Speech on Contemplating Suicide after Group Breakup & Failed Solo Album (Part 5)

[@Shizi7]

Loved the interview. Speech was very candid about his successes and failures. Much respect.

[@HiddenPalm]

Oh get out. Speech was a hero of mine when I was in high-school. I was that one kid who always tried to dress like him instead of like everyone else trying to dress like Onyx. Rap music died in the mainstream by 97 after they broke up. They were missed. But atleast we had the Underground where rap music has lived ever since. Groups like Arrested Development were never meant to shine again. But allot of us never stopped listening to y'all. Salute to the Underground.

[@tonym9227]

I'm glad to see Speech get some light. He's got insightful stories.

[@bitplaya7432]

He's so honest. This is Vlad's best interview.

[@mistabernz7455]

much love & respect to Speech for being so REAL . This interview was touching

[@mrkneel5760]

Speech is Dope! If you meet him, you get to see he’s a good person too!

[@Challenge818]

I can really tell. Very positive and far from biter it seems.

[@senghbeh]

Tennessee is still a classic.

[@pappagetti]

Drunk off that shit right now. Timeless classic with Coke.

[@twooclock9458]

That album was good. Hardly a failure..who cares if people slept. Most people sleep on everything!

[@eugenedantzler4485]

Thank you Japan for helping keep speech alive💯💯💯

[@StacksSats]

The Source magazine gave Speech's solo debut "2 Mics"? All the rare/underground/random 90s hip-hop records are in Japan. People in North America slept on the vinyl and now they are overseas going for hundreds of dollars on Discogs & eBay

[@socialninja22]

Old school artists will tell you, American audiences are fickle. Japan and European fans are loyal and diehard..

[@Micahi5god]

This is true. However, this Japanese and/or British loyalty isn't solely assigned to Music. They're loyal to anything that is American nostalgia. Which is one of the reasons why I love Japanese and British people.

[@C.H771]

Well spiken. I Love when a person can articulate their feeling so well it takes you there.

[@Mr9thCHYLD]

I remember bumping their Classic music FRFR always gave a great message and not too mention the lyrics💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥much love and respect to this brother and the group for blessing hip-hop in a great way

[@cjones8437]

They can talk shyt about glad but he do be having good guest this one of the best ones

[@thesolefritonetwork6291]

Facts over feelings.

[@jackieblue4128]

The haters are just jealous they didnt start a channel 14 yrs ago that chronicles hip hop history straight out their own mouths Go Vlad!!

[@TheFreshSoundsFlorida]

@Tony P big facts. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[@markj5737]

Undoubtedly, this is one Vlad best interview. I was a big fan of arrested development.

[@kisha4040]

Too many people in one group. Too many people have to get paid.

[@AlienMyndz]

Zingalamaduni is my favorite AD album.

[@chaza.2891]

Man... Can you imagine he would have gone through with the unthinkable before finding out Japan had that much love for him... To everyone going through drama, please know it will get better... Peace

[@chazatlas]

I distinctly remember that 1996 media ownership change, I was 25 yo. Music seriously started to change & decline. Hip-Hop deteriorated, got ratchet violent, the rap groups all broke up. The girl groups like En Vogue, SWV, Destiny’s Child dissolved, Neo Soul peaked in 2000. Pop, Rock & R&B bands stopped forming. Seemed like any new talent sounded all alike and came from American Idol or The Voice. Yeah the industry is still a shell of itself compared to the creativity, diversity & talent of the 70s, 80s, & 90s.

[@MUSICENCYLOPEDIA]

FACTS!!! Especially in the States.

[@MusicJunkiePlus]

At the time when their second album came out it was tough for conscious, positive and/or Afrocentric Hip-Hop artists. Think about it. De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest took 3 years between albums (1993-1996). Public Enemy dropped an album in 1994, and it was panned both critically and sale-wise compared to their previous releases. 94-96 was West Coast Gangster Rap in its prime and East Coast Rap also shifted with the new acts at the time with Biggie and Nas. This is the same time period Kid (from Kid N Play) talked about his group’s popularity dropping in his last interview on this channel.

[@lamentate07]

It was never a big sub-genre to begin with. De La's sales dropped quite sharply after their debut. The Low End Theory took 4 years to go platinum. PE had the advantage of appealing to the rock audience of the time as well, so their sales were better, but they were also on the decline popularity wise after the late 80's. What you are saying definitely has some truth to it, but I think what happened in 93-94 was the result of a number of factors, one of them being the meteoric rise of gangster rap.

[@viralbuthow000]

"I was sellin dubs of zingalamaduni in B'More." - TK

[@troytolbert2005]

I had the Zingalamaduni joint!! I thought it was dope! 🎧🎶 "Just a shell until you decide to rebel "

[@HectorQuien]

👏👏👏

[@mercyg6720]

He should have been solo with those first hits just have everyone else paid for hire 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@domarq]

I was one of the 15,000 sales of his solo CD. The promotion was wack. I wish Speech understood that. His label did NOT push that CD. I bought it, during September (?) 1999.

[@MisterLowrider]

I love the interview!! I still listen to AD!

[@PlaAwa]

zingalamaduni is beautiful album that deserves re-release or something. it is to '3 years...' what 'is dead' was to '3 feet' and 'blowout comb' was to 'reachin''.

[@Crushers102]

my man pulled a uncle jessie from full house, song went viral in japan

[@hassanburton669]

BIG RESPECT ✊🏿 TO SPEECH. ❤️🖤💚

[@EmSkwared]

I bought the Speech solo album. Still one of my favorites. Let's Be Hippies, Can U Hear Me, Insomnia Song, Why U Gotta Be....oh man I need yo put that on....

[@natashacassimere5975]

This interview made my day!! Vlad keep it up, I love hearing these stories from artists that I love but have never heard the background stories about what really happened . Awesome 👌 🆒️ 🙌 👌

[@alfredcannon9409]

Happy Friday Glad you doing it again Glad

[@Cabrazzi]

Shout out to my pops ZA from arrested development

[@nerdtalknaija1]

Mr Wendall is a contender for best song ever made in the world.

[@leseanwalston7916]

He not being fully real about this I saw their Unsung Bio and the reason they broke up is because he was getting like 75% and the rest the group 25% and when they pressed him about it he basically said "This MY group.." 😂😂😂

[@siremet1009]

I heard in Japan, the people pay for music. They support the hell out of American artists'. They have an undying love that America don't have. I think Raz B of B2K said it.

[@pache7216]

the group broke up over money,, everyone wasn't eating

[@alexanderdoorknocker]

real talk. they want people to work for free.

[@hispanik2085]

Zingalamaduni was and still is a great album

[@HectorQuien]

👏👏👏

[@JoosMayn43]

I actually like that album better than the first. The first was dope no doubt though

[@simonbrooks399]

Personally my fave one

[@cchisolm92cc]

If you have ever seen their Unsung, a lot of the group members blamed him for the break up based off his ego. He had a falling out with Dione Farris (singer on Tennessee) and didn't let her accept her Grammy for her vocals.

[@melindamullins9971]

I'm glad you didn't go through with it it's very talented him and his band Everyday People in Tennessee are still epic to this day thank you for all your artistic efforts

[@DonMegaPLP]

Can't believe they went 6x platinum. That's amazing. Weird that they just fell apart after that.

[@velleione]

Peace Love joy and happiness to you my brother please stay strong you may not see this comment but I understand your emotional struggles I'm not a big artist but I understand how life real life works and when you lose someone or when you lose something so special to you it hurts you emotionally respect to you and your movement forever

[@socialninja22]

Huge success right out the box is often the worst thing that can happen to a young artist. Corporate demands that you repeat the success. It’s not easy.

[@TheJudgeofLevelstm]

To be fair I thought Slingalotadoodie was a very under appreciated album.

[@twooclock9458]

😝😂😅

[@rizenhower1]

It was absolutely the worst time to put out that album.

[@twooclock9458]

I bought it day 1

[@thebomb5629]

Slinga what? “Zingalamaduni” it’s Swahili for “voice of the oppressed”

[@ricolewis2949]

“Stink Alota Booty” was what we called it

[@KDSPENCERTV]

He looks like a older TY$

[@JoosMayn43]

A lot of artists, actors, etc., stated that you can easily be a a huge success overseas despite not blowing up in the states. That’s why a lot of artist can sit well with royalties from overseas sales

[@juswolf22]

It hard to keep a duo together imagine tryna keep that big ass roster together

[@kevinumba6281]

What ever happened to Dionne Farris?

That second LP is dope and underrated

[@Micahi5god]

Zingalamaduni is actually one of my Top 5 most favorite albums of all time.

[@juniorrhinox]

Appreciating this interview like the other Foundation Artists you have. Peace to the Gods of Hip Hop. But... I'm still waiting for the 2Pac question 😁👊🏾

[@mercyg6720]

Sometimes Great Artist can only make 3 or 4 impactful songs...Just how it goes,Once u get paid the music n hunger changes dramatically.

[@LaCheleWallace]

_Zingalamaduni..._ I've never heard that LP, Todd. I remember seeing it in stores, picking up it and putting it right back down. I apologize for that. Do you know why that happened, Todd? They were getting ready to phase y'all out. 1994 was the year that they started phasing out knowledge rap. Also, the album had no *magic* behind it. There's a reason why we react to certain music. When it's fresh and new and the label really believes in you, they'll throw that magic on the LP or single and it'll have a massive impact. Think about it. Everybody knows _Tennessee,_ but nobody knows _Zingalamaduni._ Everybody knows Shai's _If I Ever Fall in Love,_ but nobody knows _Blackface._ Don't blame or beat yourself up over that, Todd. It's not yo' fault and it's not the general public's fault. The programming magic simply wasn't there. I remember rushing to the store to buy Jon B's _Cool Relax_ CD and when I held it, Todd, it *FELT* special. There was promo behind it and magic. When I went to that same store, a few years later, and bought his _Pleasures U Like_ CD, nothing was there. It felt like a blank piece of paper. No promo behind it. Just a CD. So yeah, there's magic behind certain artists' music which makes it hit the top of the charts, etcetera. Nowadays, 'artists' are garnering 80 million dreams (streams) w/o the general public ever even hearing the doggon song. Po' thang. I'm so sorry that you had to endure a su¡c¡dal rub. The American market is fickle so most of the time, you don't know whether you're comin' or goin'. Abroad, fans don't turn they backs on you and they gon love you through and through. More than what I can say for the American market. Muthafuckas is hella wishy-washy out here.

[@siremet1009]

This was the best break down i ever read fr. Salute

[@LaCheleWallace]

@@siremet1009 aw, thanks so much.

[@siremet1009]

You're welcome

[@hevyonez97]

Nothing but plain ol' truth right here...I have to break it down like this to folks every now and then why some things work and some don't...

[@LaCheleWallace]

@@hevyonez97 Thanks. Right and it's up to the labels because they decide on what we hear and don't hear (on a large scale). That independent market is lookin' pretty grim since the support is hardly there.

[@90MVtv]

That first album was definitely a hit! I still listen. Second album was ok but not hip hop enough like the first one

[@hoardershide]

I loved the debut solo album.

[@simonbrooks399]

Sorry for speech because this album was the best in my opinion

[@tonym9227]

21xplatinum???! DAMN!

[@djhendrix05]

Dope legendary

[@blackamerican40]

Sophomore slump? What about the Best New Artist Grammy curse?

[@hevyonez97]

Both one and the same...it happens to the best of them...

[@KhamisiFox]

Zingalamaduni was a Great album. Corporations screwed Hip Hop by the time it came out.

[@msully76]

First this guy created some great music. 2nd went to a hootie and the blowfish concert it was sold-out and the album sold crazy but that was all Darius Rucker and his talent as time has proven.

