Speech - vocals and countless others that contribute including
Nicha - vocals;
Za - bass;
Rick Ward - guitar
SPEECH receives a proclamation from the city of ATLANTA
(April 16th 2007)
It’s a rarity that the press covers hip-hop artists receiving proclamations from their respective cities; instead we hear of arrest, search warrants and restraining orders. Well, April 16th 2007, the great city of Atlanta gave Speech the high honor of a proclamation. All of this in the midst of the Don Imus controversy, where he called some black women “nappy” and “Ho’s”. That controversy led to Hip Hop being under fire because of the blatant disrespect of black women from other black men as well!
Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Redman, Wu-tang, Ice-T, Biggie, Tupac, Busta Rhymes, Paul
Wall, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Nelly whose lyrics and videos have consistently degraded women and promoted
self-hatred. All of that is in stark contrast to Arrested Development’s lyricist, Speech. The new album, with his group Arrested Development, entitled “Since The last Time” is filled with relevant anthems of self-determination and hope.
Hip-Hop by nature has always been anti-establishment, so why the celebration of a proclamation anyway? Hip Hop has brought anthems like F___ the police or Fight the power! To some, Speech’s lyrics seem to lessen the potency & edge of hip-hop music.
Yet, a listen to his lyrics shows a complex and passionate mc. Speech is no stranger to anti-oppression sentiments. With lyrics about “the government being overthrown” – from the song, "Give a Man a Fish" (3 years, 5months… EMI) or “Let’s talk about a revolution" – from the song, "Revolution" (X Soundtrack Warner Brothers).
Speech has been a lyricist, political activist & recently even a minister of the gospel. His track record of consistent racial dignity and purpose shines as a direct contrast to the present day opportunist
who switches sides depending on the popular musical climate.
Speech hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin son of Robert Thomas & Patricia Pattillo. Patricia is owner of Wisconsin’s largest black newspaper, the Milwaukee Community Journal. Speech has two children and a wife of 17 years. His group Arrested Development have re-united and are on tour promoting, “Since The Last Time”. For more information on Speech visit: www.arresteddevelopmentmusic.com
CONGRATULATIONS TO SPEECH!! Speech's solo album "The Vagabond" was voted BEST RAP/HIP-HOP album in the 6th Annual Independent Music Awards!
Click on the Buy Now Button below to purchase "The Vagabond" today!
Speech was born in Milwaukee. The youngest son of Robert & Patricia Thomas/Pattillo who for 35 years have owned and operated Wisconsin's Largest African American newspaper The Milwaukee Community Journal. He grew up hearing the concerns of the black community and feeling the pulse of the black experience. Speech fell in love with music as he tagged along at his fathers night club, "The Fox Trap", hearing songs by Marvin Gaye, and The Spinners. Speech saw the power of music and the reaction of the crowds and he knew that he wanted to use that power to share messages of hope, change and inspiration.
With that mission, Speech would later start a group called Arrested Development. From humble and rural beginnings, Arrested Development became a landmark, & pioneering force in the music world. The group won their first two Grammy Awards (Best new artists & Best rap single 1993) with songs that Speech wrote and produced from the album, 3 years, 5 months and 2 days in the life of...". They released a second album in 1994, "Zingalamaduni" which was met with critical acclaim and was nominated for another Grammy award. The group went on a hiatus in 1995, which is when Speech began to record some experimental and interesting grooves on his own. His record label heard the works in progress and asked to release the raw demo quality songs. In 1996 with his self titled debut, Speech as a solo artist was born.
Speech was asked to tour with Vice President Al Gore and first lady Hillary Clinton during their presidential campaigns, that experience would be the first of many things to come, including tours with fellow Grammy Award-winners Hootie & the Blowfish, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Youssou N'dour, James Brown, Parliament - Funkadelic, Jason Mraz, and The Roots.
