Speech (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Todd Thomas better known by the stage name
Speech, is an American rapper
and musician
. He is a member of the progressive hip hop
group Arrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.
, Wisconsin
, United States
and spent his childhood years there and in Ripley, Tennessee
, before relocating to Georgia
in 1987 to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta
. He attended Rufus King High School
.
, which produced several hits and sold very well. Speech performed lead vocals, and produced the group's tracks. The group's follow-up album, Zingalamaduni, fared poorly by comparison, but was critically acclaimed. Speech would later go on to pursue his solo career. Speech also started Vagabond Productions since 1994 - Vagabond started as a vehicle for Grammy winners Arrested Development and their business dealings and became a promoter of neo soul, hip-hop, and rock concerts in Atlanta. The company then switched to representing artist in U.S. & Japan. Since then, Vagabond has become an all around production house that presents music to various labels and on-line outlets across the globe.
In 2000, Speech also reunited with Arrested Development (without the participation of Headliner and Aerle Taree). The group continues to tour the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, Africa, and the Middle East.
/EMI
, was released January 23, 1996.
"Like Marvin Said (What's Going On)", released by EMI Records in November 1995, was the first single from the album. From March to May 1996, Speech toured Japan
, Guadeloupe
, Amsterdam
and several areas of the U.S. “Like Marvin Said” was a #1 hit in Japan for seven weeks. December 1996, Speech became a disciple of Jesus Christ within the International 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 like Zap Mama
, (Spike Lee's) Malcolm X
soundtrack, Paramount pictures
- Boomerang
starring Eddie Murphy, other movies like Bebe's Kids
, Warriors of Virtue
, Whipped
and the Michael Jordan
To the Max (An IMAX production). He built a home studio called the Podium in Fayetteville, Georgia. He licensed his second solo album in 1998, 1998 Hoopla, to Toshiba EMI in Japan. That album spawned a Top #3 hit on Tokio Hot 100 called "Movin' On" and sold very well. 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 entitled Spiritual People, which garnered his biggest solo album sales to date. Spiritual People spawned a #1 hit single Tokio Hot 100 entitled, "Spiritual People". That album went gold in Japan within three months of its release. Speech followed up with various sold-out tours and heavy promotional schedules. Spiritual People CD was later released in the United States in 2001 on ArtistDirect
. Speech then licensed to Toshiba EMI Down South Produckshuns which spawned another top 10 hit entitled "Braided Hair". It went to #3 on Tokio Hot 100. Vagabond Productions later released a Speech solo compilation of Down South Produckshun songs, Spiritual People songs (U.S. version) and songs from Arrested Development's "Among The Trees" album, entitled The 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.
Speech toured with US Vice President Al Gore
and First Lady Hillary Clinton in the South during the 1996 United States Presidential election. Speech was also invited to and attended the inaugural celebrations.
In November 1996, he toured with Hootie and the Blowfish.
Speech released his second solo album, Hoopla, in February 1998 on TVT Records
. The record included the top five hit "Movin' On", and twice took Speech on a tour of Japan.
In addition to touring and releasing his own albums, Speech has performed on several other projects including 1 Giant Leap
, collaborating with Zap Mama
on "Each Step Moves Us On".
track listing
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Speech, is an American rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He is a member of the progressive hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Arrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.
Background
He was born in MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and spent his childhood years there and in Ripley, Tennessee
Ripley, Tennessee
Ripley is a city in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,844 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County...
, before relocating to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1987 to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta
Art Institute of Atlanta
The Art Institute of Atlanta is one of The Art Institutes, a system of over 40 For-Profit Colleges located in major cities throughout North America, all owned and operated by Education Management Corporation...
. He attended Rufus King High School
Rufus King High School
Rufus King International School--High School Campus, or Rufus King, is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school has been consecutively ranked the top public high school in the state of Wisconsin by...
.
With Arrested Development
In 1987, Speech joined with fellow DJ Headliner to form the group Arrested Development. After over three years together, the group released their inaugural album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992 . The album's chart success was the beginning of the popularization of Southern hip hop. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... stood in stark contrast to the...
, which produced several hits and sold very well. Speech performed lead vocals, and produced the group's tracks. The group's follow-up album, Zingalamaduni, fared poorly by comparison, but was critically acclaimed. Speech would later go on to pursue his solo career. Speech also started Vagabond Productions since 1994 - Vagabond started as a vehicle for Grammy winners Arrested Development and their business dealings and became a promoter of neo soul, hip-hop, and rock concerts in Atlanta. The company then switched to representing artist in U.S. & Japan. Since then, Vagabond has become an all around production house that presents music to various labels and on-line outlets across the globe.
