Wild rapper T-Mo, one-fourth of the hip-hop group Goodie MOb, is known for his torrents of lyrics. The group is now promoting its latest album, World Party.

T-Mo was born Robert Barnett on February 2, 1972 in Atlanta. He graduated from Atlanta's Mays High School, the alma mater of fellow Goodie MOb members Khujo and Big Gipp, as well as TLC's Chilli. T-Mo studied hospitality services at Morris Brown College, which his parents attended in their youth.

While in school, T-Mo worked as a hotel valet. He began rapping with schoolmates Khujo and Big Gipp, as well as with hip-hopper Cee-Lo. The four formed Goodie MOb, an acronym for "the Good Die Mostly Over Bull" and started rapping on LPs by hip-hoppers OutKast in 1994. Goodie MOb's four MCs claim that they each represent the four elements: Khujo (wind), Cee-Lo (water), T-Mo (fire) and Big Gipp (earth).

Goodie MOb then signed with OutKast's label, LaFace Records, and issued their debut LP, Soul Food, in 1995. The album featured danceable soul/rap on such tracks as "Sesame Street" and the #1 rap song "Cell Therapy."

In 1997 Goodie MOb toured with the Fugees and the Roots; they were named "Hypest Live Show" by Vibe magazine.

Still Standing (1998) was executive-produced by LaFace Records'

co-presidents Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and by

Organized Noize, who have worked with OutKast, TLC and En Vogue. Co-producers on the LP included T-Mo, Cee-Lo, Craig Love and Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs. T-Mo wrote the track "Greeny Green." Other titles include the single "They Don't Dance No Mo'," "Fly Away" and "Beautiful Skin." OutKast were featured on "Black Ice."

Also in '98, Goodie MOb contributed a remix of "Country Livin'," by trip-hoppers Esthero, to the soundtrack of the film "Slam."

Late last year Goodie MOb released World Party (RealAudio excerpt of title cut), featuring "Chain Swang" and "Get Rich to This." The album, produced by Goodie MOb, Dallas Austin, Deric Angelettie and Organized Noize, also includes an appearance by hot rap/soul act TLC on "What It Ain't (Ghetto) Enuff."

"Hip-hop music has [an image] of sampling, weak snares, dull production," Khujo said. "That's our goal: to kill that stereotype ... and make this type of music out of something else that ain't nobody never heard before."

T-Mo also produces other rap acts, including the Lumberjacks, through his production company, Strong House Entertainment.

"Within my heart I knew I could make it big from the beginning," T-Mo said.

This year, Goodie MOb, with OutKast, contributed "Sole Sunday" to the soundtrack of the Oliver Stone football movie "Any Given Sunday."

Other birthdays on Wednesday: Clyde "Skip" Battin (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers), 66; Alan Caddy (Tornadoes), 60; Graham Nash, 58; Peter Macbeth (Foundations), 57; Howard Bellamy (Bellamy Bros.), 54; Peter Lucia (Tommy James and the Shondells), 53; John Patrick Weathers (Gentle Giant), 53; Tony DeMeur (Fabulous Poodles), 52; Al McKay (Earth, Wind and Fire), 52; Ross Valory (Journey, Santana), 50; Tony Butler (Big Country), 43; Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots, Talk Show), 34; Ben Mize (Counting Crows), 29; and Clarence E. Quick (Del-Vikings), 1937–1983.