Twenty-five years ago Goodie Mob released the hip hop classic Soul Food introducing the dirty south to a world wide audience, now they return with the powerful Survival Kit devised to help weather the storm of 2020 and beyond. The Organized Noize produced effort proves Big Gipp, Khujo, Cee-Lo, and T-Mo are older, wiser and still involved with the struggles.
The record kicks open with the Public Enemy inspired rock beats of “Are You Ready” as the main PE himself Chuck D helps out while the Goodie Mob announce that the time for action is now stating, “Chasing nightmares disguised as wet dream/Don’t hold your breath waiting on freedom to ring”. The group’s energy pushes straight to the “Frontlines” as syrupy beats loop around chimes and hard drum hits supporting a full on 2020 protest-in-the-streets chorus before “Curry Goat” delivers dynamite trumpet lines, groovy beats and Cee-Lo at his strongest.
The band has always documented their immediate surroundings and the issues they face on a daily basis with affecting details and honesty. Along those lines “4 My Ppl” recalls “Live at the O.M.N.I” with bright horn lines, smooth beats and shout out’s to local locales. Speaking of Atlanta’s finest, Big Boi joins deftly on the bumping “Prey 4 Da Sheep” while the skittering modern trap sounds of “No Cigar” are duly fading before Andre 3000 drops a Dungeon Family early daze stanza, sprucing up the effort with honest memories and flow.
The best overall effort just may be the slapping title track containing great verses from each member as the outfit bounces vibrantly over an instant classic beat from Organized Noize. Infectious head bopping funk mixes with buzzing electric guitars as the effort slips and slides, side to side with the ending phrase saying the most, “Mask on, gloves on, we ain’t out the woods yet. The power of the mind is my survival kit”.
The feel-good swinging sunshine of “Off-Road” and the super slick soul of “Me Tyme” both resemble Cee-Lo Green solo tracks (“Sasquatch Hunting?”), but the ease and flow on both are welcomed detours before the band drops heavy into the vital political maelstrom on “Calm B 4 Da Storm” and “Amazing Grays”. There are a few weaker tracks, like the reggae-influenced “Try We” and “Back2Back”, but overall Survival Kit is a strong, proud return.
Goodie Mob has ebbed and flowed over their career but when they click around each other and the Organized Noize beats there are few outfits that are as earnest, engaging, and vibrant. As the weirdest year anyone alive can remember ends, it is a positive omen that the Goodie Mob are united and pushing forward with a stout offering that lives up to its title as a Survival Kit for modern times.
One Response
This album is an absolute blast from the past. I instantly remembered that after about 20-years down, I needed Organized Noize back in my life. Im shocked/not-shocked at what a banger this is – from back to front.