Arrested Development’s de facto leader Speech Thomas hunkered down at the Richmond City Justice Center in Richmond, Virginia for months to help several inmates record their own original music.
The resulting 16 Bars documentary captured the intense emotion and enthralling stories of each inmate who participated.
Teddy Kane, who was one of the inmates involved in the project, has been in and out of jail since he was 10 years old. During his sessions with Speech, he wrote and recorded a song called “Inspire,” which tackles the hardships he’s faced and the injustices in the prison system.
Now, the song has been given the visual treatment. Featuring the Positive Impact Choir (comprised of all children), the visual was partially filmed at the jail and details what went into making the track. More importantly, it expresses the inner turmoil Teddy wrestles with on a daily basis.
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“Inspire is one of the realist music videos ever,” Speech tells HipHopDX. “It’s timely and urgent. Teddy has the potential to be this generations Tupac [Shakur].”
At this point in time, Teddy is back on the streets, still wrestling with his drug addiction. His exact whereabouts are unknown.
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“Inspire” comes from the official 16 Bars Motion Picture Soundtrack.
16 Bars, directed by Sam Bathrick, is expected to premiere in November while the soundtrack arrives on November 8. Until then, watch the “Inspire” video above and get inspired.
