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

Locura de album, me ha encantado. Me recuerda mucho a Funkadelic. Locura. 5/5

Man am I a sucker for early 90s rap, especially the stuff that positively complements the gangsta rap that was so pervasive during the same time period. It’s undeniably fun. Add in more than a dash of social activism and I’m all in.

I loved this album when it came out, and I still do. Fun with a good dose of encouraging good social moral behavior.

Had a really nice time listening to this. Vibe is right. Its a 4.5 or a 4 but I feel like I should give it a 5 for some reason.

Classic, love it. An album, along with Madvilliany began my love of hip hop. Joyful, positive…no hoes or drugs.

apparently I do like hip-hop. but it has to have funk elements in it.

This is one of the best hip-hop albums I've ever heard. Where other hip-hop albums fail by lack of musical diversity, this album has so many different stories and vibes to it. And upon further listening, I find the songs more and more enjoyable to listen to. It's probably a 4, but almost all of my 5 albums are rock, so I could use a token Hip-Hop album in their.

What a blast from the past! I had kind of forgotten how great this was and am glad to be reminded!

Love this album!

It was fantastic back in 1993, and it's still fantastic now.

Got this album from BMG or Columbia House or some such. Loved it then but haven't heard it in decades. But it is still awesome. I used to know every line to Mr. Wendel, and shockingly enough I was still able to recite most of them. So so good.

love the vibe. the beats are incredible and the lyrics are great

That’s more like it. I’ve always liked People Every Day and Mr Wendal, and the rest of the album stands up to them. Really really good.

Solid album. Good messages. Will definitely be relistening.

3 years, 5 months, and 2 days later... still the most fun you can have dancing in your office chair.

Fire hiphop beats

Great album. Great throughout. Stand out song - Mr. Wendal

Very Bombast!

Shame about that followup, eh? But seriously, this is some pretty damn good 80s hiphop. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5. I gotta talk myself into it one way or the other. I loved around 80% of this album, and that 80% generally includes the instrumentals, the vocals, and a really nice chunk of the lyrics – this has fabulous production, really strong flows for most of the tracks, and I do love a lot of the messages here when they’re not overly preachy. The 20% of this album I didn’t like is overly preachy, and it has me absolutely trapped – I feel really close to bumping this down to a 4 on the sole account of just how god damn preachy towards the gospel this ends up being the longer it goes – all this talk about purity, finding God, and returning to the soil with the amount of biblical references, allegories, and allusions… it just becomes too much. I tolerated it through the first 12 tracks or so because it’s done in a really clever way that doesn’t feel heavy-handed, and flows really nicely towards the ideas of unity that are usually presented well enough throughout this album. Track 13 is what sort of finally made me put my foot down, though, because it strikes me as… fake feminism? Again, 1992 vs. 2025 and all that, but the lyricism on that track feels like it hasn’t aged as well, especially in comparison to how lovely “Natural” is right before it. I don’t think it’s possible to be too feminist, but it is possible to take it to the point where it feels vaguely creepy. Specifically, the use of “females” just gave me a sort of ick, because it hasn’t reflected well into how we talk about women nowadays. Tennessee is a fantastic track, no complaints about that, but goddamn, that last track just struck a nerve in a way that makes all the preachiness of the earlier tracks feel worse. Earlier on, the album draws a distinct line in the sand between “brothers” and “gangsters” (sometimes with the N-word used in place of the latter). I can’t speak to racial makeup & stereotypes like that; it’s not my conversation to have as someone who isn’t a black person… but it does feel really, really awkward in 2025. It acts as such a strong pushback against the gangsta rap that came into effect in the late 80s and early 90s, and it hasn’t aged well. It doesn’t read quite as “unifying” as it probably should be. If it was unifying back then, then power to it, but given modern-day rhetoric about “the good ones” and “the bad ones” that racist people feel emboldened to speak on nowadays, it truly feels awkward & dated in a way that feels kind of uncomfortable. So, yeah, that 20% of the album really stings for me. And yet, that 20% doesn’t feel like it should override the 80% of that which I did like – when this album isn’t being extremely overly heavy-handed with rhetoric that hasn’t aged well, it is a genuinely great showcase of some of the future flows, production, & general messaging that would better integrate more spiritual topics into the “heavier” rap as the decade went along. For 1992, I think this is a remarkably strong album for most of the tracks; again, the preachiness comes down to toleration & perspective, and for me, if only 2 or 3 tracks don’t click like that on a 15-track album, you’ve gotta be doing something right. It probably did have a lasting impact & impression on a lot of the more socially conscious rappers that would emerge in the years to come, and I think that deserves its flowers. So, yes, it’s a 4.5 that I will bump up to a 5, but with the caveat that it hasn’t aged well in the approach to its messaging. Objectively, there is nothing wrong with using your platform to spread a message of unity like this, and I cannot imagine that the sort of differentiation between “brothers” and “gangsters” isn’t meant as more of a framing device for the members of the group to get their points across & set themselves apart from a musical standpoint. It is not *their* fault that the messaging has been co-opted by bad faith actors who have twisted it to this point, and I get the feeling that if they had another crack at an album like this, they’d be able to more carefully choose their words to avoid such a thing. The lyrics on this prove that to me, because they’re usually too damn good and too damn vivid to not evoke some type of really nice imagery. Ultimately, it’s a funky album, with a lot of great beats, great flows, and great lyrics, dragged down a bit by the approach to its messaging, & the length of the album (57 minutes is crazy here, given how much it sort of spins the spiritual wheels). It is a 4.5, straight up, but I enjoyed enough of this that I think it gets the bump up to a 5 for the website. Certainly no less than a 3.

always liked this album and it was better than I remembered which surprised me

Forgot how good that was

A must-listen.

