Speech

"Everything is relative. In the beginning hip-hop was so diverse and that was a different era. We are still bringing the same flavor but it is just not mainstream anymore."

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. I am Speech, from the crew Arrested Development. I am a hip- hop artist, been out since the late 80’s.

Q. Did you have the intention of having so many collaborations on this album?

A. Yes, it was intentional. We really wanted to celebrate hip- hop, so we knew we wanted to have as many greats apart of this as possible.

Q. Who or what track had the best vibes while working on this project?

A. We really did not get a chance to vibe due to covid, but I would say that working with Big Daddy

Kane on his track was a great vibe because sometimes you want to work with some artist, and it may not always workout, so I was excited that it worked out with him, and we were able to produce a great track.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the new project coming out.

A. It is an incredibly special project just dropped late last year on all streaming platforms. It is a celebration of hip-hop music. It is called "For the FKN Love". This will be Arrested Development’s 15th album, and it has a lot of great legendary artists featured, Big Daddy Kane, The Sugar Hill Gang, and Monie Love just to name a few. We also have a few new artists featured as well.

Q. What was it like bringing all these legends together for this project?

A. It is always great working with legends of hip-hop, people you admire and look up to, and it is even better when it works. It was hip-hop at its finest. I am proud of how it all turned out.

Q. Going into the process of this project, what was the theme you had in mind?

A. Well, I wanted to cater to the people of the hip-hop generation that are now in their mid-30’s early 40’s. We do not get that old school hip-hop sound as much today. We respect and want the younger generation to enjoy it, but we really targeted the old-school hip-hop era. We wanted to represent the lovers of hip-hop that have been in this for 30+ years.

Q. What would you say made this process different due to Covid?

A. Covid changed the game of approaching making an album. I would honestly say Covid helped in making this album and the previous one, due to slowing everyone down and allowing us to have the time to work on the album. We all could obviously be doing our own things if it were not for Covid, so we were able to get it done.

Q. What are some of the positive attributes that you can take away from this project?

A. I would say the material itself and the fact that we are celebrating our 30-year anniversary and we are around and still relevant and making an impact in today’s music industry with all new material.

Q. If you could go back 30 years, what advice would you give to “Younger Speech”?

A. That is a good question, because I really do not say too much, he did pretty darn well. If anything, I would say lookout for your group members and make sure that you are doing what is necessary to keep them united. I would tell him to take his time on our second project. Take your time and have patience.

Q. How many members are in the group?

A. We have four members in the group, but we have four band members. So, I will say eight total on stage.

Q. How did your music content grow or change over the years?

A. Everything is relative. In the beginning hip-hop was so diverse and that was a different era. We are still bringing the same flavor, but it is just not mainstream anymore.

Q. How do we change this and get it back in the mainstream?

A. We as a people need to learn to make conscious decisions to promote and support what we think is best for us. Not just go with the flow because if you go with the flow its being controlled and created by someone so why not us. We need to get back to the point where we are not so sensitive or to hard. To have truth in our hip-hop again. I have a documentary on YouTube called the "Nigga Factory" please check it out, valuable info related to this topic.

Q. What else do you have going on outside of the new project?

A. Just proud of the project. Proud of my children and all the endeavors they have going for themselves currently.

Q. Tell us where we can follow you.

A. On Instagram and Twitter @Speech__ website: Arresteddevelopmentmusic.com. You can get merchandise and tour schedule there. Please stream For the FKN love.

Q. What is the one message that you want to carry out through your family for the next ten generations?

A. You matter. Two words, you matter.