Speech

by Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.
If not for the racist comments uttered by former radio shock jock Don Imus that stirred the nation to anger and dialogue on racist and sexist language, stereotypes and perceptions several months ago, it would not have inadvertently opened the door for the reemergence of positive Hip-Hop.

That's what Milwaukee native and rapper Speech (aka Todd Thomas) believes.

"The good thing about the Imus situation is that there's been more of a discussion about positive Hip-Hop. The culture has put a question mark on negative Hip-Hop."

Speech made his comments during a Tuesday interview. He's here with his group, the early 90s Conscious Rap phenomenon, Arrested Development.

He and his group are in Milwaukee preparing to play Summerfest on the Fourth of July.

They will close out the evening with their performance on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage. The world famous music festival runs from June 28 to July 8.

Speech said positive, conscious Hip-Hop, which his Grammy Award winning group and other pioneers of the genre brought to the fore, has always been around and still has many fans.

However, the uplifting and enlightening musical art form with its message on love, respect for history, family and positiveness, was forced underground by the grittier, harder edged (and financially more lucrative) negative Hip-Hop, or "Gangsta Rap" with its glorification of "ghetto life", hustling, gangsterism reminiscent of Al Capone and movies like "Scarface" and "The Godfather" with its celebration of violence, drugs, money and misogyny-the disrespect, if not outright hatred, of women.

"The music market here (in the United States) is oversaturated with messages of strip clubs, selling drugs and gun violence," Speech said, adding Arrested Development and other positive rap artists have been victims of a form of "censorship" by the major record labels, radio stations and cable music channels.

They won't sign, play the music or show the videos of positive rappers. "They (the labels, radio and music channels) are not saying that to us. But the fact of the matter is, if you don't have a negative message you're not welcomed," Speech said.

The only refuge for positive rap and its artists, Speech said, has been the college campuses, independent radio stations and the overseas music markets and fans in Japan and Europe, where Speech has found success selling records and touring.

Though he has toured in the states as well, Speech and the group have not released a CD in this country for 12 years. But that long drought is about to end. Arrested Development will release its first CD in this country in over a decade on October 2.

The first single to be released is titled, "Impact," which Speech says is about how, in mainstream society, no one is noted for making an impact unless the mainstream media and "Culture of Celebrity" crowns them as such.

"If you're not a celebrity, you're a nobody," said Speech, who stressed that the true heroes who make an impact on people's lives everyday are not in the spotlight, but behind the scenes making an honest living and raising families.

The song also touches on Speech's own life as an artist and whether or not he's still making an impact.

"It's a coming of age song," Speech said describing the single. "I am making an impact-as a father and a husband. I may never sell four million records again, but my life has more meaning now than it ever had; even when I was famous."

The July Fourth performance at Summerfest will be the third for Arrested Development. Speech said the festival, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has a special place in his heart.

"Its always exciting playing Summerfest. I grew up around that festival helping my dad (Community Journal Associate Publisher Robert Thomas) with his corn roast." Patricia O'Flynn Pattillo, the newspaper's publisher, is Speech's mother.

"This being the 40th anniversary of the festival and performing on the Fourth of July is pretty significant."

Another Milwaukee native will be joining Arrested Development during its performance, 11-year-old rapper Lil' Dude.

"I asked him to perform with us," Speech said. "It's a dream come true for him. He's the new generation of Hip-Hop, writing songs with conscious messages. I'm excited to have him on stage."

Arrested Development will take the Briggs & Stratton stage at 10:30 p.m. For more information about the group and its upcoming appearances and new CD go to their My space site, myspace.com/Arrested Development Music, or their website, Lifemusic.US