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Everybody's Brother
He inspires awe with his colorful costumes and helps ordinary people find a Voice. With vocals so effective (in fact, they're almost otherworldly), he turned a four-letter word into a global phenomenon. Without a doubt, CeeLo Green is a superhero of soul-and every superhero has an origin story.
This story begins in The Dirty South, where South Atlanta's native son transformed himself into the Abominable SHOWman. Along the way, innocence was lost; farther down the path, his parents passed on. Yet he still found family at the Dungeon with the likes of Goodie Mob, Outkast, L.A. Reid, and Lauryn Hill. Then one day he teamed up with Danger Mouse and everything went "Crazy."
Everybody's Brother is the untold story of CeeLo Green's rise from the streets of Atlanta to the top of the charts-a story so cool, so complex that his brother-from-another-mother, Big Gipp, couldn't help but chime in. Now CeeLo gives his fans what they've been waiting an all-access pass into his perfectly imperfect piece of mind.
This story begins in The Dirty South, where South Atlanta's native son transformed himself into the Abominable SHOWman. Along the way, innocence was lost; farther down the path, his parents passed on. Yet he still found family at the Dungeon with the likes of Goodie Mob, Outkast, L.A. Reid, and Lauryn Hill. Then one day he teamed up with Danger Mouse and everything went "Crazy."
Everybody's Brother is the untold story of CeeLo Green's rise from the streets of Atlanta to the top of the charts-a story so cool, so complex that his brother-from-another-mother, Big Gipp, couldn't help but chime in. Now CeeLo gives his fans what they've been waiting an all-access pass into his perfectly imperfect piece of mind.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
CeeLo Green
20 books3 followersCee Lo Green (born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway) is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor. Initially, he came to prominence as a member of the southern hip hop group Goodie Mob, and as part of the soul duo Gnarls Barkley with Danger Mouse. Subsequently he embarked on a solo career, partially spurred by YouTube popularity. His work has earned numerous awards and accolades, including five Grammy Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 1, 2018
The challenge with reading some autobiographies is similar to reading social media posts; only the amazing events are revealed. This was the issue with Everybody's Brother, Ceelo Green's surreal and often bizarre revelation. From the start, Green presses an alienist image, venturing into a place that only he and close associates would understand. This distorted the book, made it distant and disjointed. It is only when he writes about the largely familiar (his songs) that readers are able to relate. But those moments are heavily infused with otherness and that attempt to write a larger than life book. The attempt not only fails but is an embarrassment to his actual talent.
Everybody's Brother felt forced as if it was written in a recording studio filled with weed, cognac, and hangers-on who agreed with and encouraged every sentence, no matter how poorly constructed. Considering the content and the rhythm of the book, there was no other way it could have been written. The many missing elements and rapidly developed timelines created what could have been an interesting read a laborious one.
Never have I written so short or critical a review, nor have I ever rated a book so low. Unfortunately, my search for a bright spot was fruitless. Fortunately, thanks to one of Ceelo's greatest songs I already know what his response would be to this review, and it's not the radio-friendly version.
Everybody's Brother felt forced as if it was written in a recording studio filled with weed, cognac, and hangers-on who agreed with and encouraged every sentence, no matter how poorly constructed. Considering the content and the rhythm of the book, there was no other way it could have been written. The many missing elements and rapidly developed timelines created what could have been an interesting read a laborious one.
Never have I written so short or critical a review, nor have I ever rated a book so low. Unfortunately, my search for a bright spot was fruitless. Fortunately, thanks to one of Ceelo's greatest songs I already know what his response would be to this review, and it's not the radio-friendly version.
November 18, 2013
Cee Lo Green wasn’t always the flamboyant media whore he is now. Back 1995, he was simply Cee Lo, the half singer/half rapper of the socially-conscious Hip Hop group Goodie Mob. To see where life has taken him from the early days of his career is a testament to the – anything is possible – philosophy. Mainstream fans who discovered him around the time of his Gnarls Barkley breakout single Crazy, know a very different Cee Lo from his “Cell Therapy” days. If he only appeared on your radar after watching the television show The Voice, well then, you’re completely out of the loop.
Where Cee Lo’s integrity is brought into question, is the surprising admission that he wanted music consumers to assume that he was gay in his music video for “Closet Freak” from his debut solo album Cee Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections. In the video he dons a white wedding dress to generate controversy. At the time, Green was happily married to his then wife Christine and admits to being heterosexual. Straight. So what’s the point then?
By comparing himself to Prince more than once, I felt insulted as a fan of the Purple One. The only thing that Prince and Cee Lo have in common is the fact that they were both born under the zodiac sign of Gemini. The comparisons end there. Cee Lo’s first two albums were nothing more than a pile of pretentious noise. His Gnarls Barkley partner Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton saved Cee Lo from himself. Without this collaboration, he would have likely drifted off into obscurity.
