Arrested Development is an American hip hop group formed in 1988 in Atlanta by rapper and producer Speech and turntablist Headliner. The group offered an Afrocentric, socially conscious alternative to the prevalent gangsta rap of the late 1980s, and gained critical and commercial success with its 1992 debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of.... The album topped the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll and sold over 6 million copies globally. In 1993, Arrested Development became the first hip hop act to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, also receiving the award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
After the commercial disappointment of their 1994 follow-up, Zingalamaduni, the group disbanded in 1996. They reunited in 2000 and have continued to tour and release music independently through Speech's label, addressing themes of racial justice, spirituality, and environmental issues.
A few months later, the group was approached by film director Spike Lee to compose a song for his upcoming biopic based on the life of Malcolm X. The group then recorded "Revolution", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film as well as the second half of its closing credits when the film was released in 1992.[citation needed]
Their 1994 follow-up, Zingalamaduni, sold poorly, and they broke up shortly after in 1996.
Reunion and legal disputes (2000–2008)
The group reunited in 2000, touring and releasing records via Speech's Vagabond Productions, but Aerle Taree did not return due to vocal problems.[4] Today, Aerle is a poet and converted from Buddhism to Christianity.[5] DJ Headliner started his own business named Creative Royalty Group.[6]
The group's follow-up to their 2004 Among the Trees was Since the Last Time, released internationally on September 18, 2006. Since the Last Time was released in the United States on October 30, 2007, on Vagabond Record & Tapes, Speech's boutique label.[citation needed]
In March 2007, they toured Australia as part of a triple-bill, along with Simple Minds and INXS. In 2008, Arrested Development teamed with The Black Eyed Peas and performed at The Concert for Peace in Jerusalem, Israel to promote peace among Palestinians and Israelis.[citation needed] Also in 2008, Arrested Development visited and sang with Debbie Peagler,[9] an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence, and the inmate gospel choir that Peagler led at a California women's prison. Their visit was meant to support Peagler's legal battle for her release from prison and call attention to the plight of other victims of abuse and wrongful incarceration. The collaborative performance is included in Yoav Potash's documentary film Crime After Crime.[citation needed]
Later career (2009–present)
In 2010, the group released their ninth album Strong under Vagabond Records and Tapes, and licensed to the Japanese record label Cutting Edge, on December 9, 2009, and had a top 10 hit in Japan with the single "The World Is Changing". In an interview with Songfacts, Speech explained that the track "Greener" takes on the issue of climate change from the perspective of the African-American community.[10] On October 14, 2010, Baba Oje had a stroke.[11]
On January 8, 2011, they performed with Emmylou Harris at the festival first night of the Sydney Festival in Sydney, Australia to 50,000 people. In August 2012, the group released its tenth album Standing at the Crossroads, recorded while touring internationally. The album, given away for free from the group's official website, took a lo-fi approach and was recorded entirely on a Mac laptop.[12] The same month, they announced a new tour throughout the United States and Australia to celebrate their 20th anniversary.[citation needed]
In January 2018, Arrested Development performed on the Trumpet Awards television show.[13] In 2018, 16 Bars,[14] a documentary that follows prison inmates as they undertake musical projects, was made.[15]
Baba Oje died of leukemia on October 26, 2018. His age was reported to be 86 or 87.[16][17] In October 2018, Speech released The Nigga Factory, a three-part docuseries exploring themes of racism and Afrocentrism.[18] Later that year, they also released the album Craft & Optics.[19]
On September 5, 2019, Arrested Development was given an award from Black Music Honors, which acknowledges artists that have made a significant contribution to African-American music.[20]
On December 11, 2023, the group released the song Hip Hop Saves Lives featuring Chuck D & Grandmaster Caz. The record was produced by Configa.[21]
Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDFed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p.18.
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