Good Album. I am a white male, but even without being an African-American studies major this album does give you some idea of the good and the bad of their experience in 1990's in America. At times I felt like I was in on the joke, and at times felt like it was over my head (which it should be). I was a kid in Southern California when this came out, but had close black friends. This album recalls going to the beauty shop with Ronnie's mom while she got her hair did, Cross Colours clothes that I wanted to wear but didn't quite understand why I wasn't allowed....many other things that I wanted to feel a part of, but it was not my place. I digress. Great album, 5 stars!

That's exactly the hip-hop i like the most

Classic for me. Great to revisit and it holds up.

Saw them live on Lowlands in the 90' Top act!!!

Outstanding! Really great shit. Great writing. Unique. Original. Love it!

1992. alternative hip hop

Incredible

Goddammit. I had this on cassette. If I remember correctly, it was a bootleg tape. And I played the ever loving shit out of it. This was a very big deal at the time. We discussed it in school. I’ll be damned if it doesn’t hold up. The music, scratching, flow, catchy af.

Very much enjoyed this. I was too much of an alt rock guy when this came out to appreciate it. Which age I can see it as a great record.

really cool album with activism/political themes and solid messages. chill vibes and good to listen to while working out. I’ve heard some of these beats before and didn’t realize they were from this album.

This album brings back a lot of memories. As the songs played they all came back to me. So this gets a nostalgia bump for sure but it's still quite a feelgood album. Faves: People Everyday, Mr Wendal, Tennessee. Yeah, obvious ones right?

Good stuff, and I think it's aged a little more gracefully than A Tribe Called Quest's albums from around the same time. Less overt misogyny, for one thing. Benefits from a little nostalgia bump, and doesn't disrupt the flow with a bunch of skits. Fave tracks - "People Everyday" and "Mr. Wendal" from the singles, "U" from the album tracks!

Felt exactly like how I expected 90s rap to be. Perfect mix of storytelling, rhymes and beats

I think this is an excellent rap/hip-hop album! In fact, along with De La Soul's “3 Feet High and Rising”, they're the only two albums of this genre that I've bought. Every now and then, I revisit them ;-)

That sound is such a blast, like being drenched by a Super Soaker on a hot day — which is exactly what I was doing when this came out. It goes on a bit too long, but it's nice to hear happy, joyful hip-hop.

Dope

Very good

This slapped hard. Great lyrics, beats, and flow

I'm brain dead and dont want to think hard enough to write anything thoughtful. This was very good. Album cover: B+. Good colors.

This album is so funky. I'm loving it and I'm surprised I've never heard of it before. My favorite songs are "Mr Wendal", "Mama's Always On Stage", "Fishin' For Revolution", "Give A Man A Fish", "U", and "Dawn of the Dreads". I added to this list as I went and it just kept getting longer and longer. I was laughing at "Children Play With Earth". They put me on blast and told to put down my nintendo and touch grass. They have such interesting vocals over all their beats. Great mixtures of singing and bars. They have a lot to say, thoughtful lyrics that reflect their worldviews and experiences. This was so great the entire way through. I love it. 9/10

Really good. Added to my cookout classics playlist.

This is the kind of music I hoped I’d hear when getting into this project. It’s high energy, thoughtful, poignant, and the instrumentation and sampling are so creative and interesting without coming off as experimental.

incredible

woh had no idea

Super fun!

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

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*.

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

Loved it!

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.

Spectacular. Fun, organic, meaningful music.

“Tennessee” still slaps!

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.

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

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

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

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).

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

Genius

I own this album. Golden.

Dope

Excellent. Ages very well.

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

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.

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

Really good, just some fantastic music.

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

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

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

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 !

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.

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

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

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

Nice

muito bom, rapzao alto astral

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

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.

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.

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!

What a find!!!

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

Posi hip-hop. Good.

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

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

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

This really holds up.

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.)

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

I love this album so much.

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.

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

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.

Yes

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.

Old schoo. awesome.

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

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

This is pretty tight. Harmonicas are amazing.

I remember "Tennessee" being one of the best songs I heard back in 1992 with a great chorus. It still great and this album is actually as I remember with the last time listening to it in the late 90's. It's a sprawling album with lots of songs, random noises, horns and harmonies. A great album no doubt but a long listen. The sampling is more along the lines of the Beastie Boys. A change to the gangsta rap (Dre/Snoop) popular at the time. Classified as Southern hip-hop. Influences heard from Sly and Prince. This album has more a groove and jazzy feel than a standard hip hop album. Other standout songs: "Mr Wendal", "Fishin' for Religion", Everyday People" and " Natural."

loved it obv

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.

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

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

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.

What a banger!

SAVORY WHOLESOME HIP HOP

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

Excellent album. Great track called Mr wendal brings back some great memories.

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

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.

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

Easy listenin

Fantastic album! Really enjoyed this one

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

Good album

Getting hyped for greenbelt

I like when hip hop is used for its intended purposes which is to convey a message to the culture. I loved this album sonically and content wise.

