Rico Wade’s legacy lives on.
Cee-Lo Green announced on social media that he has purchased the former home of the late Atlanta rap legend Rico Wade in Southwest Atlanta.
Wade, a founding member of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family passed away at 52. Green bought “The White House” to honor him, but it was eventually left empty as everyone found success and bought their own homes.
Green plans to turn a property he bought for around $1 million into a museum for our rich musical history.
On Monday, Cee-Lo shared an Instagram post featuring videos of the White House and a lengthy caption.
“You probably won’t be able to read this caption as quickly as the montage is going by,but there’s a story,” he wrote. “Those first few grainy Black & white images are us in the dungeon….The crawlspace basement area or Rico Wade‘s family home. we were poor but we were proud. so a few of us done what we had to do to get that first equipment,Now we got the tools ,already had a talent the team and a good leader and God. fast forward we grew out of that place and it was lost in obscurity for years then @bigboi bought it, and refurbished it with a fine tooth comb.
Then we moved into ‘the White House’ because by unanimous decision, Rico Wade was appointed commander and chief of Atlanta music culture. Never the sins, but the wins of the father. Our success bought us all homes of our own and the White House was an empty nest. Mr. Wade decided on something more domestic to raise his new family, Which was his Qwaint and reserved taste in the first place.
This property was poorly kept by the occupants over the years, it came to my attention that it was available and on the market. I then took it upon myself to acquire this monument and Landmark. It was too important and invaluable to leave it be. the asking price was around 1 million, I would’ve paid more! I’m proud to say me and my real estate partner… my sister did that for the family!
My pleasure. One day soon it will be a museum, archiving our rich musical history. You’ll be the first to know… and if you’re ever in Atlanta on the southside, come see us sometime and we will take good care of you, the way Father took care of us. #facts one time for Mr. Wade.”
Cee-Lo Green rose to fame in 1991 as a member of Goodie Mob, which was created by Wade, who also founded Outkast. Later, Wade and Organized Noize produced all six of Green’s solo albums.
Green posted a tribute on social media after Wade’s passing with the caption.
“#atlanta stand up and salute! This is a celebration of #life for the living #legend the #immortal and #almighty @ricowadedf. all you’ve heard is fact, not folklore or a fairytale. he was more then a #myth a #friend or merely a fellow musician … I’m 49 now yet even after transitioning at the early age of 52 this young man was more like my #father…his love and loyalty fixed me. I’ve been a rouge As long as I can remember, I had what it took to be a team player but no team.
So no one before him gets the credit to be called leader by me! and he alone assembled an all-star cast of characters, a league of extraordinary gentlemen, the A-Team, the real-life X-Men. He was Dr. Xavier of the world-renowned @dungeon_family… the mastermind. yet so humble and understated with all his power. even the name” Rico Wade ‘rings bells, and sounds so prestigious & regal. I also know his humanity, even when he needed me most I didn’t know because he never asked for anything, and for that I apologize… I can only assume of his strength. that type of man has to come from a great woman and so we acknowledge and give praise to Queen Beatrice Wade!
For giving us shelter from the storm outside. I speak on behalf of all my brothers and all of your sons we #love you and I cannot thank you enough! I’m forever in your debt. And all of the goodness God has promised us for going forward I shall give you a token of gratitude… Wow my elder is a ancestor now that’s means you really put that work in… amazing! Job well done.”
His wife and two sons survive Rico Wade.