Urban music extraordinaire CeeLo Green impresses on his ‘dope-fueled.’ comeback single, “Brick Road.” With “F**k You” behind him, he still remains incredibly potent.

“And it tastes, oh so bittersweet / And I basically made something to eat, oh.” CeeLo Green is hungry? Well… The spoken intro sets the tone for “Brick Road,” the first new single by the odd-ball, yet versatile rap-soul musician.

“Cookin’ / Cookin’ / Can you smell me?”

The intro is set against an old-school, hip-hop soul backdrop, comprised of dusty drums and warm piano.  This is perfect fuel for Green’s fire.  He drops soulful, clear, and easy-going vocals. This sound is mellow, perhaps a product of the addictive subject matter.  That subject matter is clear on the chorus.

Amazingly, the chorus is catchy – infectious even – despite lacking glamorous subject matter.

“I’m cookin’ up, cookin’ up, cookin’ up dope / It’s what you gotta do, when you gotta stay afloat / I’m cookin’ up, cookin’ up, cookin’ up dope / Popo always come knockin’ at my door.”

Throughout the verses, CeeLo Green uses his best street references.  On the second verse, for example, he discourages the use of the phone (as ‘the plug’ of course), as well as catching the body of a lost [street] soldier.  He closes the verse asserting, “Young Lo will make it flip right quick / I’ll be goddamned if I don’t die rich.” He’s cocky on the bridge:

“When it comes to this, no one is better at this than me / I flick my wrist, flick my wrist, flick my wrist just once.”

Final Thoughts

CeeLo may not be as relevant as he was during his “F**k You” days, but “Brick Road” proves he still has some sick tricks up his sleeve.  All in all, “Brick Road” is cleverly penned and superbly performed.

CeeLo Green • Brick Road – Single • The Right Records • Release: 2.23.18 

Photo Credit: The Right Records