Speech

Speech is a genre of music that combines elements of hip hop, soul, jazz, and spoken word. It emerged in the mid-1990s and is often characterized by its melodic, laid-back sound and its focus on the spoken word. The genre is often associated with artists such as Talib Kweli, Lauryn Hill, Common, and Mos Def. Speech music often focuses on social and political issues, with lyrics that often comment on the state of the world. The genre has its roots in the early 1990s when a number of African-American artists began to experiment with combining rap and spoken word poetry. As the genre developed, it began to incorporate elements of jazz, soul, and hip hop.