Tennessee – Arrested Development | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#6) & R&B (#1); 1992
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
With its uplifting, overtly spiritual lyrics, Tennessee stands as a shining moment in hip-hop in direct opposition to the more revolutionary stance of Public Enemy.
Although Public Enemy never achieved prominent mainstream radio exposure, their albums, among them Fear Of A Black Planet and Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Back, provided powerful touchstones for the African-American community. By contrast, Arrested Development spoke to a positive approach of unity and compassion.
Todd “Speech” Thomas co-wrote and vocalized on Tennessee in which he asks God to help purge the ghosts that haunt him, a request that’s answered through a return to his home and his history.
Although AD was awarded Grammies for Best New Artist (the first for a rap artist) and Best Rap Album, their message of brotherhood was quickly overshadowed as Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and N.W.A.’s EFIL4ZAGGIN rode the next wave of gangsta rap to the top in 1993.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Speech
Lyrics Written by:
- Todd Thomas
- Aerle Taree
- Prince
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).