ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

2x Grammy-Winning, Multi-Platinum Hip Hop & Cultural Icons

• 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
‘People Everyday’ has 19 Million+ Views / ‘Tennessee’ has 18 Million+ Views

Offering 3 Unique Educational Outreach Opportunities Available

Hip-Hop Lyric Writing Workshop

Led by Speech Thomas, frontman and principal songwriter of Arrested Development, this immersive lyric-writing masterclass pulls back the curtain on the craft behind one of hip-hop’s most influential catalogs. Participants explore rhythmic construction, flow patterns, narrative structure, and the creative decision-making behind the group’s most iconic songs. Blending technical insight with real-world examples from a multi-platinum career, this rare workshop offers aspiring writers a firsthand look at how message-driven hip-hop is built—from concept to classic.

African Dance Workshop

A signature element of every Arrested Development live performance, the group’s female dancers lead an energetic, interactive workshop rooted in traditional African dance forms. Participants learn foundational movements featured in the show while gaining cultural context around their origins, meanings, and evolution. The experience blends physical expression with cultural storytelling, creating an engaging, educational program that connects music, movement, and heritage in a powerful and accessible way.

B.R.A.V.E Leadership Presentation

In this compelling keynote-style presentation, Speech Thomas draws on his journey as the creative force behind Arrested Development to deliver a powerful message on modern leadership and personal growth. B.R.A.V.E.—an acronym for Bold, Resilient, Adaptable, Vulnerable, and Encouraging—serves as the framework for a dynamic talk that blends storytelling, music, and practical takeaways. Against a backdrop of creative risk-taking, social impact, and perseverance, Speech challenges audiences to move beyond fear and self-doubt, inspiring them to lead with purpose and accomplish the extraordinary.