Arrested Development is an American alternative hip hop group, founded by Speech and his ex-best friend Headliner (DJ) as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the early 1990s.
Asked recently about the state of hip-hop during the last two decades, AD front man Speech, commented “there is little to no balance; the flood of rappers turned corporate moguls is a reflection of how the genre is losing it’s creative spirit and taking more of a ‘money is the bottom line’ approach. We said in our first album, we won’t sell out and we haven’t, that’s what I’m most proud of”.
◊ ‘United Minds’ ↓ [Zingalamaduni, 1994]
make your vocal chords reach the clouds and
touch the crowd of folks that overstand there’s no jokes
we must network together as one &
tell the oppressor we’ll take no less than
total justice a social setting yo I’m bettin’
we can stop new world order
start servin’ liberty may I take your order
let’s give props where due
If it was you wouldn’t you want to know
that someone cares for what you do so let’s show
political prisoners, homeless humans, organizations
various movements
that the people in America have some discipline
to act on their belief therefore stress activism
if for truth you still thirst well thirst then
make the difference by joining
some organization or some movement
let me explain the powers that be
are families of power with old money
Unfortunately on their souls hangs a sold sign
and in righteous sight they are so blind!
Infatuated with their power and their greed
they don’t see that GOD is the answer
Greed has planted a seed within the souls of the 13 families
drug dealers and hustlers
All my brothers and sisters that are hustlers
selling crack cocaine to your followers
to me you’re a sell out an uncle Tom
in the tom tom club droppin’ bombs
Causing confusion shootin’ and killin’
you’re playin’ the role putting fear in populations
making us allow the system to «protect» us
allowing the chicken snake to protect the chickens
police brutality claiming much victims
the powers that be may come with their solutions
but trust me their trees bear No fruits no
I guess that’s why I get spiritual
spirituality supports reality no not Baptist no not catholic
no not passive
very active!
minds of Africa and the Caribbean
and the Europeans and the Asians and Australians
it’s not just race we’re all in this together! I say …
Social Medicines the answer
I try to eat healthy to avoid the cancer
one ounce of prevention beats 100 pounds of cure
pure ways of living is not hippish
it’s not white not black it’s just conscious
conscious of your health, conscious of your self
instead of being so damn conscious of your wealth
(or lack of so…)
DO you know about the Panthers,
the MOVE organization, Kwame
Nkrumah, the Zulu nation or just Nikes and Pumas
or your fascination with the so-called B-Boy fashion nation.
If you can please recycle
even the people in the hood please recycle
I know it wasn’t our fault that they went psycho
they meaning industry exec’s who flex for profit!
Traditional societies and islanders
please retain your culture and don’t give up!
Don’t you understand we must understand this
if we want to live in bliss
minds of Africa and the Caribbean
and the Europeans and the Asians and Australians
it’s not just race we’re all in this together!
‘U’
Lonely, Lonely, Oh Woe Is Me
Oh Owe is me I say
The complex cycle i go through almost everyday
To my dismay, I imagine being in this set
Me holdin’ the 21st letter in the alphabet
All my life I’ve been searchin’ as if it’s my obligation
To find who?
You but my patience grows thin
’cause U is just a letter surrounded by a better image
Of a sister who’s new but overdue for marriage
Marriage takes disipline,
A problem that exist within’
The American culture I resist against
But I must recall and I trust that all
I’ve learned thru life is givin’ way to a wife yaw’ll
’cause I want, not need a companion to feed
the knowledge I read and the lovin’ I’ve received
Through moms and my palms read a long life
So hey I pray for the day I have a strong wife
And a strong son or daughter or strong both
Give them a foundation of values
I think I’ll make a great coach for them
And warn ‘em of sin and maybe by then they can nip it in the bud
Before it begins
So hey, if you’re listening and yo wishin’
For a U like me that you have in store
Maybe I could be the U for U
And U could be the U for me too …
I know you’re there I just haven’t found U yet
Gonna getcha five cent I’ll bet
If I lose it’s five cents, if I win it’s fice decades or more
Of a life with a new wife an 2 or 3 kids
My parents want grandkids wit big heads like mine
Runnin’ and jumpin’ on the bed with my brownish eyes
THere’s sort of a pressure to be married and chilled
With terry gone emotional gaps need to be filled
So I’m sort of searchin’ but only in my spare time
Most of the time I’m busy workin’ on a beat or rhyme
I don’t want a sex partner, a female friend or buddy
To be played with like silly puddy
I want to be played with like clay on a spindle
Wet it, mold it, bend it, hard it, never dwindle
That’s called longevity, different than what U read and see on T.V.
So hey if yo listenin’ and your wishin’ for a U like me
That U have in store
maybe I could be the U for U
And U could be the U for me too
Maybe I could be the U for U
Maybe U could be the U for me too
•→‘Fishin’ 4 Religion’ ⇔ [lyrics]
◊ ‘Tennessee’ ↓
Lord I’ve really been real stressedDown and out, losin ground
Although I am black and proud
Problems got me pessimistic
Brothers and sisters keep messin up
Why does it have to be so damn tuff?
I don’t know where I can go
To let these ghosts out of my skull
My grandmas past, my brothers gone
I never at once felt so alone
I know you’re supposed to be my steering wheel
Not just my spare tire (home)
But lord I ask you (home)
To be my guiding force and truth (home)
For some strange reason it had to be (home)
He guided me to Tennessee (home)
(Chorus. . . )
Take me to another place – Take me to another land
Make me forget all that hurts me – Let me understand your plan
Lord it’s obvious we got a relationship
Talkin to each other every night and day
Although you’re superior over me
We talk to each other in a friendship way
Then outta nowhere you tell me to break
Outta the country and into more country
Past Dyesburg into Ripley
Where the ghost of childhood haunts me
Walk the roads my forefathers walked
Climbed the trees my forefathers hung from
Ask those trees for all their wisdom
They tell me my ears are so young (home)
Go back to from whence you came (home)
My family tree my family name (home)
For some strange reason it had to be (home)
He guided me to Tennessee (home)
Now I see the importance of history
Why people be in the mess that they be
Many journeys to freedom made in vain
By brothers on the corner playin ghetto games
I ask you lord why you enlightened me
Without the enlightment of all my folks
He said cuz I set myself on a quest for truth
And he was there to quench my thirst
But I am still thirsty…
The lord allowed me to drink some more
He said what I am searchin for are
The answers to all which are in front of me
The ultimate truth started to get blurry
For some strange reason it had to be
It was all a dream about Tennessee
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