Arrested Development

Arrested Development is an Afrocentric hip-hop group from Atlanta, formed in 1988 by Speech and Headliner as an alternative to the gangsta rap that dominates early 1990s hip hop. The group’s line-up includes Headliner, Ajile, Baba Oje, Montsho Eshe, DJ Kemit, Tasha LaRae, Joe McCreary, Rasa Don, Speech and Aerle Taree. Its sound fits boom bap, conscious hip hop, political hip hop, pop rap and southern hip hop.

Early success

The group spends three years, five months and two days trying to secure a record deal, which gives its debut album its title, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.... That record produces several major songs, including “Tennessee”, “People Everyday” and “Mr. Wendal”, all of which reach the top ten. Arrested Development wins Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Best New Artist, and Rolling Stone names it Band of the Year.

Later years

The follow-up album, Zingalamaduni, arrives in 1994. It receives mixed critical response and sells poorly. The group breaks up in 1996, after which Speech releases a solo album that also sells poorly. Arrested Development reunites in 2000 without Headliner and continues touring and releasing records through Speech’s Vagabond Productions and Speech Music.

Reception and related work

The group has limited commercial success in the United States after its early peak, but maintains moderate, consistent success in Japan. Dionne Farris, the voice on “Tennessee”, is not an official member of the band; she later releases the solo album Wild Seed-Wild Flower in 1994, which includes the hit single “I Know”. In November 2003, the group sues the FOX network over its TV show Arrested Development.

Television competition and loss

In June 2005, Arrested Development wins the first round of NBC’s Hit Me Baby One More Time by performing “Tennessee” and covering Los Lonely Boys’ “Heaven”. Baba Oje dies in October 2018.