3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...

As someone who listens to a lot of hip-hop, this for me is very much a hip-hop history artifact. I don't want to put it up against today's brand of hip-hop because its gone through such an evolution that its not the same genre as it was back then. That being said compared to contemporary albums of that year like Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" and Beastie Boys' "Check Your Head" the lyrics and delivery do come off a bit corny to me. I respect they were trying to be an antithesis to the popular gangster rap of the late 80s/early 90s and bring some positivity to rap, but I felt like I was being preached to with their straight to the point lyrics. Some of the songs were really repetitive as well. There is definitely a way to make conscious, positivity infused rap work. The rapper Common is a great example of making conscious rap interesting by using intricate rhyme schemes laden with metaphor and wordplay. While I found Speech's delivery a little simplistic, I did love the instrumentation! They used a lot of live instruments, which I always appreciate in a hip-hop group. And I don't want to totally yuck anyones yums because I did enjoy the "Everyday People" cover on "People Everyday," and the song "U" was another standout bop for me as well. While these tracks were pretty cool they were not enough to save the album for me.

The beats are funky and fun and you can hear the influence it had on southern and alternative hip hop. Must have been a breath of fresh air during the gangsta rap era of the early 90s. Some of the subject matter in the lyrics came off a bit squeaky clean and naive though, but overall a fun listen. Favourite Tracks: Tennessee, U

This was a fun surprise. I love the production. Very early 90s hip hop but also really creative and aged well. It's like they combined 80s drum machines with a Sly Stone style band. Were they the pioneers of "conscious" rap? Taking on christianity, ecology, poverty. They also predicted the dawn of the 90s dreads, except that it would instead be white Phish fans and mom's on vacation in Mexico. Best lyrics "I want to be sleeping in you, I want to be inside you, I want to be sleeping deep in you, I want to be in you". Got it. I like the main guy's delivery. Very sing-songy and jazzy. Especially on Tennessee, which is a tight song. There's only one downside to all of these appealing things - it can be corny as hell. It's so difficult to take on giant societal problems and not come off like a preachy cheeseball. I tried to think of artists who came later that would potentially cite this album as an influence, and it's a motley crew - Common, Black Eyed Peas, G.Love, Jack Johnson? It's cool with me B+

I really liked this... but found it went on too long. Have found that to be an issue with the hip hop albums on this list. Half way through i was like “this is a 4”, but few songs later (I’d say by the song Natural) I was doing. Anyway, too much focus on the negative! This was fun and got me bopping. Will go back and cherry pick my faves for a playlist.

3 Years doesn’t get the credit it deserves when talking about all time great albums - even when I make my own lists, it doesn’t always pop right up despite being a forefather of southern hip hop and my personal gateway to music meaning something, sharing history, & meaningful stories. Prior to this my idea of hip hop was Beastie Boys, M.C. Hammer, Vanilla Ice, & DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. License to Ill remains my favorite hip hop album ever, but it’s mostly about being rebellious and partying and the others were more “pop” radio hits that are fun, but didn’t contain a lot of substance. 3 Years…came along and addressed issues like slavery & homelessness in the black community and opened up my eyes as a white kid in a rural area to issues I hadn’t given much attention to - and they did so using music that still felt upbeat and optimistic. I don’t want to use too much hyperbole to overstate the importance of this album to my personal growth, but it is the perfect middle ground between the clean mainstream rap like “U Can’t Touch This” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and the “The Chronic” that came later that same year. It was clean, but it was real and raw and made a difference.

super good 90s hiphop. Uplifting, funky, reminded me of Tribe Called Quest, and that's always a good thing

A very strong spiritual, positive, alternative vein in hip-hop. I liked this quite a bit, and think it definitely needs to be listened to for any fans of Rap, let alone music.

This is one of those albums that is carefully thought out from the first track to the last. There is no filler. Every song connects and as a whole tells a story. It is beautiful and funky. Favorites: “U,” “Children Play With Earth” and “Tennessee”

OH the JAMS ARE IMMACULATE

There's always moods for every genre, and Arrested Development bring a positive, uplifting light in their debut album while tackling very real (and still very relevant) issues regarding race and the government. A lot of rap's power usually comes from anger, especially in a lot of gangsta rap, but the way Headliner and Speech flow in their statements with the upbeat rhythms and harmonic samples is so memorable. It's hard not to take away the influence that their inflection and delivery might of had on Childish Gambino. One of my favorite rap albums of the 90's. Favorite Song: Mr. Wendel Least Favorite: Children Play With Earth

I’m so down for the musical choices, and the flow and lyricism are fantastic. I’m not down for all of the “current culture bad” takes, but I respect that the lyrics are actually about something.

I love thia album, Even today, the album sounds fresh and relevant. If you're looking for hip hop that's intelligent, uplifting, and full of good vibes, then "3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of..." is a must-listen.

Arrested Development's debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of..., delivers powerful messages wrapped in cheerful melodies. Released in 1992, this album stands out for its positive and uplifting themes, contrasting with the often violent and misogynistic content prevalent in hip-hop at the time. Songs like Tennessee and People Everyday emphasise social consciousness and self-reflection, offering listeners an insightful look into the artist's lives. The group incorporates elements of soul, funk, and gospel, creating a bright and summery sound that feels both refreshing and inspiring. Arrested Development's approach to hip-hop is less about aggression and more about empowerment and positivity. The album's innovative style and substance set it apart, earning critical acclaim and commercial success. Its blend of optimism and authenticity makes it a timeless classic that continues to influence artists today. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 11 STAND OUT TRACK - Mama's Always on Stage

I am in love with this album. It’s political and fun and creative and just has such great vibes. I felt like I got something from each song.

How have I never heard of this group or this album??? Like WHAT this feels like such an important album to be introduced to for anyone into rap, hip-hop, beats, scratching, etc. My main gripe with the album, hence the 4 star instead of 5, is that it feels like sometimes the mixing isn't great, where I wish I could hear the vocals more but they're covered by the beat. But I guess that actually kinda makes sense because I have the feeling that a majority of the usage of this album was on vinyls and people using the tracks to scratch to and grab instrumentals/samples from. Also, idk if it's just me but I feel like this album had a huge influence on Donald Glover when he was creating This is America. A lot of the album gave off the vibes of the instrumentals and chanting of This is America, especially Give A Man A Fish.

This was such a refreshing throwback to the origins of hip-hop. The beats are peak boom-bap and so tasty. It has to be remembered that this album doesn't exist in a vacuum. The intentional step away from gangsta rap to talk about life, love, and loss is well executed - especially in context. It's a direct reproach of current trends in hip-hop at the time. It's an attempt to remind people that hip-hop was and can be a positive change platform. It's a little crazy, when you think about it, that this gets categorized as "alternative hip-hop" when it feels so throwback. The primary reason, I think, is that it did end up inspiring a whole host of artists to embrace hip-hop and push it past its gangsta pigeonhole. To push the genre in an alternate direction. You can hear the origins of bands like The Roots, Nappy Roots, Outkast, Jurassic 5, Blackstar and more here. No disrespect for the supremely talented Mr. Glover but Childish Gambino wouldn't exist if it weren't for acts like Arrested Development stepping away from the easy dollars of gangsta rap to embrace elements of funk, jazz, and rock and create something different. On top of ALL THAT, there are just some killer tracks on here. "People Everyday," "Mr. Wendal," and "Tennessee" are undeniable power jams and essential parts of the soundtrack of the early 90s. Haters gonna hate but this album slaps.

A really fun and enjoyable album. Nice new version of People Everyday on there that I hadn’t heard before. The whole album couldn’t help but put you in a good mood. So nearly a 5 but there are a lot of similar sort of hip hop albums that I rate higher so stopped short of awarding full marks. A solid/high 4 though.

My God another really enjoyable hip hop album. Hip hop has been my most neglected genre and the one that has given en the most pleasant surprises. This album sounds like classic Sly and the Famy Stone. I guess they're a rap group but they are just as much a funk band which works perfectly for me 4 🌟

1. Man’s Final Frontier - definitely think the sound is really good and still pretty fresh. 2. Mama’s Always On Stage - it’s actually kinda a bop… 3. People Everyday - it’s ok wasn’t my favourite. 4. Blues Happy - interlude 5. Mr. Wendal - I like the rapping style In this one, it’s kinda soothing. 6. Children Play With Earth - the sound of this one is interesting it’s got some different elements. The hook isn’t great. 7. Raining Revolution - this one has an interesting flow, I quite like it. 8. Fishin’ 4 Religion - has a very house/dance vibe to me which is kinda cool. 9. Give a Man a Fish - not my favourite. 10. U - this one is very cool it has a really quick beat. 11. Eve of Reality - another interlude 12. Natural - “everything has to be natural” feels shaming. 13. Dawn of the Dreads - this one has a very cool sound, especially the base. 14. Tennessee - quite catchy, especially the chorus. 15. Washed Away - good closer it’s more slow. It flows really well each song into the next. I don’t mind it but it’s definitely a different style of hip hop than I’m used to but the beats were kinda boppy and dandy at times. HOWEVER, the lyrics are very preachy…it’s a lot of coming across as being better than others. Like I appreciate some of the themes of the songs but it is kinda preachy…

Great sampling. I really respect what they did with rap thematically and every song has a distinct sound. I already loved People Everyday and it remains a favourite. I got a little bored and lost in the back half. Tennessee is another solid single.

Mr. Wendell and Tennessee are great. And there are other good songs. But not enough to get this past the 3.5 star hump that is dividing line between good and great. I hate to round down, but I don't feel like this quite belongs with the 4 stars on here. (If I could, I'd give it a 3.75, lol).

Absolutely zero prior knowledge of this group or album, so I got to go in with no preconceptions whatsoever. What a treat. I could mark it down for being a bit long or cheesy or God-y, but it's too damn joyous and too damn catchy. Didn't expect to be grooving along to a track called Fishin' 4 Religion today, but here we are. 3.5 (includes a discovery bonus of half a star).

Some awesome funk tracks and pretty great rhythmic hip hop and rap, samples a little repetitive/rough in some songs and albums pretty long with what felt like a lot of filler

Positive, poppy 90’s hip-hop. Good, but maybe a little boring at times. I am enjoying all the Sly and the Family Stone samples/interpolations, however.

Bare drit. Helt jævlig U-land rap.

This selection is one of the ones I find revealing about whoever made this list. If the only hip hop you listen to is what ends up on pop radio then maybe this sounds like a record you need to hear before you die. I don't think there are many serious hip hop fans who would second that view. This record isn't terrible, but the sounds and rhymes are unoriginal to my ears, sorta sounds like if Public Enemy made a De La Soul tribute album. Meanwhile, this list is missing desert island essential LPs like Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded. Disappointing. Hip hop's a weird genre for this list because it's mainly a singles game so not many essential albums but still I don't see this one as being important or even interesting and the fact that some super important albums are missing suggested the editors of this list don't know much about hip hop.

I forgot about this album. Reminds me of visiting my sister in college. Amazing how a few notes can bring you into a room from 30 years past, with the sounds, smells, people, everything so close you can touch them. But that's not the album. The album is wonderfully produced. Great grooves with layers of samples and instrumentation that add to the whole. The opposite of that Jurassic 5 nonsense I was subjected to a few weeks ago. An easy 5.

Loved it!

“Tennessee” still slaps!