Everybody’s Brother is an alright read. There are enough personal revelations to warrant its existence. On completing the book, I walked away feeling more informed about Cee Lo the man, though my mind is unchanged about him musically. Gnarls Barkley’s “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” is actually the only non-Goodie Mob song that I truly like from Cee Lo. The accompanying music video has also left a lasting impression on me over the years.
Where Cee Lo’s integrity is brought into question, is the surprising admission that he wanted music consumers to assume that he was gay in his music video for “Closet Freak” from his debut solo album Cee Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections. In the video he dons a white wedding dress to generate controversy. At the time, Green was happily married to his then wife Christine and admits to being heterosexual. Straight. So what’s the point then?
By comparing himself to Prince more than once, I felt insulted as a fan of the Purple One. The only thing that Prince and Cee Lo have in common is the fact that they were both born under the zodiac sign of Gemini. The comparisons end there. Cee Lo’s first two albums were nothing more than a pile of pretentious noise. His Gnarls Barkley partner Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton saved Cee Lo from himself. Without this collaboration, he would have likely drifted off into obscurity.
Everybody’s Brother is an alright read. There are enough personal revelations to warrant its existence. On completing the book, I walked away feeling more informed about Cee Lo the man, though my mind is unchanged about him musically. Gnarls Barkley’s “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” is actually the only non-Goodie Mob song that I truly like from Cee Lo. The accompanying music video has also left a lasting impression on me over the years.
October 25, 2013
I am a huge Ceelo Green fan. Huge. This book was interesting but felt premature. Still love the guy though.
November 7, 2013
The library had it, so I thought, why not?
February 11, 2022
It seems strange to leave a review for an autobiography, it feels like your reviewing someone's life. But Ceelo's life is interesting, and worth the read. I'm proud to own a signed copy of this book.
July 31, 2015
I'm loving this book. Listening on audio. Big Gipp is reading it so that ATL twang is notably present....but I'm from Ga, so it's amusing and I can see youngsters listening and being ok that it's not read by some voice they cannot relate to.
Lo is full of himself, sure. But who isn't? I'm not from where he's from and did not have his experiences, but I can relate. I actually had an epiphany while listening to him in relation to my abhorrance of corporate work environments. So thanks Lo.
He's honest, he knows he's the ish and so do we. One of a kind dude and I'm so glad I ran across his book.
Lo is full of himself, sure. But who isn't? I'm not from where he's from and did not have his experiences, but I can relate. I actually had an epiphany while listening to him in relation to my abhorrance of corporate work environments. So thanks Lo.
He's honest, he knows he's the ish and so do we. One of a kind dude and I'm so glad I ran across his book.
December 6, 2022
A story of an amazing man whose music has saved me on numerous occasions. I got to meet Cee Lo in person at a Lionel Richie concert, and he was so sweet. I adore this book because he presents his story with raw and unflinching honesty. I am so honored to own a signed copy. It's a must read for anyone impacted by this man's music.
October 6, 2013
Great biography on CeeLo and a bit of a bonus insight into other artists in the Dungeon Family. I've always appreciated the music of not just CeeLo as a solo artist but Goodie Mob as a group and I have a much greater appreciation of him as a artist.
November 23, 2013
I was interested in reading about CeeLo's background esp b/c he seems to have such a diverse appreciation of music and I wanted to learn more about his influences. The book reads exactly like CeeLo talks - there's a cadence to his words - and David Wild did a great job with it. ;)
December 13, 2013
I discovered Cee Lo as a coach on the "The Voice". When I saw his book on the library shelf, I decided to read it and I'm glad I did. It's a very well written book. His musical talent saved him from a much rougher life. Very honest and a worthy read.
January 23, 2015
Ugh, Ceelo let me down. I love his voice and many of his songs but this memoir was just not entertaining. He comes across as really conceited. And I listened to this on audio and was disappointed that Ceelo didn't tead more than just the intro.
October 28, 2013
I don't know a lot about CeeLo Green, and only know one song ("Forget You"). I saw him on Ellen talking about his book, so I thought why not give it a try. Very well written, very entertaining.
October 28, 2013
impressive bio
August 13, 2016
Great story if you like Cee Lo, even if he was a thug. Window into southern black urban culture for a white Canadian. Easy reading and compelling in its weirdness.
March 14, 2014
I appreciated the truthfulness of this book.
May 27, 2015
Definitively a great read for the youngans that are a bit lost and need a little guidance, from someone that was very lost and made it big.
August 13, 2016
3.5 stars...Wild & inspirational in one package. He is who he is.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews