Big Gipp is the gritty,

fashion-conscious rapper in the Atlanta-based hip-hop foursome Goodie MOb.

He was born Cameron Gipp into a military household on April 28, 1973, in Georgia's East Point section of Atlanta. Gipp graduated from Atlanta's Mays High School, the alma mater of fellow Goodie MOb members Khujo and T-Mo, as well as TLC's Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.

Gipp began rapping with schoolmates Khujo and T-Mo, and 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 say they each represent one of the elements: Khujo (wind), Cee-Lo (water), T-Mo (fire) and Big Gipp (earth).

Signing with OutKast's label, LaFace Records, Goodie MOb 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. 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. The LP included tracks such as "They Don't Dance No Mo'," "Fly Away" and "Black Ice."

Late last year Goodie MOb released World Party (RealAudio excerpt of title cut), featuring "Chain Swang" and "Get Rich to This." The album included a guest spot by TLC on "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)."

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

Gipp plans to release a solo project soon and to foster work by young Atlanta-based rap acts.

Other birthdays Thursday: Too $hort, 34.