Arrested Development bring good vibrations to Cornbury Festival

The frontman of Deep South hip-hop band Arrested Development gets excited the more he hears about this weekend’s Cornbury Music Festival.

News of the gathering — nicknamed ‘Poshtock’ — has not really reached the band’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, and rapper Speech is curious to know more.

He laughs aloud when he hears Prime Minister David Cameron is a regular visitor. “The one thing I wanna do is get him on stage!” he hoots. “He’s gonna have to dance!”

Whether the Right Honourable Member for Witney, or his bodyguards, agree to a spot of breakdancing onstage at Great Tew is a moot point, though the image is irresistible.

Not that Arrested Development need to rely on special guests — even a world leader — to liven up their set. Since bursting out on to a still fledgling hip-hop scene in the late ‘80s, the band have thrilled and charmed with a melodic Afrocentric sound which stood in stark contrast to the bombastic gangsta-rap scene — and the divise lyrics and conspicuous consumption of the the likes of Jay-Z and 50 Cent.

“We were one of the first hip-hop groups to reach the world,” says Speech — real name Todd Thomas, talking to me from Atlanta. “We introduced it to people who hadn’t heard anything else.

“A lot of people say ours was the first hip-hop album they bought.”

With the music, came the message. “We knew about the problems being talked about in the world, and in hip-hop, and thought we could fill the gap,” he says.

“The music came from an Afrocentric viewpoint. We played with old-school blues and African-American artists, and self-determination was the heart.

“They were turbulent times. Look at the things we’ve been through, with racism and the Jim Crow Laws [enforcing racial segregation] and all the problems from that. It’s about helping us get to a place of freedom. It wasn’t that we weren’t angry. We were just more constructive.”

Certainly they made an impact. Their 1992 debut album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... went platinum, reaching number three in the UK charts, and seven in the US. A year after they picked up Grammy Awards for best new artists and best rap performance, and were declared Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. The next two albums Unplugged and Zingalamaduni failed to replicate this huge success, but still charted, going gold and silver.

They have done particularly well on these shores, having hits with Tennessee, Ease My Mind, Mr Wendal and Revolution, the last two charting at number two and four respectively. Revolution was also used on the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s biopic of Malcolm X.

“Arrested Development’s music reflected what was happening,” singer Tasha LaRae chimes in. “We gave a platform to people who didn’t have one. People thought something had to change, but they didn’t know how. Arrested Development was a force for that. Now hip-hop seems more about getting as much for yourself as you can.”

Breaking up in 1996, they re-formed four years later and have continued to release albums and tour — still arguing the African-American cause as well as embracing environmentalism. “The music hasn’t lost its impact,” says Speech. “It’s about shining a light on our accomplishments rather than washing them away.

“It’s not just a race thing, we are hoping to change people’s world view.”

But, he says, they are not politicians. “At the end of the day, we are musicians and songwriters and want to make people feel right,” he says.

“We make great music and it just happens we talk about lots of things.”

So what was the reason for that break, which saw them lose long-standing members Aerle Taree (due to vocal difficulties) and DJ Headliner (reported business differences)?

“We just weren’t getting along,” says Speech. “One of the things about Arrested Development is we need to have good vibrations in the band. But success took a toll on us and it was hard to deal with power and money. But we were a group of 19-year-olds, famous around the world. It was a lot to deal with.

“But we got together in 2000 and since then we’ve done four or five albums and had hits throughout the world. We’ve toured everywhere. We have big audiences, happy faces and people enjoy the music.”

“That’s what it’s about,” agrees Tasha. “It’s upbeat music that makes you want to move — and we come out with smiley faces and go for it!”

Speech laughs: “We offer a vibe they can relate to, even if they can’t understand the lyrics. The energy of the music speaks to them. I know how they feel as I love reggae and music from Africa and Brazil, yet I can’t speak Portuguese or those other languages.”

So what can we expect when Speech, Tasha and bandmates JJ Boogie, Fareedah, Smok, Za, and 1 Love take to the stage at Cornbury tomorrow, joining a bill which boasts artists as diverse as Hudson Taylor, The Feeling, Suzanne Vega, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Jools Holland?

“We are just out to have a good time,” says Speech. “It’s going to be fun and we’ll give it our all. There’ll be a good vibe.”

And his message to the PM, should he decide to drop in? “Come on out!” he laughs. “It’s a good reason for a celebration. Bring your sneakers... and be prepared to breakdance!”

Cornbury Festival
Great Tew
Tomorrow until Sunday
Tickets start at £170 (£200 with camping) cornburyfestival.com
Single day, young people’s and VIP tickets also available.