CeeLo Green Wants a Verzuz Battle With Lauryn Hill

 

CeeLo Green has made his dream Verzuz matchup crystal clear, and it’s one rooted in deep respect, shared history, and musical kinship rather than competition.

Appearing on On the Spot with Rickey Smiley, the Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley legend revealed that if he ever stepped into the Verzuz arena, Lauryn Hill would be his ideal opponent.

“I would probably had to go up against Lauryn Hill,” CeeLo said. “But she’s like my sister, and we were all together at the Kanye show, too. So, shouts out to the queen Ms. Hill.”

He didn’t stop there. Expanding on why the matchup feels right, CeeLo added:

“But it would just be nothing but a love affair because we did our first tours together. We’ve been friends for years, and she’s a Gemini twin just like me. So that’s my twin sister, but she does rap and sing at the same time, you know? I think I would have to be paired up with somebody who has somewhat of the same dynamic.”

Both artists represent a rare breed in hip-hop: elite emcees who can also deliver soul-stirring vocals. CeeLo’s gritty, melodic delivery on Goodie Mob classics like “Cell Therapy” and “Dirty South,” his genre-bending work with Gnarls Barkley on the global smash “Crazy,” and solo hits like “Forget You” show his range. Lauryn Hill, of course, redefined what was possible with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and her work with the Fugees, spitting fire one moment and soaring with angelic harmonies the next. 

Their connection runs deeper than mutual admiration. The two actually collaborated on the track “Do You Like the Way” from Carlos Santana’s blockbuster 1999 album Supernatural, alongside the legendary guitarist himself. They also hit the road together during their early touring days.