MAN, I REMEMBER MY AWKWARD HIGH SCHOOL DANCES LIKE THEY WERE YESTERDAY.  Once the DJ pressed play and you heard the first few scattered drum beats and the whisper “Tennessee” blare through the speakers, all of my hormone-infested classmates went CA-RAZY dancing like it was 1999 (for reals)!  Of course, no boys wanted to dance with me so I spun around on my own.  Loser.

Anyway, Arrested Development is a ground-breaking uplifting Afro-centric hip-hop band that exploded onto the scene in the early 90’s. Thanks to the brainchild of Speech (born Todd Thomas) and a creative army of musicians with a vision of uplifting the community with rhythmic vibes and brilliance, Arrested Development went on to become two-time Grammy-winners, scooped MTV awards, esteemed honor of being labeled Best Artist by Rolling Stone, and has been showered with critical acclaim right from the start.  Recently releasing a veritable rhymic force of an album called “STRONG,” the group is about to burst the music scene wide open again.  The songs are impossibly catchy and have thought-provoking messages that make me reminisce about playing ghetto games (no it doesn’t).   ”La La La” is a stand-out song to me  but “Greener” is dancing in my brain, too.

I actually once met a guy named “Knowledge” who sounds like he might be a band member of Arrested Development. Some members’ names are Speech, 1 Love, Za, Headliner. Is there a name generator for naming Arrested Development band members like the Jersey Shore name generator ?  That might not be a bad idea to have on their website.  Just throwin’ it out there-

Arrested Development has remained HUGE around the world and is playing Chastain Park Amphitheater with Tears for Fears this Thursday in Atlanta. Check their website for tour dates near you.

And now, the Interview with Speech!

RP: You’ve had a LOT of achievements early on. What mistakes did you make with all that early fame that you wished you knew better?
Speech/AD: Do you have enough space or time for me to REALLY answer that? The biggest mistakes were me NOT knowing how to stand up for the group members as much as I should. People would often single me out and put me in the front of pictures or not want to interview the others members and I just thought well that’s the way it is. That ended causing dissension within the group and I didn’t know any better at that time.

RP:  Back in the day, rap and hip-hop WAS about uplifting the community and banding together. Now it’s evolved to degrading women, promoting violence, flashy cars, and partying has become very mainstream. Has your vision remained the same or can you see today’s hardcore scene as art?
Speech/AD: Well, I wish I could say that Hip-hop was about uplifting, it really never was ALL about that. From the very beginning, there was bragging about girls, partying, wanting a fancy car. But it WAS about being an alternative to fighting, killing, gang violence! It WAS an outlet for frustrated, oppressed youth! And when Grandmaster Flash and Furious 5 dropped “The Message”, Hip hop realized that it could also be about pumping messages into the minds of the youth. Of course artists like Public Enemy, Arrested Development, KRS One, Brand Nubians, Poor Righteous Teachers, X-Clan etc. came out to bring more balance and diversity to the genre. I wish today’s music had that same balance. Of course, some hardcore hip-hop music is great art. Look at Eminem’s new album, beautifully written, deeply emotional and well produced. The subject matter doesn’t take away from the artistic integrity necessarily.

RP: Would you want to collaborate with artists like T-Pain, Soulja Boy, Diddy, Ice-T?
Speech/AD: There was a time when I thought Ice –T were friends, only to later find him on national TV dissing us (AD). I was appalled, like how and why would anyone as intelligent as Ice –T diss us? I don’t agree with MUCH of what he says, but it has nothing to do with whether I could ever do a proper colab with him, that being said, it goes that way with ANY artist for me.

RP:  You have a tour date on August 26th in Atlanta with Tears for Fears which seems like an odd (but awesome) combination. How did that come about?
Speech/AD: Well, we’re not touring with Tears For Fears, but we are about to do a one time only show with them! We’re VERY EXCITED! Curt from the group specifically asked to play with us for this particular show, he’s a fan of some of our work, just as I am a fan of theirs. It’s an honor for me and the group!

