Khujo…… if you know anything about 90s hip hop greats, you definitely know who he is. Khujo is a member of the Atlanta based hip hop group Goodie Mob. Other members of the group include Cee-Lo Green, T-Mo, and Big Gipp.
Their debut album “Soul Food” was released November 7, 1995. The album was a huge success and reached gold status catapulting them to be one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time. Goodie Mob went on to release a total of six albums which produced five Billboard Hits.
The Fleet Mag had the opportunity to sit down with Khujo to talk about his career, musical influences, and more. Check out what he had to say during an interview with The Fleet Mag reporter, Becky G. AKA DJ PynkDyamond.
PynkDyamond: Hello Khujo, great to speak with you today. When did you actually get started in music?
Khujo: I started as a teenager when I was in high school and met people from Atlanta that were very influential in music. During that time I was hanging with my brother who also influenced me.
I was also influenced by the movies Krush Groove, Beat Street and Breakin. I was into break dancing. I didn’t want to be an actor, or in sports because music is what was laid on top of me. So music in Hip Hop was my dream or maybe go into the military.
But I do remember in the 4th grade at Peyton Forest Elementary we had a talent show. So me and some friends got in it. We actually tried to learn Gladys Knight & the Pips song “Midnight Train to Georgia. That was my first run in with music to learn a song and we did dance steps too.
PynkDyamond: How did you get your name Khujo?
Khujo : Well you know back in the day, I wanted to create a great emcee name, which was a difficult process. It just derives from various things that were important to me.
PynkDyamond: What is your creative process?
Khujo: I visualize my thoughts and ideas, they just come together. I sit and think a lot. Even before a performance, I think about what outfit I will wear on stage and visualize myself performing. It takes mental power thinking. My process includes being thankful for the privilege too.
PynkDyamond: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Khujo: No solo shows just yet, just doing things with my crew The Goodie Mob, we actually have a show coming up.
PynkDyamond: How do you feel social media has impacted the music business considering it didn’t exist when you starting performing?
Khujo: During the Pandemic 2020, people were flooding the social media which was cool but different. When posting you can be in more than one place at a time that’s for sure. It is a good way to let your fans know your movements and they can help boost your post. I think it’s definitely a business model it’s in a lot of hands. It’s a method to the madness.
PynkDyamond: If you could go back in time is there anything you would change during your musical journey to get where you are today?
Khujo: Cliche’ – I wanted to get on that Dirty South song “Black Ice” but it was wrong timing.
PynkDyamond: Before we end our conversation tell me who are the people that are a big influence in your life? Give me five of them.
Khujo: First, God opened my eyes to the truth of who I am and others. Second, my wife and son. Third, my mother, brothers, aunts, and cousins. They keep a brother down. Fourth, Organized Noize, if it wasn’t for them understanding what all four of us brought to the table to put Atlanta on the map things could have went really crazy. So I definitely got to double hand salute Organized Noize for doing their thang for Goodie Mob. Last but not least, LL Cool J, what he did for past and current artists. I actually met him on The F.O.R.C.E. Tour in Fort Worth and Houston. He act like my big brother. He gave me some advice. He is a genuine person.
