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Craft & Optics

I don't see you at the club

Feat. Vaselino Jazz Project

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Craft & Optics

by Arrested Development

WATCH: Interview with the band on new album

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🚨#ALERT #ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT #LIVEINCONCERT #CITYWINERY #ATLANTA August 30th is already #SOLDOUT Get tickets TODAY for AUGUST 29th show! Wear your cultural clothing! 🙌🏽🙌🏽 #wakandaforever #classichiphop #mrwendal #tennessee #peopleeveryday #revolution #natural @citywineryatl adtheband.com
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT still tours. In fact 4 continents just last year, half the year touring, numerous sold out shows! We're not powered by mainstream, we're powered by music lovers and God. Need refreshing? Come. Need HipHop? Come. Need a restart? Come. ADtheBand.com
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT 🙌🏽🙌🏽❤️ @blackmusichonors Are you ready for the 4th Annual Black Music Honors hosted by @rickeysmileyofficial and @letoyaluckett? Tickets are on sale now ATLANTA. Don't miss it. Visit www.blackmusichonors.com today to purchase tickets. This year we're honoring @arresteddevelopment__ @yolandaadams @officialxscape @mrfreddiejackson AND MORE! #BlackMusicHonors #BlackMusicHonors2019 #BMH2019 #BlackMusic #music #atlanta #gospel #hiphop #randb #soul
ATLANTA STAND UP August 29-30th at City Winery @citywineryatl ADtheBand.com for details at the beautiful Ponce City Market @poncecitymarket #hiphop #positivehiphop #90s #classicrap #arresteddevelopment
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT As a people there is nothing wrong with having high standards! We have been conditioned to believe that to reach for our best selves is to be divisive towards those of us that are stuck in toxic pathologies. When in truth, we have already been defeated if our best defense against oppression is to become complacent with oppressive behaviors. To be fine with using the term "Nigga" as a supposed term of endearment is not taken control of a narrative, it is succumbing to one that has already been in affect for 400 years. Using the term Bitch, again as a supposed term of endearment is not controlling a narrative, it is succumbing to one. Whether you agree or not, is up to you. But what you can't disagree with is the facts that these terms have been consistently used to demean us for centuries, and if we think words are of no consequence... We would be the only people on the planet who think so. We are an ingenious and creative people. I believe that our peoples power is more than simply "reusing" or "repurposing" words designed to crush us. We are powerful enough to create and use terms that empower us. We are allowed to be fully human and fully dignified. We owe no one nothing but our full selves. Dignity, Intelligence, Humility must become words that describe us and not just words like talented, passionate, urban, raw, gritty, soulful, or sexy. #rise
I don't even drink but I am excited that we now have a Mr. Wendal Beer! This song means so much to me and through it we have been able to donate a quarter of a million dollars to the homeless and an equal amount of time! So now - this beer!! It's a special release! 11% barrel aged imperial stout on tap! It's delicious- conditioned with hazelnut and vanilla, you must try it! 😃❤️ If you're in Florida go to: Broken Strings Brewery @brokenstringsbrewery 1012 West Church St Orlando, FL 32805 And we also have a special wine that we do in partnership with Atlanta City Winery! @citywineryatl Which we will be playing TWO NIGHTS August 29-30th at the Atlanta City Winery! Which we will showcase a new wine on those nights. Get tix today! ✊🏾
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @brookeaustinphoto ・・・ 🧡 . @speech__ @mstashalarae @elamontdzr Will Montgomery performing at last night’s @arresteddevelopment__ concert with @cherryarts for the evening’s concert benefiting Arts Education in the Denver community. . #cherrycreekartsfestival #arresteddevelopment . . Fabulous inflatable sculpture art backdrop by @nicolebanowetz . #brookeaustinphoto #empowerment #hiphop #vocals #speech #rapper #concertphotography #concert #entertainment #musicphotography #shareblackstories #music #singer #onstage #hiphop #performanceart #leadvocals @rollingstone @blackexistence
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @brookeaustinphoto ・・・ @1love_adtheband performing at last night’s @arresteddevelopment__ concert with @cherryarts for the evening’s concert benefiting Arts Education in the Denver community. . #cherrycreekartsfestival #arresteddevelopment . . . #brookeaustinphoto #empowerment #hiphop #og #1love_adtheband #concertphotography #concert #5280life #entertainment #musicphotography #mood #onelove #instaconcert #music #rapper #onstage #livemusic #performanceart
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @brookeaustinphoto ・・・ @jjboogie performing at last night’s @arresteddevelopment__ concert with @cherryarts for the evening’s concert benefiting Arts Education in the Denver community. . #cherrycreekartsfestival #arresteddevelopment . . Fabulous inflatable sculpture art backdrop by @nicolebanowetz . #brookeaustinphoto #jjboogie #concertphotography #concert #5280life #entertainment #musicphotography #mood #onelove #instaconcert #musicscene #onstage #livemusic #performanceart
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT via @brookeaustinphoto ・・・ Gorgeous captures of @imfareedah performing at last night’s @arresteddevelopment__ concert with @cherryarts for the evening’s concert benefiting Arts Education in the Denver community. . #cherrycreekartsfestival #arresteddevelopment . . . Fabulous inflatable sculpture backdrops on stage by artist @nicolebanowetz . #brookeaustinphoto #iamfareedah #concertphotography #concert #5280life #entertainment #musicphotography #mood #onelove #onstage #dance #jump #livemusic #talent #strongwomen
Thank you Denver Colorado and @cherryarts for a great concert under the warm, beautiful skies! #ArrestedDevelopment #Celebration #hiphop #lifemusic #mrwendal #peopleeveryday #tennessee #revolution #dawnofthedreads
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @cherryarts ・・・ 4TH OF JULY FLASH SALE! Today Only, we’re offering $5 off the early bird price! For just $17 per ticket, you can experience the legendary Grammy-Award winning group, Arrested Development, outdoors at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival at 8pm on Saturday July 6th! Use discount code FOURTHOFJULY Click Get Tickets on our profile to learn more! @arresteddevelopment__ . . . #cherryarts #arresteddevelopmentmusic #concert #hiphopconcert #summerconcert #cherrycreekartsfestival #denverlivemusic #fourthofjuly
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT comes to #ATLANTA for TWO SPECIAL SHOWS AT @citywineryatl AUG 29th and 30th 🔥🔥 TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE- BEFORE ITS SOLD OUT! ADtheBand.com for t-shirts to rock during the shows! @arresteddevelopment__ @speech__ #mrwendal #tennessee #peopleeveryday #natural #revolution #unitedfront #3years5months #hiphop #classic #90s #liveinconcert #niggafactory #16bars #consciousness
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @cherryarts ・・・ CherryArts is giving away 2 VIP tickets to see Arrested Development! Like this post for a chance to enter. Tag a special someone that you’d bring with you to the CherryArts Concert for Arts Education. One lucky winner will be announced on July 1st. . . @arresteddevelopment__ . Early Bird discounted tickets on sale until Wednesday, July 4th so grab your crew and get yours soon! Click Get Tickets on our profile. . . . . No purchase necessary. Making a purchase does not increase your chances of winning. Winners will be selected randomly. This contest is administered by CherryArts. This contest is not endorsed, sponsored or administered by Facebook and is released from any responsibility to entrants or participants. . . . #cherryarts #arresteddevelopmentmusic #denverconcerts #coloradoconcerts #arresteddevelopmentconcert #hiphopconcert #cherrycreekartsfestival #concertforartseducation #art #goodhiphop #positivehiphop #ticketgiveaway
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @realgleam ・・・ #hiphopposters #rapposters #3years5monthsand2daysinthelifeof #arresteddevelopment #hiphop #vintage #emi #southernhiphop ADtheBand.com
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT @hunnybadger_dsmia ・・・ #hiphop with a dash of #angst . #anotherbadcreation #janetjackson #publicenemy #faithnomore #mellowmanace #nas #gravediggaz #arresteddevelopment #eazye #cassingle #spearhead #michaelfranti #cassette #oldschool #hiphop #music #classics
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT The one and only @speech__ , our fearless leader, multi purpose artist - producing, writing, band leader, vocalist and rocking on the instant replay 360 for our Albuquerque New Mexico celebration! Pocket! #hiphop #lifemusic #worldwide #legendary #grammyawardwinners #speech #90s #dawnofthedreads
#ARRESTEDDEVELOPMENT Fareedah Aleem, Vivint out! Hands open, eyes closed for our Albuquerque New Mexico celebration! After a recent surgery, recuperating well! Next show, July 6th! #hiphop #lifemusic #worldwide #legendary #grammyawardwinners #speech #90s #dawnofthedreads

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Golden-era hip-hop group Arrested Development still rings with righteous fervor
Golden-era hip-hop group Arrested Development still rings with righteous fervor

"Where?," the new single from middle-aged hip-hop group Arrested Development, doesn't sound particularly modern. Like much of the group's output over the last decade, it feels like it could fit comfortably on their multiplatinum debut, both in terms of its warm, sample-heavy collage of jazz, soul, and gospel sounds and its unabashed, socially conscious earnestness. 

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Q&A: Arrested Development hits City Winery with Grammy-winning hip-hop
Q&A: Arrested Development hits City Winery with Grammy-winning hip-hop

“We’re going to do a celebration,” frontman Speech told WTOP. “Celebrating the first album, celebrating the music of Arrested Development, but also the diversity and brilliance of hip-hop. … Come on out, it’s going to be an amazing two shows. … We have a new album called ‘Craft & Optics,’ we’re going to be doing three songs from that, so it’s going to be a fun show.”

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REVIEW: Arrested Development turns folk fest into rock concert
REVIEW: Arrested Development turns folk fest into rock concert

We don’t “put our hands in the air and wave them like we just don’t care” at the folk fest. Hmmph, the very idea! We do it because we DO care. It’s just that kind of a shiny, happy event.

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Recording the Hits at Richmond City Jail
Recording the Hits at Richmond City Jail

There’s some remarkable music coming out of Richmond this year, not from a commercial studio or a concert hall but from the city’s jail. The program is designed to spark redemption through music.

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Speech Spent 10 Days In Jail To Shoot "16 Bars" Documentary
Speech Spent 10 Days In Jail To Shoot "16 Bars" Documentary

RICHMOND, VA – Afro-centric Hip Hop group Arrested Development has always been about affecting positive change. Frontman Todd “Speech” Thomas has built his storied career around uplifting his audience while tackling complex issues — from homelessness to racism.

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From Tennessee to Home (AJC Article)
From Tennessee to Home (AJC Article)

Sitting in the middle of the five-person circle is Todd “Speech” Thomas, hip-hop artist and leader of the music group Arrested Development. Dressed in a white, buttoned-up business shirt and overalls rolled up at the ankle, paint splattered on the legs, his fashion sense from his 1990s Grammy-winning days still remains. 

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Arrested Development

 

True Hip-hop trailblazers since 1991, Arrested Development has been cultural champions of consciousness and empowerment across the planet. Their representation of eclectic and vibrant African sounds and clothing has produced a unique clash of rhythms and style that continue to contrast the expected look and sound of Hip-hop culture.

Arrested Development have been supporters of important groups and movements like the National Coalition of The Homeless, and the African National Congress (ANC).

With numerous album releases, and world tours, Arrested Development has been ground-breaking in Hip-hop culture. Their album, “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of…”, earned them two Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best Rap Single (Tennessee), 2 MTV awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and the NCAAP Image Award. Rolling Stone magazine named them Band of The Year in 1992, while VH-1 named them one of the greatest Hip-hop artists of all time! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even named the AD smash “Tennessee” one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Sharing the stage with such important figures such as Nelson Mandela, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Hilary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, AD are the categorical definition of legends.