Hip-hop artist to perform on campus

His lyrics say it all — he's bad, he's Cee-Lo — but you can just call him “the soul machine.”

Cee-Lo will perform Tuesday at the College Center Grand Ballroom, presented by Music Industry Class 422 and the University Program Board.

“[The music industry class] is doing the brunt of the work,” freshman Jeremy Paredes, director of media and public relations said. “It's one of those ‘let's bring a concert and you do all the work' things. They're just students, and they're doing the work of professionals.”

Cee-Lo was born Thomas Burton in Atlanta, Georgia to a very religious household — both his parents were ministers, according to MTV.com. Yet, instead of following his parents into the clergy, Cee-Lo used his soulful upbringing to create a brand of unconventional hip-hop.

“I was a Dungeon Family fan because of Outkast, and I never realized how great Cee-Lo was until he went solo,” sophomore Ben Taylor said.

Now Cee-Lo's infusion of hip-hop, funk, soul and jazz creates something amazing all his own. The March 2004 issue of Maxim magazine hailed Cee-Lo's newest project as “cornball-free flows and intoxicating beats layered as thick and heavy as his waistline.”

While Cee-Lo only is on his second solo compact disc, his influence and presence in the industry is nothing new. Cee-Lo started out as a part of Outkast's collaborative effort, The Dungeon Family. His southern roots fit perfectly with Outkast, as they seem to have a common musical style.

Sophomore Jon Hrinyak caught Cee-Lo's performance at Virginia Tech, and said, “Cee-Lo put on one of the best shows I have ever seen. Everything was full of energy, and his music is on another level.”

Tickets are $8 with JAC card (limit 2) and $12 at the door. The performance will take place in the Grand Balloroom and the starting time has yet to be announced.