I found myself nodding along, remembering why I fell in love with this era of hip-hop. It's like finding an old photograph that brings back a flood of memories you'd forgotten. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Mama's Always on Stage - People Everyday - Mr. Wendal - Tennessee

Good album. Some songs are just ok, some stand out. I appreciate the wider palette, and varied instrumentation. Speech does not have a great voice, which limits the impact of the music. And puts more pressure on the composition side of things. A more commanding voice might make a track like Mama's Always On Stage work better. It's ok; it needs a voice that can really sell it. The bass at times needs to boom more. I remember this album coming out, and hearing it at a friend's apartment, and thinking, it's ok. A little ... background-y. A more careful listen changes that judgement a bit, but not fundamentally. Mr. Wendel is a really good song.

Sort of the antithesis of Wu Tang/NWA who came out not long before this, instrumentals are much lighter as are the lyrics, though almost exhaustingly “conscious” at times. Nice high energy on most tracks

My mom came in while I was listening to this album and said "What are you listening to?" "Arrested Development," I replied. "I didn't think you would like Arrested Development so much," My mom said. I them realized I was dancing along to the music.

Didn't finish listening to it, but it was good ?

En dan vragen mijn kinderen zich soms af waarom ik moderne hiphop vaak maar wat saai en samey vindt.

zo funky

heel refreshing om is een rap album te horen dat niet over gangsters en drugs gaat, zitten heel unieke tracks tussen, cool gemaakt. Soms wel iets te preachy voor mijn goesting

I’m behind so I’m going to drunkenly review a bunch of albums #4. This list has such a hard-on for a particular style of hip-hop: Common, Jurassic 5, Pharcyde, Lupe Fiasco, Q-Tip, De La Soul to name a few. I could make a low hanging skin colour joke here but I’m not going to. This is top tier of this bracket.

Powerfully groovy, great rhymes, and fantastic messages. Beautiful album.

Especially good on this album is the sound of the instrumentals. Samples are supplemented by very lively drums and bass lines. Yes the lyrics can be a bit preachy, but it's an ok sermon.

I'm not a huge lyrics person, so most hip hop goes over my head. On vibes alone, I really enjoyed this, was bopping. 4* Highlights: man's final frontier, u

Big surprise hearing that version of People Everyday, I always thought this version was the alternative remixed one. Man. Well, People Everyday and Tennessee were already known and loved, and I figured the rest of the album would at least be good. And it is! Live band and solid interpolation of melodies and hooks (lotta Sly and Sly dna on this record fr) mixed with interesting and sometimes unusual sampling choices that really tie each track together. Speech's style isn't quite up to the cool factor of Q-Tip as far as laid-back intensity goes, but the sing-songy approach to flow is kinda neat. The album is a little bit preachy, but I can mostly forgive it for that, maybe because of my view of the landscape of pop culture in the late 80s/early 90s which could be and likely is flawed since I wasn't there till halfway through at which point I was pooping myself and crying. Can't forgive track 6 though, when they told me to set down my Nintendo joysticks, I will not be doing that, ma'am. I played with a branch and a Gamecube. Funky offering. I'd give a 5 if the best version of People Everyday was on here, but I think a straight 4 is appropriate otherwise. Maybe a 4.5 since the track "U" has not one, but TWO Schoolhouse Rock things on it.

liked it, but its not really my thing

I remember this album playing quite often at a friend’s house, and even though hip-hop isn’t really my thing, I like the groovy, funky, and laid-back vibe of Arrested Development. Some parts of “3 Years...” are still a bit monotonous, but in a way that’s still somewhat tolerable. I suppose the reason for this is that they worked a lot with real instruments, which makes the production far more lively than that of their gangsta counterparts. I especially liked the bassline in “Dawn Of The Dread” today, even though it’s probably a synthesizer. Not my favorite album, but an important milestone and fully deserving of its place on this list.

8/10 A new-to-me hip-hop group from the 90s. This album is really solid - it feels almost timeless despite very clearly emerging from the early 90's hip-hop scene. Great beats, overtly political lyrics, good stuff. My only critique is one that I'm not qualified to talk about but I'll mention it anyways: some of the lyrics talk about "bad" Black people, as opposed to the lead rapper, who is one of the "good" ones. This strict in-group/out-group division within a single community always makes me feel very uncomfortable, and is also problematic to boot (anyone who says one group is good and one is bad is, in reality, the real bas guy), but I know it's common discourse (especially in the US Black community) so it's certainly relevant. Anyways. I like this album overall.

I've been looking for this, like an evolutionist seeking out the missing piece. Finally, a connection between 70s funk and 90s rap. Other rap seems to have taken a step beyond other African American music (I mean, not really) as if there is no real connection. But here it is. And I love it. 4/5

Its been years since I have heard Arrested Development, and I enjoy it much more than I used to. Tennessee was always a good song, but I didn't love it before. Appreciate it much more now. Good album, may have to pick it up.

Enjoyed this. Obviously knew Mr Wendal, Tennessee, and Everyday People but enjoyed the beats on the rest of the songs on this album. (4)

honestly pretty charming album, some of the message was pretty good even if some stuff here and there was a bit whatever. but i appreciate it for feeling authentic

Possibly the first hip hop album I ever bought. I remember how popular this was. Felt like everyone had it. Still kinda fun and some good social commentary.

