We recently connected with Speech and have shared our conversation below.
Speech, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents did a lot right. 1.) We had Sunday dinners where my dad taught my brothers and I how to be analytic. To think about things through deeply. And to be solution oriented.
2.) My mother loved fostering children and ultimately adopted an African boy from Ghana. It taught me the need to get involved. Do what you can to help others that may be in need.
3.) Both of my parents owned businesses. It taught me the ability to dream and make something from nothing if necessary.
4.) My parents worked together EVEN after their divorce. They frequently looked out for one another’s interest. They taught me that love shows itself in many ways and that devotion is unconditional. When you love… you love.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Speech. A Hip Hop artist, husband to a wife of 28 years, a speaker, minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and father to two beautiful kids. I started out in the music industry as a DJ at the age of 13. I did house parties all the way to a night club that my father owned, called the Fox Trap.THen I got into making music and ultimately started a group called Arrested Development.
Many have called us true Hip-hop trailblazers since 1991, Arrested Development has to millions, been cultural champions of consciousness and empowerment across the planet. Our representation of eclectic and vibrant African sounds and clothing has produced a unique clash of rhythms and style that continue to contrast the expected look and sound of Hip-hop culture.
My group have been supporters of important movements like the National Coalition of The Homeless, and the African National Congress (ANC).
With numerous album releases, and world tours, Our album, “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of…”, earned us two Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best Rap Single (Tennessee), 2 MTV awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and the NAACP Image Award. Rolling Stone magazine named them Band of The Year in 1992, while VH-1 named us one of the greatest Hip-hop artists of all time! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even named the AD smash “Tennessee” one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Sharing the stage with such important figures such as Nelson Mandela, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Hilary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, AD are the categorical definition of legends.
Our band continues curating great music that is about self reflection and igniting change. Our new double album, ‘Bullets in the Chamber’ is no exception. The 21-track project features a selection of legendary musicians including: Chuck D, Sky Zoo, Canibus, Diana King, Ras Kass, O’hene Savant, Twan Mack, MRK SX, Do it All Dupree, Grandmaster Caz, Sol Messiah & Sa-Roc. With special features by: Montsho Eshe & Rasa Don. Executively produced by Speech for Vagabond Productions and Configa. The single “Hip Hop Saves Lives”, released December 2023, features the incomparable Chuck D & Grandmaster Caz. ‘Bullets in the Chamber’ (the album) is OUT NOW and brings incomparable lyricism, & storytellin.
I also do documentaries like 16 Bars the film, where I go into a prison and write music with inmates. I do podcasts like “Track Change” that also highlights the struggles and realities of those incarcerated. I also do keynote speaking, where I help people become BRAVE LEADERS.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As an artist, we get to do what we love, while being intimate with total strangers because of it. Art reaches past the superficial and immediately reaches the depths of a person soul.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
To me, being resilient is being able to stare extreme hardship in the face and to move on regardless.
In 1994, the first ever HOT 97 Summer Jam concert took place.
It was a star-studded line up. My group Arrested Development was a headliner!
Along with us was artists like: Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, GangStarr, SWV, Black Moon and more.
It was in New Jersey at the Brendan Byrne Arena. 20,000 people inside! Quite packed. Everyone from Frank Sinatra, the Grateful Dead to my group Arrested Development had graced this stage!
Every fan was from NEW YORK or Jersey! (A bit frightening in the early days of Hip Hop)
IT’S MY BANDS TURN TO ROCK THE STAGE and before we even did 8 bars of music, we got boo’ed.
It was moments like THESE where I had to go back to MY CONSTITUTION.
Not the constitution of the United States but my OWN personal constitution.
Are we a great group? YES
Does our group have a purpose? YES
Are we imposters? NO
Do we belong here? YES
The boo’s kept on going tho.
That night was one of the hardest nights of my LIFE.
To see my music peers in the background as we’re getting BOO’ED
It was so TOUGH.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
Thank God, our story didn’t end at the Brendan Byrne Arena that night…
We went on to release another album. That album went GOLD. (500,000 copies sold)
We did a movie soundtrack for the Movie “X” (Malcolm X) directed by none other than Spike Lee,
Starring Denzel Washington! The soundtrack had my group along side Aretha Franklin.
We even did a third album that was also nominated for another Grammy!
Our story didn’t end at the Brendan Byrne Arena that night.
Being resilient is part of Brave leadership to me.
When times get tough, remembering your personal constitution may be the only thing that keeps you going.
Contact Info:
- Website: ADtheBand.com
- Instagram: Speech__
- Facebook: Speech Official
- Twitter: Speech__
- Youtube: Speech Official
Image Credits
Photo by Matthew Hise