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As the front man for Arrested Development, Speech became a ’90s hip hop sensation with hits like “Tennessee” and “People Everyday.” Though his solo work hasn’t had the same commercial impact, Speech continues to blend rich ’70s soul grooves with thoughtful lyrics. Gliding easily between Marley-influenced crooning and mellow raps, Speech chastises relentless commercialism on “Brought to You By (Music & Life)” and mocks ostentatious hip hoppers on “Ghetto Fabulous.” A natural preacher, Speech occasionally lets the rhetoric overwhelm the music, but even at its most didactic, the passion of Spiritual People still invigorates.