Dope

This album was really fun. Considering when it came out, it had the sound of earlier 90s/late 80s hip-hop, but lyrically it was more akin to its contemporaries (with a more life-affirming spin). I tended to like the first half of the album a bit more than the second half, but the whole thing was pretty enjoyable.

This was a really good album. It is a mix of fun, sometimes even goofy elements of old school 808 drums and MIDI sounds and some serious lyrical content. It can be a little silly, and it's probably a few tracks too long, but I enjoyed this album

Love arrested development. The band is good too

It's not a thing i'd listen to in my own free time, however i do think this album deserves all the praise it can get. I'm only giving it 4 because my 5 rating are for albums i'm going to buy physically, otherwise i would definitely give this a 5. It's amazing how this turns the rap scene from gangsta rap to something spiritual with very funky basslines and catchy beats, and probably is the sole reason why Southern hip hop got popular after.

wow, haven't listened to this album in a long time. it still holds up very well, though i don't think the 90s hip-hop skits phenomenon works as well now as it did (or didn't?) then. "people everyday" is still a stonecold jam oh yeah, so is "mr wendal". two fantastic singles double oh yeah, "tennessee". three fantastic singles

I am really enjoying this album. This is my favorite type of rap- where you can clearly understand what they are saying and there is a hook you can sing along to. A little too religious for my taste, but overall, I really enjoy the themes.

Pretty good, some corny lyrics and very 90's flows, but what do you expect from a 90's hip hop album lol

Enjoyed the upbeat yet easy going energy of this album. Never would've listened without this prompt

I think I like hip-hop albums so much because you can just feel the influence off of these older ones maybe not the best wrapping or lyricism I’ve heard but the production sampling definitely defined a generation of hip-hop music

Is it kinda corny? Yeah. But I'm not gonna pretend it doesn't also go stupid hard. Very preachy and Republican-coded but at the same time very musical and inspired. The beats/band carry this album entirely in a way that for me, makes up for the overly optimistic messages. I'd absolutely put this on as a casual listen even if it's a sermon in disguise.

Ok

An avalanche of good vibes

One of the better rap/hip-hop albums in my opinion. Songs have good structure and the lyrics are great.

I want more of this type of rap. The historical roots of Chance, Noname, etc. An iteration on top of Tribe Called Quest. The best songs on this album are GREAT. It's a bit too long and loose to get 5 stars, but it coasted to 4 stars. It was never in doubt. - Energetic retro hip hop! How's it going to stand out though? - Production is killer, rapping is good enough. I'm entertained - Mr Wendal is a sick song - Clearly inspired Chance the Rapper's production/beat style. Very cool to hear - I LOVE this. It's too long and loose to be a 5, but it's an easy 4 by the end

this is like music from mars kinda thing

I had never heard of Arrested Development before this and I wasn't excited at all but wow, I take that back. I love this

Delightfully fresh, I'm sure Chinua Achebe jamed out to this album.

I like the old style hip-hop, the songs were fun, all around a good album.

Really thoughtful, great music hidden behind vanilla ice style flows and production. This is a great list moment, this thing rips and I definitely would have just disregarded it entirely because of the production if I hadn’t been assigned to listen to it. Strong messaging, can be funny, can groove, it’s got everything. Really flirting with a 5 here.

Good sound and lyrics.

This was super fun! I loooved the funky beats

Didn't seem like Rap but more like music with with Rap. And I really liked it!

I was super excited when this one popped up today! I've listened to this album many, many times. We also saw Arrested Development a few years ago live, and they played a lot of the songs on the album. The songs were just as good live as they are on the album. I struggle a lot of times with rap and hip hop because it's often kind of upsetting and depressing to listen to the lyrics. So Arrested Development for me is perfect because the music is so positive and focuses more on peace and love than violence. Honestly, I could listen to "Mr. Wendal" and "Tennessee" both on repeat and be happy. Very happy to have this as my album today! A definite favorite! And as a bonus, probably one of my favorite album titles ever.

I like Arrested Development, but if I had a gun to my head and needed to choose an inoffensive 90s rap group to listen to it’d be A Tribe Called Quest. Sorry, but the music is just a little better.

Νομίζω ανακάλυψα πως η κλασική χιπ χοπ και ραπ μου αρέσει ιδιαίτερα. Έχει πολύ γκρουβι αίσθηση και είναι κάπως η αντίθεση στη ραπ που μιλούσε για γκανγκς και 'αλητεία΄. Παρόλα αυτα είναι λίγο έντονο με τα πολιτικά του μυνήματα και προσπαθεί να τα σπρώξει αρκετά. Όχι ότι είναι κακό απλώς εμένα δεν με τρελένει Mama's Always On Stage

Good

Very Interesting.

Hh roots

Nice, uncomplicated sunny hip hop that was very listenable if a little dated.

At first I didn't think much of them, but I grew increasingly fond of their music, flow, style with the passing of the songs.

achei bacana, lembra bem a tribe called quest, mas com mais alegria no coração? as beats são da época né xD, mas bem produzido, tudo conversa entre si

definitivamente do início dos anos 90 mas bons beats, bons samples, boa banda e bons flows. mto massa!!

basi musicali pazzesche, mi dispiace non capire bene l’inglese perchè intesti sembravano interessanti

Cool album, but what is that version of People Everyday - not the one I know. And not as good. Mr Wendal is such a nice jam, I could listen to it all day. Still very solid album, a tad long. Favorite Tracks: Mr Wendal, Natural, Dawn of the Dreads 4.1/5

Dug it.