[@80sclassic63]

PLEASE VLAD do a interview with Uncanny Alliance if you can find them

[@remnantsaved144]

his latest album is a classic

[@loveone8073]

I don't care what anybody say,Vlad got the dopest interview

[@juswolf22]

Yup fuck that cancelling vlad. We ain’t Muslim Farrakhan don’t speak for all of us.

[@jackieblue4128]

Love vlad's channel Screw the jealous ungrateful haters No one held a gun to they head to answer questions

[@loveone8073]

@@jackieblue4128 exactly

[@yeahisaidit5633]

He should have paid those folks

[@MyRapNameIsAlexbitsnpieces]

Speech describing how clearchannel became a verb.

[@seandorsey9181]

Im sorry but duke hairline jumped in the way back wit Mr Peabody

[@powven5366]

Vlad, how do you know nothing about Hootie and the Blowfish?

[@barnyard4068]

Zingalamaduni, Very nice album, terrible title. Had Speech allowed the songs that Headliner submitted to the project to make the Album (Zingalamaduni), they would have had another monster hit on their hands. Speeches solo album was terrible!!!

[@glenndoleberry8418]

Yo Vlad FOREVER including himself in the interview “ ME being in media”🙄

[@clarenceperkins1835]

Same ting happened to kid n play mon....ok I'm not Jamaican sorry

[@kingplaya]

Lupe Fiasco Sr.

[@soysauce6550]

I get it, Pro-Black 🎤.

[@pernellhaynesworth1212]

🗣

[@90MVtv]

Headliner had flow

[@user-tk7rl6hw6c]

Legend

[@kingdeevyoung7594]

Like I always say , you have the choice , if you don't like vlad , don't klick 🤫 thank me later.

[@TheFreshSoundsFlorida]

Facts!

[@ListenJus]

He contemplated like "take me to another land...."

[@MrRafie82]

Wow you wrong for that. Yet it fits. 😅

[@pspT61]

Just like Mya

[@miarobinson847]

Zingle ima dooly was Bullshit 😂

[@burgessfrederick2]

Contious guy, and Hillary Clinton in 1 sentence??🤔🤔

[@the24thletter]

His hairline is holding on for dear life 😱

[@miarobinson847]

Yeah that song sucked I remember that jawn 🤦‍♀️

[@chowchichang2922]

Be respectful when you ask this God a question .... stating Matter of factly ... the different significant and insignificant milestones in his life ....! Horrible interviewer!

[@ThisIsPhiladelphia215]

He’s half bald and half dreaded

[@juanboss560]

He's not, its just hairline.

[@reggiefurlow1]

Horrible album title

[@troytolbert2005]

Your opinion. It has spiritual significance. If you listened to the album, you'd know that.

[@reggiefurlow1]

@@troytolbert2005 still a bad title

[@kisha4040]

@@reggiefurlow1 It's a Swahili word

[@woodguy76]

That's a mean fivehead Speech.

[@troytolbert2005]

You need to grow up woodguy. If you were just trolling for a response, here it is. If you were trying to be mean, you have deeper issues.

[@woodguy76]

@@troytolbert2005 really dude? You took time of your day to write that? I bet you're one of those pussies that needs a safe place you can go to when you get picked on huh? I don't think Speech needs your help not do I think he'd want it. Have good day 🖕

[@SurgeCess]

@@woodguy76 stfu child

[@dropsixteentvtv4149]

See, should've did that coke deal...

[@WACK1OO]

should've taken that mil

[@jessetreehorn3029]

First

[@handsomest1]

Never heard of these bums

[@sickvokals]

STFU

[@handsomest1]

@@sickvokals deadass I listen to mf doom if you wanna compare artists and groups from that era real timeless music

[@sickvokals]

@@handsomest1 pleeeeeeeease STFU

[@stevenallen1567]

Shut up

[@gregoryashley7963]

STFU, man.

[@HOLYBOY.]

First