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.

A Return to Conscious Rap?

 

As most are likely aware, last week saw the release of what to me personally were three really big records from three of my favorites: Arrested Development, naturally, along with Public Enemy and Paris. Many others also took notice of the moment and some included the Nappy Roots in the mix, which is fine as while not one of my personal favorites, I do respect their artistry. 

On that note, Hip Hop DX wrote an article that posed the question "Is This a Return of Conscious Rap?" Considering conscious rap never went away I would say "No" out of principle and stubbornness, but it certainly is refreshing to see a little more attention being sent to these groups at the moment. 

All in all, I think hip hop is a big tent and there's room for all sorts of subject matter and styles, but if people want to embrace the styles and artists I tend to gravitate toward, that would be just fine with me!

Check out the article here, it's a good read.

More Great Reviews

Reviews! Get your reviews of the new AD album Don't Fight Your Demons!

First we'll start with a rave from Hip Hop Golden Age: 

https://hiphopgoldenage.com/arrested-development-dont-fight-your-demons/

Another rave review, this one from the Irked Music Geek:

https://www.irkedmusicgeek.com/home/2020/9/29/sunset-in-ghana-arrested-development-x-ohene-savant-x-rambo-x-configa

One more great one, this one is very in depth, which I love, and comes from Infinite Sounds UK.

https://infinitesoundsuk.blogspot.com/2020/09/album-review-dont-fight-your-demons-by.html?spref=tw

And here's a nice note on "Becoming" from Spitfire Hiphop:

https://www.spitfirehiphop.com/features/2020/09/arrested-development-becoming-off-dont-fight-your-demons-lp/

There might be some bad reviews of the album, I don't know, but I haven't found any yet--so I'll assume there's not. 

Don't Fight Your Demons Review

Arrested Development, Don't Fight Your Demons

After giving the new release by Arrested Development one last listen before writing this, I realized that I was trying to complicate something that was actually simple. (Ain't that how it goes, though?) Once the last track, "The Forsaken," came to a close, I turned away from my laptop had one very clear thought: 

Well, that's an album.

Yeah, of course it is, you might have said if you were there to hear my thought with me. What the hell else would it be?

You're right, I might say back. I should probably clarify.

And this is where is I complicate everything by explaining. So here goes. 

Don't Fight Your Demons is an album the way they used to make 'em. A Tribe Called Quest. De la Soul. Public Enemy. Eric B and Rakim, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, and the Beastie Boys. And yes, Arrested Development.

Full "Becoming" Video Now Available

Just like the title says, the full video for the first single from Don't Fight Your Demons, "Becoming," is available now. Check it out below!

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."

Don't Fight Your Demons Now Available

Today is the day! Don't Fight Your Demons is available now on all streaming sites and for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, and https://officialarresteddevelopment.bandcamp.com/  My understanding is there could be a CD release (I hope so, I'm old school that way) but there is not one as of yet.

I am having a new music overload with this, the new-ish Public Enemy (about half the album is made up of tracks from their prior release), totally new Paris, and massive deluxe re-release of Sign o' the Times. Finally some good news in this accursed year.

Speaking of good news, here's an early rave review of the new album from Cryptic Rock! And here's another one from writer William P. Stodden!

I'm slowly getting back acclimated to this whole blogging thing, but my aim is to have more on the new album later. In the meantime, enjoy!

The Story Behind "Becoming"

Via the confounding Facebook, Speech has shared a nice behind-the-scenes analysis of Arrested Development's new single "Becoming." I don't believe you need a Facebook account to view the video--hopefully I am not wrong about that. If you don't have a Facebook account, you're smarter than me. Anyway, links below. Enjoy!

And as a reminder, the new Arrested Development album Don't Fight Your Demons drops at midnight tonight along with new albums by Paris (Safe Space Invader) and Public Enemy (What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?), which makes for quite a trifecta. 

https://www.facebook.com/brotherspeech/videos/10158847225603894

New AD Single and Album

In case you haven't heard, AD is releasing a new album, Don't Fight Your Demons, this Friday--which makes this an ideal time to wake this blog from its slumber. So far two songs have been released from the album, "Becoming" and "Young Americans," both on one single along with a few other little bonuses, which I love about singles (available here). Here's a preview for the video of "Becoming":

And here's a behind-the-scenes look at "Becoming" from Configa, who will be producing all or most of the new album:

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