Couldn't give this one a 5 because it felt a little too preachy about God at times, but it's a whole-ass vibe. I loved this era of hip hop in the 90's.

Это определенно рэп/хип-хоп альбом....... Рандом меня не щадит, давая на прослушивание такие альбомы слишком уж часто. Это наверняка хороший альбом с лирической точки зрения, но моей личной заинтересованности слишком мало чтоб разбирать его самостоятельно. Семплы/биты интересные, оригинальные. Но плз, сколько ещё в этом челлендже будет "типа умных рэп-альбомов с лирикой о какой-нибудь проблематике с налётом интеллектуализма" ? Потому что за последнее время мне выпало 2 таких рэп-альбома. Уже немного поднадоедает.

3.5 stars. Debut hip hop album that kicked-off Southern Hip-Hop popularity. Lyrically more reflective than expected. Musically somehow feels nostalgic without having actually heard a lot of it. Standouts are "Everyday People" and "Tennessee".

Yah, I love this album! So happy to hear rap that isn't about guns, bitches and 40's! Some folks don't like how far opposite this goes with some cheesy bits. But really, the world could stand more happy people singing about nature than about killing cops, yah? Speech has a good voice and I can understand what he sings and raps about. (Die mumble rap, die!) The others add good spice and flair throughout. "Tennessee" People Everyday" and "Mr. Wendal" are standouts, but I kind of like all of them. Even when it gets a little repetitive, which is usually quick to take me out of a song, I'm not bothered so much here. This is a solid 4 for me!

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected

sick beats

This is one of those divisive albums for a lot of hiphop heads. Probably because it was very accepted in the mainstream at the time, and because Speech gets a little preachy on his assertions of what hiphop should and shouldn't be. Its mainstream popularity (Read: white people could stomach it at a time when Public Enemy and Ice Cube freaked them out) is probably why Demery put it on this list. While I agree that Speech can be preachy, the album is still pretty good overall. Does Tribe do Arrested Development's kind of conscious rap better? Definitely. But here the production is great, beats are solid. Speech may not have the best flow, especially at this time, the golden era of rap lyricism, but his lyrics have a message and he keeps up. He's not trying to be a Kane or G Rap in rhyme schemes. Plus, he does the singing rap thing in Tennessee or Raining Revolution years before Drake monetized it. Everyday People is a timeless banger, though the album version isn't nearly as good as the single version on that front. It's more laid back. Tennessee as well, timeless. Mr. Wendal is a great example of Speech being, well, Speech. Just slightly on the corny side. But it's still a great track. Raining Revolution really works as well. Basically, this could have been better, but Speech's corny personality drops it down to a 4. I still really have a soft spot for it, though. As for whether it belongs on this list, well, as always, it's not so much about whether it belongs, but what hiphop albums could've been on this list rather. Demery's lack of understanding of the genre, on display as usual. I think he just picks rap albums that had singles in the 90s he recognizes. It's a good, if slightly flawed, 90s hiphop album. But not sure it had much impact on the genre, given that Tribe, Queen Latifah and De La had already released albums before this that were better at exactly what this tries to achieve.

Fun, feel good music.

Another great record that gets lost in the sands of time. As good as Tribe or Beasties.

great rap album, good vibes

Highlights: Mama's Always On Stage, People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Children Play With Earth, Fishin' 4 Religion, Give A Man A Fish, Tennessee Dope hip-hop record. What sells it is a very progressive and Afro-centric view of the world which was original. Production is fun, lively and positive - very optimistic sounding. Like a happy little hip hop party.

Love this upbeat hip hop. Such a jarring contrast to the big names in Rap back then.

Idk why I don't listen to more of this era hip-hop & this specifically (maybe naively) optimistic positive good vibes. Always lifts my mood, always gets me thinking, always gets me “swinging my legs” Did James Cameron hear Dawn of the Dreads and create Avatar?! (Favorite part of the album was at the end of that song when they said it’s a brand new song by arrested development, dawn of the dreads, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks guys! I did!

Dawn of the Dreads should have been as big as Straight Outta Compton

Sonically great. Full of ideas, earnest in a good way most of the time.

Liking this much better now than when it originally came out. The use of live instruments on a hip hop album seemed so novel in 1992 and adds a liveliness to these tracks. Lyrics about Pan Africanism and self determination add to the overall vibe. I'll take this over soundcloud mumble rap any day.

This is great actually. I prefer the tracks I hadn’t heard before. The mix of PE/James Brown breaks and 90’s rap is cool.

Had never heard of this group before. It was pretty cool, great vibes. Lyrics were a bit on the nose sometimes but I can forgive that.

As a rap fan, I've known this from way back. It is of its time and a worthy alternative to what was mainstream. Unusually that this is on the list, but a welcome surprise to be sure.

Fun but kind of preachy. Not exactly surprising from a dude named Speech

My favorite style of hip hop. Enjoyed the positivity on this album!

My most surprising moment was when a track called teach a man a fish ended up being a call for revolution, from a band I always thought were far more cuddly.

4.4

This was cool and enjoyable, I should revisit some of the bars because I sense depth in the lyrics. The funk elements really elevate the album which is surprising for me to say given that I don't always like funk. 3.5 rounded... up?