Loved this album. I’ve never heard of this band & this album came out the year I was born. I liked the themes they were sinigng about, and it was lots of fun beginning to end. I’d put this album on if I’m having a hard time & need a boost

WOW! If I had heard this instead of the rap I considered testosterone fueled, misogynistic, foul mouthed obnoxiousness, I would have given the genre more attention. Covering Sly Stone and making it fresh again! Rap I can understand! Cool vocals, music and a real drum kit behind. Oh my, they're quoting Steely Dan! I'm smiling so big! I'm dancing! I read some of the reviews, and see that some people found this corny. Maybe if they'd pull their heads out of their gangsta rap/heavy metal/punk worldview, they'd see there's a lot to be said for happy stuff.

I like gangster rap but wish we had more of this feel good rap, too.

Really good album; I feel like it mixes genres a little bit and does it well.

I am a huge fan of this from the first track. I love the driving baseline. Lyrics are poignant. There is sounds that play at the end of each track before getting cut... It doesn't lead into the next track, wonder what it is for.

Dope

Another fave album. So many great tunes. And a hip hop album that had a true conscious message to deliver.

This is the brilliant debut album from Arrested Development. It is a joyful, wise, and diverse collection of tracks from the band that created Southern hip-hop, with their unique sound. They combine rap, sampling, and remixing elements with traces of funk, soul, and R&B. This album met with wide-spread critical acclaim, and established Arrested Development as an influential group in hip hop and rap. Their positive, humble, thoughtful perspective sits in sharp contrast with the gansta rap that dominated that era (and most eras since).

Excellent. Ages very well.

Never heard of Arrested Development before but this album is excellent. Mr. Wendal appears to be one of those songs I've heard numerous times before by never questioned its origin. Very similar to De La Soul with the addition of incredible female vocals

Incredible stuff, surprised I’ve never heard of them before.

Really good, just some fantastic music.

yes, dit zijn mijn soort albums..prachtig...i am everyday people

SAVORY WHOLESOME HIP HOP

Adding it to my playlist "HIP HOP CAN BE FUN AFTER ALL" or as the critics wrote back then: "as a major new voice in hip-hop", noting Speech's social themes and rejection of "macho boasting and gangster posing" Here I was thinking ' least it's different... You always get a point for originality.' THEN I REALISED - Tennessee Mr Wendel Everyday People ..... Are some of my all-time favourite feelgood tracks. I didn't know that I didn't know but that I knew... Oh you know !

Vraiment cool, y’a pas de défaut, juste cool

5 stars. so good.

Wow this is very good. Everyone in America should listen to this record. It's as poignant now as it was then. You don't have to be blue haired liberal to or Marx worshiper to just say, "Wow, yeah, you do have a point there." Musically I love the hooks, the little soulful moments, really digs into your brain. got a few hooks stuck in my head now, lol.

I take it to my hart️ 🎶

Bops from start to finish. What a fun album.

very interesting

ну нормальный хепхап, слушатебельно и интересно, мягкий вокал, биты, инструменты, всё есть и всё збс

Still a great early 90s album. I definitely rocked this on my tape player.

Brilliant. Colourful, positive, clever, inspiring. Can hear they must have been an influence on Outkast.

Nice

I have listened to this album MANY times in my life and I love it. This was an album that I have recommended to many too. I love it!! I am thankful for this album today.

Finally some hip-hop/rap that I can enjoy unequivocally! I loved this album when it came out in the 90’s and it has remained one of my favorites ever since. Positive message. Incredible beats. Absolutely great! After enduring other 90s rapper’s terrible treatment of women and the gays (side-eye to Ice Cube), it is refreshing to hear some positivity a pro-people perspective. I love this album!

FIVE STARS. I don't even know where to start. This album has just about everything I want from music, not least that it appeals instantly as well as rewarding repeat listening and closer attention. Awesome grooves and hooks with interesting development/improv, AND lyrics that inspire and provoke. In the last decade or so I'd forgotten just how much I like it, and will absolutely be putting it back on rotation...if I ever make it through the 990-odd other albums!

cool

Easy listenin

Spectacular. Fun, organic, meaningful music.

One likes a hip-hop record that has a smile on its face even when exploring substantive issues (e.g., slavery, sexism). Indeed, there’s a mellow ebullience and (perhaps Southern) sweetness here – see the loose hopefulness of “Mr. Wendal” and “Washed Away,” with beats that are smooth and accessible and gently (not violently) infectious. The seriousness of intent and themes (“Mama always on stage” and “Give a man a fish…/Teach a man to fish”) bind the record coherently and make it considerably more than ear candy (without being excessively preachy or angry or programmatic). It’s deep and thoughtful as much as it’s fun and musical – consider how the danciest track might be “Vision for Religion” and the biggest hit was a debate with God about manumission. Still sounds fresh and relevant, which makes it even more mystifying that they did little else after this. (Rounding up because they really shouldn't have been a one-hit wonder.)

Posi hip-hop. Good.

This really holds up.

Gives me tribe vibes, good raps, political and not gangster

Fun, funky and uplifting album. You can definitely hear its influences on southern hip hop.

I own this album. Golden.

Genius

I loved it then and love it now. I saw as a kid how it was different from the rest of the music out there, that they were a unique and hopeful voice. Every band with a message, even if it’s an upsetting message deserves to be heard.

Wow! Jazz, Soul, 80's Hip Hop Rap, 90's New Jack Swing, everything wrapped into one! A master work of the time.

Särskilt stort fan av ”Man’s Final Frontier”. Känns som lite Avalanche i det här??

I love this album so much.

Some absolute tunes -- writing this a weekend after listening so I can't recall many details but overall a fun and interesting listen. 90/100 gecs

I'm really glad I listened to this. I have to come back to it to digest it some more.

Ohhh I love this album! I bought it twice. I love the slower version of People Everyday, Mama is Always on Stage is my favorite on the album. Good music, good message, just a good vibe all the way through

This was the first real album I listened too and thought 'wow there's something here for me'. You see, a 13 year old from North London wanted to love gangsta rap, but, you know.... Mr Wendal sounded wise. Everyday People had my music in it. This was something else and it still sounds amazing

Groundbreaking, huge step-change in Hip Hop & Rap. Still sounds fresh as today.

This was one of my first albums, I made my dad buy it on tape and listened to it in his car 30 years ago. I had pretty good taste as an 11 year old, coz this is a great album. It has some of the best live instrumental music I’ve heard in hip hop, Speech’s flow/tone/delivery are all very nice but the content is what makes this stand out. I’m tempted to breakdown each song’s messages and meaning here, but it would turn into quite an essay. Simply to say that even De La Soul aren’t rapping about their childcare issues, the positive aspects of a homeless life style or saying preachers dying is the only solution. The production does get a little muddy at times and it can feel a bit crusty towards the end, but it’s a really unique piece of work and I wish there was more hip hop like this.

This was really good! It held my attention throughout, musically and lyrically, there's a lot to get into. BT - Mama's Always On Stage - Mr. Wendel - Fishin' 4 Religion - Natural - Tennessee

