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Speech | |
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_(3295913335).jpg) Speech with Arrested Development in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Todd Thomas |
| Born | (1968-10-25)October 25, 1968 (age 56) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Chrysalis/EMI |
| Member of | Arrested Development |
| Website | speechmusic |
Todd Thomas (born October 25, 1968), better known by the stage nameSpeech, is an American rapper. He is a member of theprogressive hip hop groupArrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.
Speech was born inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, and spent his childhood years there and inRipley, Tennessee, before relocating toGeorgia in 1987 to attend theArt Institute of Atlanta.[1] He attendedRufus King High School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His first rap group, Attack, was active from 1984 until 1986. He also DJ'd at a popular teen club called the Fox Trap along with other guest DJs.
In 1987, Speech joined with fellow DJHeadliner to form the groupArrested Development.[1] After over three years together, the group released their inaugural album,3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of....[1] Speech performed lead vocals, and produced the group's tracks. The group's follow-up album,Zingalamaduni,[1] fared poorly by comparison, but was critically acclaimed. In a four star review,Rolling Stone wrote that "Speech still has a gift for the swinging rhythms and decent expressions that get past the differences that divide the pop audience."[2] Speech went on to pursue his solo career, also starting Vagabond Productions as a vehicle for Arrested Development and their business dealings, and became a promoter of neo soul, hip-hop, and rock concerts inAtlanta. The company then switched to representing artists in U.S. and Japan. Since then, Vagabond has become an all around production house that presents music to various labels and digital outlets across the world.
In 2000, Speech also reunited with Arrested Development (without the participation of DJ Headliner or Aerle Taree).
His debut solo album,Speech, onChrysalis/EMI, was released January 23, 1996.[1] "Like Marvin Said (What's Going On)", released by EMI Records in November 1995, was the first single from the album.[1] From March to May 1996, Speech toured Japan, Guadeloupe,Amsterdam, and several areas of the U.S. "Like Marvin Said" was a No. 1 hit in Japan for seven weeks. In December 1996, Speech became a disciple of Jesus Christ within theInternational Churches of Christ. Speech did various shows with Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Youssou N'dour, James Brown, Parliament – Funkadelic, Jason Mraz, and The Roots. The musical side of Speech kept him producing and writing songs for progressive artists likeZap Mama, Spike Lee'sMalcolm X soundtrack, andBoomerang starringEddie Murphy. He was in other movies likeBebe's Kids,Warriors of Virtue, Whipped, and theMichael Jordan documentaryTo the Max (anIMAX production). He built a home studio called the Podium in Fayetteville, Georgia. He licensed his second solo album in 1998,1998 Hoopla, toToshiba EMI in Japan.Hoopla was later released in 1999 in the United States on TVT Records. In 2000, Speech recorded and licensed to Toshiba EMI his third solo project entitledSpiritual People, which garnered his biggest solo album sales to date, being certified gold by theRIAJ in November 2000.[3] Speech followed up with various sold-out tours and heavy promotional schedules.Spiritual People was later released in the United States in 2001 onArtistDirect. Speech then licensed to Toshiba EMI, Down South Produckshuns which spawned another top 10 hit entitled "Braided Hair." Vagabond Productions later released a Speech solo compilation of Down South Produckshun songs,Spiritual People songs (U.S. version) and songs from Arrested Development'sAmong the Trees album, entitledThe Vagabond in 2006. That album was released on Bluhammock records and won in The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album.[4]
Speech toured with US Vice PresidentAl Gore and First LadyHillary Clinton in theSouth during the 1996 United States Presidential election. Speech was also invited to and attended theinaugural celebrations. In November 1996, he toured withHootie and the Blowfish.
In addition to touring and releasing his own albums, Speech has performed on several other projects including1 Giant Leap and collaborating withZap Mama on "Each Step Moves Us On".
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