Couple of songs at the end I didn't love, but overall this blew me away.

Really loved the first half, especially Mr. Wendel but the quality dropped off a bit the latter half. I like how offbeat some of the topics were, like when he just starts rapping about his insecurities as a short guy.

New (to me) gem!

90s gute Laune Hip Hop. Macht Spaß und sorgt für gute Stimmung. Toller Beat. Überraschend gut.

wowww getting heavy sublime esque vibes from this

Surprised at how much I liked it.

Incredibly smooth- feels 90s but not dated. Speech fits into this weird pocket where he's both singing and rapping. The conscious hip hop messaging is mostly pretty likable and inoffensive stuff, which is why I think people call them "corny," but with instrumentals, melodies, and vibes this good, it does not bother me that they are borderline a Christian group.

I haven't heard this record in a long time and have only listened to it as a whole maybe once or twice. It still holds up though and is up there with some of my other 90's hip hop favorites like Tribe and J5. 3.75/5

Really great album that I didn't know. I really wish this sort of rap would have won out over gangsta rap. This is way more my speed. 4/5

I got this album when I was 14 and considered it very much in the same vibe as De La Soul and ver different to the more prevalent gangsta rap. I love the loose, almost improvised sound of the music, which gives it the feeling of a genuine creative collective. I love their spin on People Everyday and it’s good to be reminded that the original album version is quite a different version to the hit (see also Brimful of Asha by Cornershop) Mr Wendell grabs you straight out the box. It’s inherent catchiness make it easy to miss the socially aware message that it conveys. Somehow makes me think of sunny days (i am listening to this on a cold, grey January day. Give a man a fish continues the blend of social awareness lyrical messages with an infectious groove, which separates this from a lot of music that either goes aggressively on the messaging or focuses on the music. U lifts the tempo and highlights Speech’s skills to great effect. It also lifts part of it’s melody from Me, Myself and I which only reinforce my association with De La.

So getting the bad out of the way first: this is too long. My attention started wandering just past Mr. Wendal, though it locked back in around U, so I think cutting a couple of songs would have improved this (but my personal preference has always been for 45/50ish minutes max). Other than that, I really enjoyed this. The mixing and sampling is really engaging, I like Speech's sort of talky-singy rapping style and the general timbre of his voice and I like the backing vocals too. I realise that one of the insults that gets thrown at Arrested Development is that the lyrics are corny, and I just don't get it. The lyrics are talking about social issues earnestly and just because they aren't full of angry and violence, that doesn't make them lesser than others who talk about similar topics. People Everyday slightly threw me for a loop, because I have only ever heard the much quicker single version, but I still liked it a lot. I even didn't mind the skit-adjacent bits of the record (although cutting them would have helped reduce the length). Bonus point for the yodally yell at the beginning of Mr Wendal, as I've always loved it. 4/5

This was great, this is what I think of when I think 90s hip-hop. Lots of texture and color in the production and their voices are distinct.

4.0/5 Amazing so far. Fishin 4 religion -> Teach a man to fish -> U. What a great succession of songs right in the middle of the album, i have to relisten to this more.

Old-school hip hop. At first, I thought this would merely be a time capsule of early ’90s hip hop culture, but the more I listened, the more I enjoyed it. Nice raps, nice sampling, and even the scratching felt right on this album. My favorites were “People Everyday” and “Dawn of the Dreads” — they asked for a funky bassline, and my God, did they get it. Going to be generous and give this a weak 4.

I've seen this album cover so many times and never listened to it. I thought it was some form funk/rap punk - something similar to Fishbone. However, I was surprised how similar it is to a lot of hip-hop I like. However, I do think it shows its age in a way that some other stuff doesn't completely, with the production and approach. However, it is a very good hip-hop album that I'm very glad I listened to!

I remember this one from back in the day lol as Mr Wendal and Tennessee were MTV staples. I didn't understand any of the social commentary back then and now allot of it is just depressing considering how far we haven't come or how far we've fallen

Would. 4/5

Klart at se hvorfor den er på must hear. Samplingen er forud for sin tid, man kan høre Eazy-E og GZA i flows også? Lyrikken er til tider lidt cheesy, MEN så også voldsomt skarp på andre :)

Yo, this was sick! It constantly defied my expectations of what it could be from track to track. Virtually no swearing, heartfelt subject matters, novelty in sound with record scratching battling harmonicas, twangy basslines, multiple vocals all complimenting each other. It was the cleanest, most light-hearted and fun I've even experienced from Hip-Hop. Speech is a real cool guy.

Some nice old school hip hop vibes here.

Have not heard of this group, I love the show though. Didn't know what I was going to get - turns out it's some classic 90's rap with bass heavy, funk-ass beats that flows really nicely. Reminds me of De La Soul, Slick Rick, Kanye, OutKast. Recognized 'Tennessee" from somewhere.

