By the time of the release of Dirty South Classics, member CeeLo Green was not a part of the Goodie Mob, as he left the group after the release of the group's third studio album, World Party in 1999. In 2002, he dropped his debut album, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections also via Arista Records. Member Big Gipp's debut solo album, Mutant Mindframe, was released a few months prior to Dirty South Classics through the independent record labelKoch Records. The following year, Goodie Mob (without Cee-Lo) would record and release the group's fourth studio album, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show, also for Koch Records.