In addition to touring and releasing his own albums, Speech has produced songs for the legendary Zap Mama, (Spike Lee's) Malcolm X soundtrack, and other films like, Boomerang, Bebe's Kids, Warriors of Virtue, "Whipped" and Michael Jordan's "to the Max" (An IMAX production).
Speech often loves to visit the country of Japan, where he performs at the historic Blue Note establishments. He has released 5 solo albums since 1996 all of which have spawned Top 10 hit singles. His album "Spiritual People" released in 2000 went Gold in 3 months of its release. It was also awarded the Best black music album of the year 2000 by ADLIB magazine. Speech has supported each album with sold out tours and intense promotional schedules, making at least two trips to Japan per year. Speech feeling that his own country had been left out, decided to again focus on the U.S.
In April of 2006 Speech graced U.S. stages with a refreshing blend of himself on turntables and vocals, Rick Ward on guitar, and Mike Mullis on Mandolin. The tour was an instant success re-introducing him to the U.S. market while promoting his new album, "The Vagabond" (Bluhammock records). Speech's solo album "The Vagabond" was voted BEST RAP/HIP-HOP album in the 6th Annual Independent Music Awards!
His present home is in Atlanta, where Speech owns Vagabond Productions, which since 1994, has been a staple in promoting hip-hop, neo-soul and culture.
Speech maintains great passion for hip hop music & social change. Look for colaborations with Ty, 1 Giant Leap, Braille and the highly anticipated Arrested Development re-union album, "Since the Last Time."
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Much love and respect for everything you doing in Mil-Town. It's good to see you taking over the family business, and even better seeing the JournalSentinel recognize it on the front page. There are positive brothers out here, US. wes
I appreciate your work,(both solo and with Arrested Development) now, then and I feel - future. Thank you for your honesty, bravery, integrity and talent.
hey speech, just passing by to see how u and the fam are doing? I..ll be in in th US this winter and might pass by ATL for some days. musch love from vienna, isi
NUFF RESPECT AND HIP-HOP LOVE,FAMILY. ME AND ES...SO MUCH APPRECIATE THE SONG YOU MADE FOR THE "INTERVENTION" MIXTAPE. IT WAS SUCH A HONOR TO GET U ON NOT JUST A MIXTAPE BUT ON ONE OF OUR TRACKS. I'VE WORKED WITH BIG NAME,KNOWN NAMES,UNKNOWN CATS FROM MCS TO DJS TO SINGERS. REAL WORDS RIGHT HERE,B.NOOOOBODY IS MORE STAND UP THAN YOU SPEECH.WORD IS BOND.YOU THE MOST HUMBLE JUST COOL COOL COOL DUDE EVER TO GRACE A MICROPHONE. YOU GET POUNDS OF RESPECT AND HIP-HOP LOVE OUT HERE IN THE ROTTEN JUNGLES OF THE EAST COAST. U EVER NEED ANY FREE PROMOTION OR ANYTHING? I GOT YA BACK LIKE A KNAPSACK,SPEECH. PAZ MI HERMANO.. DJ DAVITO AND THE WHOLE DAVITO'S WAY FAMILY.INTELLIGENT HIP-HOP FOR LIFE.
OBAMA HASN’T WON YET. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, IS THE PRESIDENCY. TO REALLY WIN, TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY AFFECT YOUR LIFE- HE STILL HAS TO GET PAST A VERY RACIST WHITE MAJORITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS. NOTICE THAT I USED THE WORDS REGISTERED VOTERS. HE CAN ONLY BE PRESIDENT, WITH YOU REGISTERING TO VOTE, AND GETTING YO ASS AWAY FROM THE TV, THE CELL PHONE, THE INTERNET, AND THE JOB, AND TAKING THAT DAY TO VOTE FOR HIM, THUS TRUMPING THE OLD, RACIST, BACKWARDS GENERATION WHO WILL BE OUT IN FULL FORCE TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN PURELY ON THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN, WHICH IS DISGUSTING.
*sign up for mail in ballot if u too dam lazy to go to the polls, BUT VOTE
