Arrested Development

About

Arrested Development is an Atlanta hip-hop collective founded in 1988 by rapper Speech (Todd Thomas) and DJ Headliner, known for blending rap with soul, funk, blues and gospel over a live-band backdrop. Their 1992 debut, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of..., sold over six million copies worldwide and made them the first hip-hop act to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. After disbanding in 1996, they reunited in 2000 and have kept releasing and touring independently ever since, with Speech steering the group's consistently Afrocentric, socially conscious message.

918K

Spotify monthly listeners

55.1K

YouTube subscribers

62.9K

Instagram followers

6M+

copies sold of debut album worldwide

What's new

2025-07
Arrested Development released their new full-length album Adult Contemporary Hip-Hop on July 3, 2025, co-executive produced by Speech and Configa.
2025-02
The group released the five-track EP All I See Is Melanin on February 7, 2025 via Vagabond Productions, timed to Black History Month.
2024-08
Arrested Development joined The Roots on the 'Hip-Hop Is the Love of My Life' US tour, performing across Houston, Atlanta, Boston and other cities in August-September 2024.
2026-03
Arrested Development were announced as performers at the 2026 WOMADelaide festival in Australia.
2024-01
The group released the single Bullets In the Chamber in January 2024.

Tracks

Tennessee1992 breakthrough single, Grammy winner for Best Rap Performance; named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll

People EverydayTop 10 hit from the 1992 debut album, a live-show staple

Mr. WendalTop 10 pop hit from the debut album, addressing homelessness

3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of...1992 debut album; over 6 million copies sold, two Grammys, #1 in Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll

Adult Contemporary Hip-Hop2025 album, co-produced by Speech and Configa; dedicated to the late Twan Mack

Upcoming · 1

Fri 18.9. 20:00 Im Wizemann Stuttgart, Stuttgart