A good rap
Despite a career spanning more than three decades, Arrested Development are still finding ways to spread peace and love – Miriam Balanescu meets the group ahead of their Junction show
From working with victims of domestic abuse to being specifically requested by legendary director Spike Lee to compose the closing track for his cult classic Malcolm X, a message of hope and positivity has always been the anchor for Arrested Development. Fresh from making two documentaries (including one in which front man Todd Thomas, aka Speech, creates songs with prison inmates), there is a synergy for the group between activism and music – their irresistible rhythms coupled with uplifting, sometimes eye-opening lyrics.
Now on tour in the UK – with the next stop being the Junction on 8 August – their latest release Bullets in the Chamber homes in on issues like war in the Congo, school shootings and the climate crisis. Meanwhile, Speech says ‘their mission has remained pretty solid’: to provide a positive Afrocentric counterpoint to what Speech believes is the more negative messaging of mainstream gangsta rap.
“We unofficially broke up back in 1995 and returned to recording together in 2000,” explains Speech. “[Ever since then], we have released certain records in certain markets because of how supportive those markets have been – Japan, Germany, the UK, the US.” Speech has been the bedrock for Arrested Development since he co-founded with Timothy Barnwell, better known as Headliner, in 1988. Since then, the band’s roster has shifted (with a total of 16 past members), eventually settling on its current musicians: One Love, Jason ‘JJ Boogie’ Reichert and Fareedah Aleem. Together, this quartet of core members branch out into wider collaborations stretching across continents.
“We’ve been relying heavily on producers from around the world,” Speech says. “One in particular is Configa out of the UK. Because of our distance, we usually email ideas and tracks back and forth to each other until the song is complete.”
To date, the band is the only hip-hop act to have won the title of best new artist at the Grammys. For Speech, it’s part of a pattern of Black artists and genres going ignored. “The Grammys have again stopped airing the best rap album award, which is crazy because of how popular hip-hop is. There’s a serious disconnect between what fans of music say is Grammy-worthy and what gets the awards – Beyoncé, Kendrick, Arrested Development, Drake etc.”
Things have changed for the better for Black artists, though. Speech adds: “There is more money to be made. Indie artists have more chances for releasing music to the masses. The negative is that there is way more corporate control of streaming discovery and radio play.”
One of the more unexpected turns in the band’s journey was a lawsuit against Fox when a certain TV show stole its name. “I feel it was necessary for us to try and maintain the integrity of our brand,” says Speech. “Historically, all TV shows that take band names become more popular than the band itself – Living Colour, Survivor. But seeing as we have been indie for decades now, I’m actually proud our brand has maintained relevancy.”
With their overseas tour underway, things are looking up. “We’re loving the UK – since Covid-19, we’ve toured there every year,” Speech reveals. “It’s become a tradition for us. The crowds are amazing and the love for music is special.” Having released a smattering of new singles, could an album be on the horizon? Speech teases: “You never know…”
