EXCLUSIVE
-CeeLo Green recalls robbing people after dropping out of school
By Tashara JonesMay 5, 2022 | 10:47am
CeeLo Green robbed people to survive after dropping out of high school
Long before he was a five-time Grammy winner, CeeLo Green did whatever he had to do to survive the streets of Atlanta.
“I was robbing people by myself. You have to understand, I didn’t have any friends and I was not in school. My mom did not know. I dropped out of school, so I was fronting like I was [still] going,” the singer, 46, tells Page Six exclusively.
“So I would leave in the morning when school started at the same time every day. I used to ride the train all day. I was like 13, 14, 15 then. I was young.”
Enlarge ImageCeeLo Green on a red carpet.
CeeLo Green says he survived the streets by robbing people.
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In 1994, at the age of 18, Green’s career started to take off when he was featured on OutKast’s first album, “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.”
He was a member of the Southern rap group Goodie Mob at the time but eventually left to become a solo artist. He is now a household name with hit records such as “Crazy” and “F–k You” who has also served as a coach on “The Voice.”
Enlarge ImageGoodie Mob in 1995.
Green (L) was a part of Southern rap group Goodie Mob, seen here in 1995.
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Six years ago, Green had an awakening moment.
“I had a young dude come up to me and say, ‘You don’t remember me, but I remember you’. He said, ‘I was a victim of your robbery,'” he tells us.
“I used to take people’s shoes and take peoples jackets and stuff like that. I would hang out at the train station and rob people. This was like ’87, ’88. I was the guy taking people’s Jordans, unfortunately.
“He basically said, ‘You took my shoes at Hightower station,’ which is a MARTA train station in Atlanta, Georgia. And I said, ‘Sir, I’m so sorry. That was so long ago. I was so young and ignorant. Please forgive me.’ Then he said, ‘I already forgive you. I forgive you 1,000 times.’ He said, ‘Your music let me know that it was an intervention in your life and healing. I was able to heal from your healing.'”
Enlarge ImageCeeLo Green performing on stage.
Green reportedly has a net worth of $10 million these days.
Getty Images
Admittedly, that was not the first time someone approached Green with a story from his past.
“A young lady stopped in on Instagram and left a comment saying I had robbed her, too. I remember I robbed her at a bus stop for her jacket. I’m not proud of that stuff,” he recalls.
“All the good I proceeded to do has been intentional. My career has been intentional. It’s very concentrated for productivity’s sake because I actually love people. Music has a lot to do with being my love language.”
After all, the producer and songwriter never felt like he had another career path to choose.
“If the music did not happen … that’s the thing, I think the music would have happened. I was not as received or welcomed as I would like to be, but maybe that was just negativity within me. People were seemingly negative toward me,” he says.
“I just acted out because I didn’t feel accepted. … I will keep my distance because I’m not one to be bullied. I’m not gonna be the victim, and I wasn’t. Life is a boot camp, and you have to make it through the basic training.”
FILED UNDER ATLANTA , CEE LO GREEN , ROBBERIES , 5/5/22
