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Southern hip-hop pioneer Khujo Goodie is one of the most unique voices and personalities in the genre. His latest project, Willie Isz, partners the Goodie MOB co-founder with Philadelphia rapper-producer Jneiro Jarel. Their two singles “Georgiavania” and “In the Red” have been all over the Internet. Rolling out caught up with the Dungeon Family godfather to discuss reunions and remaining relevant.
What have can fans expect from the Willie Isz project?
Two regular guys did something great and made something really creative that you can play around your kids and around your grandma. And it’s also entertaining and it’ll take people that do what we do to that next level. Step your production game up and step your lyrical game up. None of these songs have cuss words on them — it’s just straight beats and lyrics. That’s what the music needs to go back to.
What was it like reuniting with the Dungeon Family for a photo shoot?
It’s a four-page spread and it was really exciting … just to feel that vibe again and [see] each other and talk about what we’re fixing to do … But the Dungeon Family is really turned up right now. [We’re] working on a Goodie MOB album, Organized Noize is back in the lab and we’re using that buzz to keep us motivated right now.
What is the Dungeon Family’s legacy?
I think our legacy is just to let people know that you can be you. You ain’t gotta rap like anybody from New York and you ain’t gotta [emulate] anybody from the West Coast. That’s what all [the Goodie MOB] albums and OutKast albums were about; just normal cats from Georgia. That kind of legacy is always cool with me — promoting music that can be an outlet. Music helped me a lot. I could be somewhere else right now.
How do you feel about today’s Southern rap?
I love Gucci Mane, I love OJ Da Juiceman. I’m like that — that’s me, too. When we [debuted as] Goodie MOB, the whole albums weren’t all ‘New World Order’ or ‘be conscious,’ we had [a] variety of things that we put into our music. I like what the youth are doing right now and [I’m on] mixtapes with them.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned over the course of your career?
You can’t cry over spilled milk and you can’t take it personal — it’s business. If you can work that in-between — that’s when you got it mastered. –todd williams
Two regular guys did something great and made something really creative that you can play around your kids and around your grandma. And it’s also entertaining and it’ll take people that do what we do to that next level. Step your production game up and step your lyrical game up. None of these songs have cuss words on them — it’s just straight beats and lyrics. That’s what the music needs to go back to.
What was it like reuniting with the Dungeon Family for a photo shoot?
It’s a four-page spread and it was really exciting … just to feel that vibe again and [see] each other and talk about what we’re fixing to do … But the Dungeon Family is really turned up right now. [We’re] working on a Goodie MOB album, Organized Noize is back in the lab and we’re using that buzz to keep us motivated right now.
What is the Dungeon Family’s legacy?
I think our legacy is just to let people know that you can be you. You ain’t gotta rap like anybody from New York and you ain’t gotta [emulate] anybody from the West Coast. That’s what all [the Goodie MOB] albums and OutKast albums were about; just normal cats from Georgia. That kind of legacy is always cool with me — promoting music that can be an outlet. Music helped me a lot. I could be somewhere else right now.
How do you feel about today’s Southern rap?
I love Gucci Mane, I love OJ Da Juiceman. I’m like that — that’s me, too. When we [debuted as] Goodie MOB, the whole albums weren’t all ‘New World Order’ or ‘be conscious,’ we had [a] variety of things that we put into our music. I like what the youth are doing right now and [I’m on] mixtapes with them.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned over the course of your career?
You can’t cry over spilled milk and you can’t take it personal — it’s business. If you can work that in-between — that’s when you got it mastered. –todd williams
