Arrested Development

At the height of gangsta rap's early-'90s reign, Arrested Development set themselves apart with a positive, pan-Africanist approach to hip-hop. The group, who have a revolving membership, were formed by MC Todd “Speech” Thomas and DJ Headliner (Timothy Barnwell) in 1988 while they were university students. On their breakthrough single, "Tennessee", Speech details the societal ills he's experienced and expresses empathy for others, a viewpoint that defines the 1992 debut, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In the Life Of…. Thanks to joyful yet socially conscious hits like “Mr Wendal” and “People Everyday", Arrested Development struck a chord with rap and alternative-rock audiences alike, earning an invitation to the 1993 Lollapalooza tour. While some of the group’s members branched out to solo careers after their second album, Zingalamaduni, the group regularly reconvene for projects that are still deeply rooted in optimistic messaging and their signature mix of funk, blues, jazz and other Afrocentric genres.