Subscribe
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE

In the nine-year span between their last album together, the Goodie Mob will return to the charts this week with their fifth body of work, Age Against The Machine. Kicking off a U.S. tour in Washington, D.C. in support of the new record, the “Dirty South” representatives blazed through tracks both old and new.

The quartet hit the stage donned in dark robes, bizarre headgear and blazed through a crowd-pleasing set. Familiar songs such as “Soul Food,” “Thought Process,” and the classic “Cell Therapy” thrilled fans. Newer joints, such as the current Janelle Monae-assisted single “Special Education” worked well in the live setting with thumping drums blasting throughout the venue.

Cee Lo delivered a quick solo set, rocking his Timbaland collaboration “I’ll Be Around” before launching into a raunchy call and response routine. The Gnarls Barkley artist then introduced Big Gipp, decked out in a 70s-styled outfit,  who then ran through a series of solo bangers such as “Steppin’ Out.”

Opening for the the Atlanta veterans on the tour, California trio Drop City Yacht Club bill themselves as “Beastie Boys meets Beach Boys” and spoke with HipHopWired backstage after the show.

Bay Area Rappers A-Wolf and Kristo and Los Angeles producer THX explained that the group name was inspired by the actual Drop City in southern Colorado. Displaying the same zaniness found on their latest single “Crickets” with R&B crooner Jeremih, the Yacht Club kids delivered laughs along with their answers.

“Drop City (in Colorado) was the first hippie community ever,” explained Kristo. “So there’s an element of that in our music. And there’s an element of the yacht club. Musically, we’re not supposed to make sense. It’s like if you took the Beach Boys and the Beastie Boys and smashed them together, that’s pretty much who we are.”

Both A-Wolf and Kristo credited E-40 and Too Short as inspirations growing up in the Bay. Wolf also mentioned performers such as MC Hammer, Janis Joplin, and Metallica as influences on the crew’s stage show.

A-Wolf shared that the group is working on a new mixtape and an album set to release this fall. The rapper also gave up some of the names they’re working with, such as Jim Jonsin, DJ Khalil, the Sterotypes production team, and more big names they elected to keep secret. “There’s a lot that’s coming, but we’re gonna keep those hidden,” said A-Wolf.

Goodie Mob reps declined all interview requests.

Goodie Mob will release Age Against The Machine on August 27. Check out pics of the set at the 9:30 Club in the gallery.

Photos: K. Agyeman

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21Next page »