RP:  Out of the artists that are popular today – which ones do you think are getting it right? Image, messaging, stylistically, musically
Speech/AD: Great question, hard to answer though. I really think so many are getting it “right” from a marketing standpoint, but not always from a spiritual or personal life standpoint. It isn’t enough to simply make a huge impact in the music industry, we are WHOLE PEOPLE. We must be thinking about our WHOLE BEING and not just our musical gift and success within this industry. If we make this industry and our success within it our god, we will lose our perspective of other things that are far more important. (ie: The real GOD, Our spirit, our children, our spouses, family, community)

RP:  Did the band get resistance from the hardcore hip hop community when you first came on the scene as a more positive and uplifting band?
Speech/AD: Surprisingly, we DID get a lot of resistance! Literally some hardcore acts would try to sabotage our live shows by pulling the plug in the middle of our show! Or dissing us on TV, or threatening us, at award shows! Certain rap magazines would refuse to cover us, or give our albums decent reviews! We have ALWAYS been going against the grain, and uphill!

RP:  You have a new album out named Strong. It’s got a lot of eclectic sounds and they are all so catchy! “Africa, We Thank You” sounds like a perfect island summer song. “Greener” is about the state of the environment for African-Americans. What song means the most to you and why?
Speech/AD: At this point my favorite song is “Bloody”! The main reason is the way it feels live and the visuals of peoples faces as we perform it!

RP:  Let’s go with superlatives:
o Who is the most obnoxious? Za’ – bass player and me
o Who gets picked on the most? Eshe – Dancer
o Who is the class clown? 1 Love – vocalist
o Who relishes the spotlight the most? Eshe
o Who is the most shy? Don’t have any of those in this group
o Who is the most interactive with fans (Facebook Twitter Myspace, etc.)? JJ boogie and I are the most but Eshe is a close second to us
o Who’s viewed as a jerk the most? It’s between Za’ and Baba Oje
o Who is the most likely to go on and make movies or try other professions other than music? I would say Eshe

RP:  Baba Oje is considered the elder of the group at 78 years old and the oldest man in hip-hop. What is the biggest lesson he’s taught the other band members? Is he the last one out partying?
Speech/AD: Baba believes in partying, even though he’s now 78! He has taught us all to take care of our bodies (eating) and to respect the elders!

RP: When I put a post on Facebook that I was going to be interviewing the band, my friend Jessica said she saw the band perform live in 2002 and she said it was the best live show she’s ever seen to this day. That’s impressive! What’s the most important ingredient you need to put on an earth-shattering live performance?
Speech/AD: Wow, tell your friend we said THANK YOU for her presence at the celebration (show)! We strive to carry on the legacy of African American performers of the past! In other words…BRING IT!

RP: Did Mr. Wendal ever get a job?
Speech/AD: NAHHHHHH! Too deep for that!

RP: I know you went to court over the television series with the same name. If there is a movie, will you be in it? Can you introduce me to Jason Bateman?
Speech/AD: I’d love to be in the Arrested Development movie, and sure I can intro you to Jason Bateman!

RP:  What are some other possible names you came up with before you decided on Arrested Development?
Speech/AD: Secret Society and Disciples of a Lyrical Rebellion.

RP: Arrested Development has always been known as a very proud Afro-centric band. Are you still “all about the brown and black” since you now have some white in the group?
Speech/AD: Of course, we’re really about LOVE, and respect for all people, but our message is from a perspective of where African Americans find ourselves in this day and age.

RP:  Can I challenge the group on a game of horseshoes?

Speech/AD: You’d lose but sure…I dare ya! (I still think I’d win)

RP:  What are 5 Little Known Facts about Arrested Development?
Speech/AD: We’re:
Sexy
Amazing
Ridiculously Rich
Stupidly smart
And magically delicious!

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