREEN IS THE SOUL MACHINE, the singer's second album, explores soul, R&B, funk, and hip-hop with pop sensibilities. His lyrics are intelligent and honest, escaping the posturing and machismo that accompany much of modern rap music. Cee-Lo splits his time between rapping and singing in his distinctly high-pitched tone, and brings a number of guests on to help him -- most notably, Timbaland, Ludacris, and The Neptunes including Pharrell. What may surprise some is that Cee-Lo praises love and family above all else. In "The Art of Noise" he asserts, "I really think true wealth is home and happiness and health, a little cash and you'll need nothing else." Songs like "All Day Love Affair" and "Lets Stay Together" are fun and soulful.

Overall, this album is excellent for older teens. The music and the lyrics are great and the messages are mostly positive. (A few songs have a darker message: "Scrap Metal" and "Glockapella" have references to anger, hatred, and violence, and "Glockapella" incorporates the sound of gunshots in its backbeat.) Cee-Lo has a larger vocabulary than most rappers, and he weaves creative rhyme schemes. In the last song, he declares, "I aint gonna have to lie to ya, to make it sound fly to ya, I keep my feet on the ground and bring the sky to ya." This CD establishes Cee-Lo as an innovative talent.

Released on: March 2, 2004
Label: Arista
Genre: Rap
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes