The Vagabond

Speech. <i>Bluhammock.</i>

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Todd Thomas, a.k.a. Speech, enjoyed brief Top-40 glory in the early ’90s as leader of the Georgia hip-hop collective Arrested Development. He’s continued to make socially conscious yet fun music ever since, blending folksy rap and vintage soul grooves in his campaign for a kinder world. The charming Vagabond feels like a sunny afternoon in the back yard with your best friends. As an MC, Speech’s rhymes are chatty and unforced, and his crooning features a sweet falsetto reminiscent of Prince. Though not above classic rap egotism, he subverts convention in the punchy “What You Give,” dissing a “huffing and puffing” foe, then bragging about his sexual prowess—with his wife! And after all the uplifting messages, including a moving cover of John Lennon’s “Across the Universe,” Speech signs off with “Gone Away,” a poignant ode to his late older brother, revealing the angst behind the positive vibes.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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