• 2× Grammy Awards – First-ever Hip-Hop act to win Best New Artist

• 2× MTV Awards (4 nominations)

• 4× RIAA Platinum Album – 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of…

• Rolling Stone’s 1992 “Band of the Year”

True Hip-Hop pioneers since 1991, Arrested Development is a culturally rich, PG-13 rated Hip-Hop experience that is far from the typical explicit content often associated with the hip hop genre.  Their lyrics are intelligent, socially conscious, and deeply rooted in African heritage, unity, activism, and empowerment. Blending eclectic African rhythms, thought-provoking lyrics, and vibrant Hip-Hop energy, Arrested Development’s electrifying live show—fronted by founding emcee SPEECH with backing vocalists, live sampler, and full band—continues to captivate audiences worldwide with music that is an antidote to mainstream negativity—powerful storytelling rooted in hope, uplift, and social awareness.

Major Accolades

Arrested Development have firmly cemented their place in Hip-Hop and music history.

• Their groundbreaking debut album, ‘3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of…,’ earned them two Grammy Awards (Best New Artist, Best Rap Single “Tennessee”), two MTV Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and an NAACP Image Award.

• Rolling Stone named them Band of the Year in 1992

• VH1 listed them among the Greatest Hip-Hop Artists of All Time

• The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame recognized “Tennessee” among its 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

• They’ve shared stages with icons like Nelson Mandela, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, while supporting organizations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless and the African National Congress.

• Their 2018 documentary, 16 Bars, earned critical acclaim for its powerful depiction of prison inmates finding healing through music. Arrested Development’s music remains an antidote to mainstream negativity—powerful storytelling rooted in hope, uplift, and social awareness.

• In July 2025, the group released their latest album, Adult Contemporary Hip Hop, reflecting on freedom, self‑determination, and systemic contradictions within Black American life. Its lead single, “Pack It Out,” has been widely praised for its timely, positive energy.

 An Outstanding Social Media Presence:

• Spotify: 1,250,000+ Monthly Listeners

• Instagram: 92,000+ Followers

• Facebook: 87,000+ Followers

• YouTube: 63,000+ Subscribers

• ‘People Everyday’ has 19 Million+ Views

• ‘Tennessee’ has 18 Million+ Views

• Twitter/X: 52,000+ Followers

Full Symphony Show and Educational Outreach Available

Outreach for Arrested Development features frontman, Speech Thomas – an accomplished, in-demand, and thought-provoking speaker who directs a keynote-style presentation called: B.R.A.V.E Leadership.  B.R.A.V.E. is an acronym for: Bold, Resilient, Adaptable, Vulnerable and Encouraging.  Using a blend of storytelling, music and actionable strategies, Speech shares the tale of how he rose to fame and made a difference against all odds. With people feeling powerless and more overwhelmed than ever before, he inspires people to want to accomplish the extraordinary.