New Speech Album Drops Tomorrow!

Speech's new album, Expansion, drops tomorrow--what more is there to say? You can pre-order the digital version at Bandcamp...now! Here's the link. And here's the tracklist:

	1.	A Different World
	2.	Just Too Cold (feat. MRK SX, Rambo & Danny B)
	3.	Seeing For the First Time (feat. MOMBRU & Xtatic)
	4.	Funkin’ Great (feat. U.Will, Arrested Development & Otis Mensah)
	5.	Get Me (feat. Clint Taylor & MRK SX)
	6.	Dance Alone (feat. Rambo)
	7.	Expansion (feat. Rambo & Arabiah Love)
	8.	Rome Can Fall (feat. Arabiah Love)
	9.	Virgin (feat. Cris Acosta, Twan Mack & Rambo)
	10.	Way Down Here (feat. Rambo & Ke’Andra)
	11.	Whateva (feat. Rambo)
	12.	Do It (feat. MOMBRU & Ke’Andra)
	13.	Just Too Cold (feat Configa, Rambo & Danny B) [Configa Remix]
	14.	Seeing For The First Time (feat Configa & Xtatic) [Configa Remix]
	15.	A Different World (feat. Configa) [Configa Remix]

New Speech Single A Different World

So I'm a little late on this, but better late than never--Speech's new single "A Different World" is here. Check it out, this one time, at Bandcamp! 

Nice Review for Onya

The Hype Magazine gave a brief but nice review of the new Arrested Development single "Onya." You can read it here. 

While you're at it, check out their recent podcast featuring Speech, and a nice article/interview from 2016 with AD member Tasha LaRae!

Expansion Delayed Until 2021 and Speech Interview With DJ Vlad

 

Per the latest email newsletter from Arrested Development, Speech's upcoming album Expansion, originally scheduled for release, well, now, has been delayed until 2021.

Honestly, I think it's the right move. While I always look forward to new Speech music, Don't Fight Your Demons has been getting a lot of attention and it seems to me that it's best to let that breathe and have its time in the sunshine. That said, when they say 2021, hopefully they mean January 1, 2021. ;)

In other news from the update, CDs and Vinyl are still forthcoming for Don't Fight and Speech's interview with Vlad is up now on the YouTube. I imagine this will add to the buzz for the new album, and bigly so. I will be checking it out soon! Links are below.

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Part Four:

16 Bars on Amazon Prime

 

I'm going to be honest--I had no idea Speech's documentary 16 Bars was available on DVD. I've just ordered a copy. And the good news is that it's also on Amazon Prime, so if you have Prime, check it out now! Here's a link to the DVD on Amazon, which also contains a link to the video on Prime. I will have my thoughts once I watch the film. Looking forward to it!

And while you're at it, check out the soundtrack here! Speaking of things I didn't know, I was not aware a CD had been produced for the soundtrack--so now I have bought that as well.

Reel People Featuring Speech "I Never Knew"

Great news--despite just releasing the new AD album and having a new Speech album coming in two weeks, there's even more new music to check out--this time with Speech featuring on a new song from the group Reel People. This is an upbeat, happy tune featuring a lot of Speech, along with an official video. Check it out below! And the single includes a longer edit that runs over 5 minutes, so check that out as well on all major streaming and purchase sites.

New Speech Album October 23rd

New AD album not enough for ya? Good. I'm with you. I can always use more myself. And along that line there's good news, as Speech has a new solo album coming up less than a month from now--Expansion, releasing October 23rd.

I can't guarantee the above is the cover, but I assume it is as it is on Speech's site--and as someone with a daughter that rides horses, I love it.

For those that missed it, Speech released an EP earlier this year titled Expansion Pt. 1 with 4 tracks--presumably the full album is an, ahem, expansion of that project. That EP can be found here. As much as I am enjoying all of the new, good music that's been released lately, I am excited to hear this project as well! Keep it coming! As the saying goes, "I am still thirsty."

Poor Little Music Boy Cover

If I had to pick a favorite Speech solo song, it'd have to be "Poor Little Music Boy" (particularly the live version from Speech's Best). Here's a fun version of the song by Nomakosazana and Uli Lenz from their album Art of the Duo, Tenderness that I found while playing around with my Amazon music app. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/GhfQDAIvutM

Speech Jailed

I can't think of a better story to kick off this blog again--Speech has been jailed, peeps. Behind cold, hard steel.

To work on a new album. No, really.

Speech, the stage name of Todd Thomas, is in Richmond recording Arrested Development’s next album at the jail. He’s using the studio, which has been there since the jail opened in 2014, but mostly he’s there for the talent and inspiration.

“When we got here, I didn’t know how talented or untalented any of the residents were going to be,” he says. “It’s been part of the journey to really interact with them and learn how talented they are. I’ve just been floored by it.”

Sounds very intriguing for a multitude of reasons. Check out the rest of the story here!