Mr. Wendell, People Everyday, and Tennessee are great. And there are other good songs. The delivery is purposefully earnest and comes off as corny, but the issues that they were addressing were/are serious and this was new to hip hop. They didn’t have a playbook - they were pioneering a new direction. Also, unlike some other early 90s bangers this has aged better with its anti-misogyny messaging. But not enough to get this past the 3.5 star hump that is dividing line between good and great. However, I think that I’ll round up: 4⭐️

4 - great album

The only Arrested Development song I know is “People Everyday,” and I’m delighted to see that it’s on this album. I can’t say that I know much about Arrested Development, other than that they’re from Atlanta, and I’m happy to see some representation for southern rap on this list. I’m not quite sure what to expect from this album, but I’m guessing that even if it sounds dated, it’ll still be pretty fun. I thought this 3Y5M2D was a really good album, and I enjoyed listening to it. Arrested Development had a lot to offer on this album: excellent sample usage, powerful and socially conscious lyrics, and excellent production. The combination of samples and instruments worked really well on this album, and I really enjoyed the way Arrested Development utilized those samples, crafting a fun and catchy sound. As for the lyrics, they tackled some subjects that I would expect a socially conscious rap album to tackle, like homelessness, poverty, and abortion. But they also tackled some subjects that caught me by surprise, like black Americans’ relationship with Christianity, and the pains of slavery that still exist in the south. Arrested Development took on these issues head-on, skipping past allegories and figurative language, but I thought this approach worked really well for themes of positivity and empowerment. I really enjoyed the way this album was produced too. The vocals were always in the forefront of the mix, with a clean and crisp sound, but the music was still able to do a lot of punching in the overall sound. As much as I enjoyed this album, some songs felt a bit repetitive musically, and some songs were a bit on the boring side, but even the worst parts of this album were still pretty good. As far as my favorite songs on this album are concerned, I really enjoyed “Mr. Wendal,” “Fishin’ 4 Religion,” “Natural,” and “Tennessee.” 3Y5M2D is a really solid album, and as much as I love jamming to something like Straight Outta Compton, this album was a great alternative to something like NWA.

This was great. I didn’t realize all these songs came from this album. I’ve heard a lot of these songs and didn’t realize they were all from the same group, let alone the same album!

This was nice

90s alternative hip hop hell yeah

Enjoyable, funky, and smooth. 4/5.

I wonder how different the world would be if hip-hop had been more about the vibes than the hoes? I remember the track "Mr Wendell" from a compilation album I had (one of the NOWs maybe - not sure) and always enjoyed it's laid-back nature, but had never thought to listen to the whole album. And now I have, and I enjoyed it very much

Great time capsule album that still sounds good.

What a gem.

It was okay - a bit too hip hop for me. but enjoyed some tracks

Fresh sounding and vibrant sounds where rap/ hip hop meets poppy funk with a spiritual yearning. It's a nice (in every sense of nice) alternative to gangsta rap/hip hop and the basic outlook is a positive one and this shines through.

Woke and proud from a time when Conscious Hip Hop was an effort to move away from gangsta rap to something about being positive, as well as highlighting the shit times people were having day to day. I'm not sure how Sly doesn't get a credit for People Everyday.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are seven acknowledged wonders of the world. You are about to witness the eighth..." oh yeah, great hip-hop vibes here!

Christian hip hop? Pretty solid!

Very enjoyable.

This album takes me back in time. I remember going to an amusement park and they had a matador style ride where they played Mr Wendal on a loop. It was such a great time.

#1001Albums 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In the Life Of... by Arrested Development https://album.link/gb/i/715906160 While the gangsta rappers of the east and west coasts were riding around in gold plated limousines, snorting drugs and occasionally shooting each other, Arrested Development from Atlanta were struggling for over three years just to get a record deal (hence the name of the album). The result is a world away from the gangsta scene, full of deft lyricism, heartfelt spirituality and songs with a social conscience. I actually liked this a lot, certainly enough to listen twice and I think I’ll be going back to it again.

I think Arrested Development are generally underappreciated in the grand scheme of things. Huge in the emergence of alternative & Southern hip-hop during the early 90's, when gangsta rap was dominating the west coast of the US. They brought a positive and more self-reflective spin to hip-hop, opting to view things from the lens of the world as a whole. The three singles that spawned from this album are each iconic in their own right and are among my personal favorites (although I do prefer the Metamorphosis mix of "People Everyday"). Middle of the album dips in quality & energy a bit, but that's really my only knock here. It's a shame that this group didn't do much after this album's release, but they made a pretty decent impact with their short time in the spotlight.

i loved this not much else to say. i feel like this group probably has some kind of insane history idk about. ive never heard of them before but i really enjoyed this so I'll probably check out more. it got a little repetitive near the end but i still really liked it and i liked the messages, not to mention the actual music was great which i am very grateful for after the public image album. good album yay

Yeh, this is a vibe and I like. Old school and smooth. Can’t help but bob along and feel the uplift. “Can’t get revolution with women” And of course ‘People Everyday’ oh and ‘Mr Wendal’. Bangers!! Great album, trails off a bit at the end but a great listen.

Is Jason Bateman even on this thing? Hahaha just playing. Really important early 90s hip hop record. Not so much a bygone style as one that morphed and grew into a dozen others.

