Speech (rapper)

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Speech
Birth name	Todd Thomas
Born	October 25, 1968 (1968-10-25) (age 39)
Origin	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genre(s)	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, musician
Years active	1993–present
Label(s)	Chrysalis/EMI

Speech is the stage name of Todd Thomas (born October 25, 1968), an American rapper and musician. He is a member of the progressive hip hop group Arrested Development. He has also released a number of solo albums.

1 Background
2 Music career
- 2.1 With Arrested Development
- 2.2 Solo
3 Personal life
4 External links

[edit] Background

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States and spent his childhood and teen-age 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.

[edit] Music career

[edit] With Arrested Development

In 1988, Speech joined with fellow DJ Headliner to form the group Arrested Development. After three years together, the group released their inaugural album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..., which produced several hits and sold very well.^{[citation needed]} Speech performed lead vocals on most of the album's tracks. The group's follow-up album, Zingalamaduni, fared poorly by comparison. Speech would go on to pursue his solo career.

In 2000, Speech reunited with Arrested Development (without the participation of Headliner). The group continues to tour, with most of their following in Japan.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Solo

His debut solo album, Speech, on Chrysalis/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.

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 1998 Hoopla in February 1998 on Toshiba EMI-Japan. 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 soundtracks including 1 Giant Leap, Malcolm X, Boomerang, Bebe's Kids, Warriors of Virtue, and Michael Jordan to the Max.