Real Love Instrumental

Got a really cool request for a repost of the Real Love Instrumental, so here it is. Now why is it cool you may ask? It's because the person who requested it, posting as Art Challuunge, used "Real Love" as their wedding song and he wants to use it as part of an anniversary gift for his wife.

So, very cool.

This instrumental was actually ripped from a vinyl release by my buddy Christian, who then uploaded them to share. Not sure I ever saw this blog as being able to have an impact on cool moments like this before. I love it.

As far as Arrested Development and Speech, I am simply waiting for the official release of Splash to hit, as well as a One Love solo album which I know a lot of AD fans are excited about. Hopefully we will hear more on those projects soon!

Ninja Turtles Theme "Everybody"

 

I'll be honest--I was under the impression I had managed to track down every commercially released song from either Speech or Arrested Development. But I am always happy to be proven wrong, because that means there is a song I've missed and thus new Speech music! Here's one featuring Speech with Metis, WISE, and JAMIL from a 2003 version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. From what I've been able to gather, this was the theme for the show for a season or two, at least in Japan. And it appears this soundtrack was only released in Japan as well. It's no "Ninja Rap" (just kidding) but it is pretty catchy! This version is not the best quality, but it's the only I can find, so it'll have to do!

Thanks to Kel for pointing this one out to me!

The Subjective Perspective Interview

Here's a little clip from the Subjective Perspective Show and an interview they did with Speech, with Speech giving his thoughts on God. I am far from a religious person but this may be of value to you. The quality is pretty choppy for a moment, but I still thought I would share! For the full interview, click here.

Beats From Speechs Vault Request

I had a request for a repost of Beats From Speech's Vault, a very rare project from Speech. So here it is! And here are some details from a previous writeup of it:

For those not aware, this is a project that Speech talked about briefly on his debut album and is extremely hard to find- Mike from Vagabond Records was nice enough to send this my way for the site.

Interview With Speech

Hello all, long time no see. There has been a dearth of Speech and AD stories as of late, but from what I understand, they are in the process of recording new stuff, which is always welcome. In the meantime, here is a little interview with Speech with Chuck D's website Hip Hop Gods, which is a great site to follow for us old-school fans.

Happy Birthday Speech!

On Rapstation.com they have a cool little segment called "This Day in Hip Hop and Rap History" as read by Chuck D.  Today's segment is dedicated to Speech- check it out here!  And thanks to Kel for sending this my way, which reminds me- you should check out his show on the same site here.  He always plays great stuff, both new and classic, hence the name All School Sessions.

And while we're at it, happy 44th birthday to Speech!

Spiritual People Import "Bonus Songs"

Someone recently requested that I re-upload the songs that are exclusive to the "import" version of Spiritual People, so here they are!  The import is actually the original version and it was later released in the States.  As always, let me know if there are any dead links or anything you want, and I'll put it up so long as you can't buy it now on an in-print release.

So Much Folly
The Temporary (Woe Is Me)
Poverty
Spiritual People (Original Mix)

I also see there were a couple of skits on this version that didn't make it over, so for completists here you go:

An Agenda (Skit)
People Everyday (Skit)   (That title sounds vaguely familiar....)
Warm and Snuggly (skit)
Turn the Record Over (Skit)

Making of I'ma Fight Back Right Now

Saw this on twitter- a little video with some behind the scenes pics of the "I'ma Fight Back Right Now" video shoot.  In case you missed it, this song was released as a single and as part of the new free AD album Standing at the Crossroads. 

Speech's Response to Unsung

Here's a video response by Speech to the recent Unsung episode.  I didn't personally think that this was necessary, but I can kind of understand why Speech felt it was.  Some cool tidbits here not necessarily related to the show- for example, apparently on stage at the Grammy's they receive prop awards.  For some reason weird little trivia items like that entertain me.  Anyway, here's his brief response, mainly covering the issues with Dionne Farris.



As far as Speech, I saw some crazily negative things said about him on Twitter.  I don't know him at all, but all I can say is that he has been unbelievably supportive of this site and has done a couple of nice things for me that he didn't have to do.  Yes, this site promotes his music, but you'd be surprised how little that often matters to some "celebrities."  And everyone around him that I have dealt with either from the group or Vagabond records has been nothing but pure class, and I can't imagine those kinds of people would put up with it if he wasn't the real deal.  Were there problems with the group, especially in the early days?  Of course.  Find me a group where there wasn't!  And that's my two pennies.....  :)

Ebony on "Three Years" Anniversary

Great piece, nuff said, read it here.

Indigo Blume On Sale

If you haven't had a chance to pick up the children's book Indigo Blume and the Garden City, well, here's your opportunity, and at a great price:  $10 with free shipping.  And why is this relevant to AD and/or Speech fans?  Because the book includes a bonus CD with a song by Speech called "I'm Different" as well as an instrumental version, and personally, the song is probably worth the $10 on it's own.  The book itself is a fun book, bright, colorful, and well illustrated, and my three-year old daughter has asked me to read it to her quite a few times- and we have a ton of books for her, so that's saying something.  Just wanted to pass it on as this is a really good deal.  Anyway, here's the link.