Todd Thomas, better known by his stage name Speech, is an American rapper born on October 25, 1968, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent his early years in Milwaukee and Ripley, Tennessee, before moving to Georgia in 1987 to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta. He completed his high school education at Rufus King High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Speech's music career began with his first rap group, Attack, which was active from 1984 to 1986. He also worked as a DJ at a teen club called the Fox Trap. In 1987, he co-founded the progressive hip hop group Arrested Development with DJ Headliner. The group gained fame with their debut album, "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...," where Speech was the lead vocalist and producer. Despite their follow-up album, "Zingalamaduni," not achieving the same commercial success, it received critical acclaim.

Beyond his work with Arrested Development, Speech pursued a solo career, releasing his debut solo album "Speech" in 1996 under Chrysalis/EMI. The single "Like Marvin Said (What's Going On)" became a No. 1 hit in Japan for seven weeks. Speech also founded Vagabond Productions, promoting neo soul, hip-hop, and rock concerts, and representing artists in the U.S. and Japan. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, and The Roots, and contributed to soundtracks for films like "Malcolm X" and "Boomerang."

Speech is also known for his spiritual journey, becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ within the International Churches of Christ in December 1996. His contributions to music and his role in Arrested Development have made him a significant figure in the hip hop genre.