In 2000, Speech also reunited with Arrested Development (without the participation of Headliner and Aerle Taree). The group continues to tour the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, Africa, and the Middle East.
Solo
His debut solo album, Speech, on ChrysalisChrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
/EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, was released January 23, 1996.
"Like Marvin Said (What's Going On)", released by EMI Records in November 1995, was the first single from the album. From March to May 1996, Speech toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and several areas of the U.S. “Like Marvin Said” was a #1 hit in Japan for seven weeks. December 1996, Speech became a disciple of Jesus Christ within the International Churches of Christ
International Churches of Christ
The International Churches of Christ is a body of co-operating non-denominational, religiously conservative, and racially integrated Christian congregations, an offshoot from the Mainline Churches of Christ. This group is known for and has a long history of showing charity to the poor...
. 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 like Zap Mama
Zap Mama
Zap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music...
, (Spike Lee's) Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
soundtrack, Paramount pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
- Boomerang
Boomerang
A boomerang is a flying tool with a curved shape used as a weapon or for sport.-Description:A boomerang is usually thought of as a wooden device, although historically boomerang-like devices have also been made from bones. Modern boomerangs used for sport are often made from carbon fibre-reinforced...
starring Eddie Murphy, other movies like Bebe's Kids
Bebe's Kids
Bébé's Kids is a 1992 animated comedy film produced by the Reginald Hudlin and Hyperion Pictures, directed by Bruce W...
, Warriors of Virtue
Warriors of Virtue
Warriors Of Virtue is a 1997 Chinese-American fantasy film directed by Ronny Yu. It is in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Although commercially unsuccessful and critically panned, a sequel, Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao, was made in 2002....
, Whipped
Whipped (film)
-Plot:Three single men gather at a local restaurant every Sunday so they can discuss each other's sex lives; however, when each one of them falls for the beautiful Mia , their weekly ritual becomes something of a trial, and their once strong friendships are put at risk.-Cast:* Amanda Peet as Mia*...
and the Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
To the Max (An IMAX production). He built a home studio called the Podium in Fayetteville, Georgia. He licensed his second solo album in 1998, 1998 Hoopla, to Toshiba EMI in Japan. That album spawned a Top #3 hit on Tokio Hot 100 called "Movin' On" and sold very well. Hoopla was later released in 1999 in the United States on TVT records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
. In 2000, Speech recorded and licensed to Toshiba EMI his third solo project entitled Spiritual People, which garnered his biggest solo album sales to date. Spiritual People spawned a #1 hit single Tokio Hot 100 entitled, "Spiritual People". That album went gold in Japan within three months of its release. Speech followed up with various sold-out tours and heavy promotional schedules. Spiritual People CD was later released in the United States in 2001 on ArtistDirect
ARTISTdirect
Founded in 1994, Artistdirect, Inc. is an online digital media entertainment company. It owns several websites including Artistdirect.com, UBL.com and the Artistdirect Network...
. Speech then licensed to Toshiba EMI Down South Produckshuns which spawned another top 10 hit entitled "Braided Hair". It went to #3 on Tokio Hot 100. Vagabond Productions later released a Speech solo compilation of Down South Produckshun songs, Spiritual People songs (U.S. version) and songs from Arrested Development's "Among The Trees" album, entitled The Vagabond in 2006. That album was released on Bluhammock records and won in The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album.
Speech toured with US Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
and First Lady Hillary Clinton in the South during the 1996 United States Presidential election. Speech was also invited to and attended the inaugural celebrations.
In November 1996, he toured with Hootie and the Blowfish.
Speech released his second solo album, Hoopla, in February 1998 on TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
. The record included the top five hit "Movin' On", and twice took Speech on a tour of Japan.
In addition to touring and releasing his own albums, Speech has performed on several other projects including 1 Giant Leap
1 Giant Leap
1 Giant Leap is a concept band and media project consisting of the two principal artists, Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman.-Information:...
, collaborating with Zap Mama
Zap Mama
Zap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music...
on "Each Step Moves Us On".
Personal life
Speech is married to Yolanda Thomas and has two children. Speech released his first book on September 18, 2009, called What Is Success? through Vagabond Records and Tapes (publisher). The book gives a practical guide for spiritual success based on Biblical scripture and personal experiences.Solo albums
- Speech (1996), ChrysalisChrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
- Hoopla (1999), TVTTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
- Spiritual People (2000) Toshiba EMI
- Down South Produckshuns (2002) Toshiba EMI
- Peechy (2003) Toshiba EMI
- The Vagabond (2005) Bluhammock
- "The Grown Folks Table" (2009) Vagabond Records and Tapes
track listing