I had so many good memories about this one. But I listened to it again to make sure. And apart for one or two weaker tracks on side two, it's a keeper. I imagine that for a few younger ears out there, some of the sounds or lyrics could feel dated. But, as far as I'm concerned, revisiting this "alternative" hip hop gem *decades later* (jeeze, I'm *old*) brought back most of what I originally loved about it. I haven't lost track of what is going on in the genre now, so I know this LP sounds as if it came from another century (actually it does). But sometimes old means aging like a fine wine. And when it's the case in hip hop, it's particularly endearing. Some people here have pointed out that the "positivity" of certain lyrics could pass off as "corny" at times. I don't know... I've heard far worse lyrical content in rap albums before. Plus the topicality of most of these songs hasn't aged a day, and I feel like Speech's attitude and words about those issues still sound "fresh" and sincere enough to help me turn a blind eye to a couple of potential minor flaws here and there. And whatever the case may be with the lyrics, the music is fantastic most of the time. Vocal parts often soar into soulful singing and hooks are as catchy as you can hope them to be. And most of the tracks are great anyway. "Tennessee"'s groove is infectious, of course, but so are the ones of "Mama's Always on Stage", " Fishing For Religion", "Give A Man A Fish", or (obviously) that nice cover version of Sly Stone's "Every People" (without Arrested Development, I would have discovered the Family Stone far later than I actually did, I'm not ashamed to say it). Oh, and there are also a few mellower cuts that I actually really like as well ("Raining Revolution" or closer "Washed Away") For a while (mostly during the naughts), I felt like hip hop as a whole genre got lost in uninteresting turfs of land--ones that were as far away from *3 Years...* as they could possibly be. Early 21st century gangsta rap brought us a couple of masterpieces, but also many ridiculous records everybody has forgotten about now, fortunately. That said, the situation of rap and hip hop is better today: you have all sorts of subgenres going from trap to old-school boom bap thriving, and in each genre, you have good stuff to find out. I feel that in that sort of musical landscape, a vintage album such as this one, exploring *other* ways to develop a rap vocabulary, has its place. "Objectively", this record is probably a 4/5. But given the sort of mindset it can offer younger generations these days, I'm gonna push for a 5. Arrested Development deserves to become a sort of legacy act for rap fans trying to think out of the usual boxes. That's how we've had the best hip hop albums lately. And that's how we're gonna have other ones in the future. Number of albums left to review: 644 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 178 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 84 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 100

lowkey so good, couldn't ask for anything more in a 90s hip-hop album

Not to be confused with the ‘banana stand’ arrested development - this took me by surprise … it’s a fresh take on hip hop of the era - scratch that - it sounds fresh even now - 31 years later. The rhymes might not be machine gun like of this post Eminem time and age - which is only what gives a clue it’s not a new record - but the beats and the pace of it just stands out as a top record. Loved it.

How did I not know this album!?! Classic hip-hop yes, please!

great album total classic. Tennessee unh! The focus on samples and so much freedom with the lyrics. Its 90s as fuck. Not gangsta rap and probably sounds a little corny these days but I love the style

Old schoo. awesome.

Extremely good and refreshing. Interesting beats, bass lines, lyrics, rhythms.

10/10 I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of old school hip hop, but every now and then, there’s a group that really blows me away Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, and now Arrested Development there’s some real top tier talent here and it is executed phenomenally

This was a breath of fresh air. Strong messages of empowerment to a good beat.

muito bom, rapzao alto astral

My super-cool housemate had this CD back in the 90s. I hadn't heard it in decades. It's still great. Wonderful to hear it again.

An ambitious album. Trying to bring an overtly social consciousness to R&B, and this succeeds in its ambition. Not to mention, Tennessee features supporting vocals from the incredible Dionne Farris. I heard this as a younger person and was electrified at how you could be super explicit in your music to try to make the world a better place. Hadn't really occurred to me before that you could drop all the allusions and metaphor, and just *say what you wanted to say*.

I bought this when it came out because I loved Tennessee. I still have most of it memorized. I imagine it may sound corny or preachy to other people, but to me it sounds bravely spiritual, positive and pro-black. I love it and I think this album influenced my life in a positive way. The depth of samples on this record is sick. Speech may be the only MC ever who sounds happy (maybe MC Lyte?), and it's interesting to remember that you could have a bunch of dance tracks and still be a hip-hop record.

This is pretty tight. Harmonicas are amazing.

Ég held þetta sé uppáhalds hip hop platan sem ég hef kynnt mér. Stanslaust partý frá upphafi til enda!

People Everyday amd Mr Wendell on the same album = 5*s

Such a great album. Saw this band in 1994 at Lollapalooza in Toronto. Quite the antidote to the grunge crap that was everywhere in 1994.

loved it obv

Fantastic album! Really enjoyed this one

Super fun!

Before this I only knew Tennessee. The whole album was great and made me feel great.

What a find!!!