8/10 This was a pleasant surprise. It hits right in my wheelhouse of hip-hop that has a fun edge to it, along with a good sense of melody. It’s very well produced and there are only hints here and there that make it feel like an album from as far back as 1992. There’s a decent amount of experimentation and depth to the production that helps to lift it away from the pitfall that hip-hop can fall into of becoming overly repetitive. With thin productions, that can become very tiring on the ear, but when, by and large, they thicken things up with a depth of sound and also throw in enough variation between sections and add in extra musical flavour here and there, it rarely drags. I particularly enjoy the amount of singing that they mix in with the rapping, and even the rapping itself quite often has a melodic delivery that’s really nice. There was a good range of tempos across the album, with tracks that barrelled along, like Mama’s Always On Stage, and then the more laid back grooves of People Everyday. The rapping was generally very good and didn’t get stuck in too much of a formulaic rhythm, and some of the backing vocals that supported the lead were often of really high quality. As is so often the case with albums that came out during the CD boom, this is perhaps a little on the lengthy side, and there are there are a few tracks that don’t quite live up to the highlights, but as a whole I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to checking out their other work. Man's Final Frontier - A great little opener. It’s funky and has great pace too. Some quality sample choices and some fun scratching too. It’s very well produced and there’s quite a lot going on too. Definitely a solid way to introduce the record. Mama's Always On Stage - There’s a real melodic edge to even the rapping delivery here and it’s really good. The pace of this absolutely shifts, and it just flows brilliantly from section to section too. It rarely stays on one theme for long, and that keeps it interesting. Another great track. People Everyday - The tempo drops here but it’s got such a cool swagger. I love the original Everyday People, and the sample is given a different inflection with the pace and lilt on the beat that’s really satisfying. The switch between the rapping of the verse and the sung chorus works really well. Blues Happy - An interlude. Not much to say other than that they sound like they’re having a great time. Mr. Wendal - This reminds me quite a lot of De LA Soul. It’s got a really solid groove, and there are some really nice bits of flair to the music here and there that just add a little touch of variation and interest. It does perhaps drag on a little too long, given the main theme is ever present, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. Children Play With Earth - The bass line here is quite fun, but it’s a fairly unfocused track that just drifts into a fairly meandering but of spoken word. It’s just lacking the central thread to pull it through and almost feels half way between a song and an interlude. Raining Revolution - This has got a nice laid back groove, and the blend of singing and rapping is again very good. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a vast amount of variation or depth to the track for most of its length, so it does drag a little bit. Fishin' 4 Religion - This is solid. It’s got great pace and some interesting cutting of the beats here and there too. There’s a lot of depth to the instrumentation and the backing vocals, making it a rewarding listen. The synth bass sounds comedically dated, but I kind of like it for that. This is half way between a hip hop track and a Prince track, and it’s really good. Give A Man A Fish - This is another cool song. The bass line is good, and the party gang vocals add a different twist to the vibe. The verses perhaps go on a tiny bit too long. The chorus is good too, although there’s a slight disconnect between the parts rhythmically that jars a tiny bit. A pretty decent, bouncing track though. U - This starts with something that’s more like another of those musical interludes, but once it kicks in it’s another really great track. So much pace and a really solid groove between the bass and drums in particular. It’s got a brilliant singing rap to the main vocal, and the bits of backing vocals that drop in here and there are quality too. I couldn’t help but bounce to the groove of this. There were a couple of bits that were a bit on the repetitive side, but there was enough going on that that didn’t really dampen the fun. Eve Of Reality - Another interlude. It’s a nice, calm build though. Natural - I really like the vibe of this, and the verse is really good. The vocal delivery is great and it’s got a nice flow to the music, but when it hits the chorus, the string synths just slightly miss the mark for me. It’s a shame really, because this is a decent chilled out little track otherwise and has a nice bit of pace and feel to the groove. Maybe it’s a minor gripe though as the rest of it is just a great vibe. Dawn Of The Dreads - Something with a bit more swagger now. I really like the lilt to the vocal and the grooves are good. It’s perhaps a little stilting in some of the production and could do with being a little smoother, particularly the drums which stutter a bit too much in places. But it’s still another enjoyable track. Tennessee - This is another good one. Reminds me a little of What I Got by Sublime for some reason. I think it’s just the thrust of the groove. More solid half sung, half rapped vocal delivery. As with much of the rest of the album, this has got me bouncing along to the beats. It’s not as musically rich as some of the other tracks, but it’s got hooks that just grab you and bring you in. Washed Away - This is another that has delivery quite like De La Soul. It’s got a nice vibe to it, but it’s a bit too repetitive for me and doesn’t necessarily add enough depth and range to the instrumentation to give it the range that allows repetitiveness to get a pass, particularly when it goes on this long.

A nice hip-hop album with some change of pace from what was the gangsta rap norm at the time. (And "Tennessee" stands as an all-time great single).

This was a good time, I’ve learned that I quite like several kinds of hip hop and a few artists and I really liked this one. I loved “Mr. Wendal”, “Raining Revolution”, and “Give A Man A Fish” in particular but this is an all round good album

I remember them mostly for the ubiquitous feel-good singles but there is a lot more Public Enemy-level swagger and sonic density to the album than I would've guessed. Dig it.

I really had fun listening to this one. First time I heard it start to finish. The non-hits are as good (if not better) than the hits. I miss this era of hip-hop. So much fun.

A fresh and hopeful record from a time when hip-hop was turning tougher. 𝟥 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝟧 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝟤 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘖𝘧… blends rap, soul, and folk with a warm, down-to-earth energy. Tracks like 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘦 and 𝘔𝘳. 𝘞𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭 still feel honest and human, full of rhythm and empathy. Maybe it’s a bit too optimistic for some, but that’s exactly what makes it special — it sounds like hip-hop trying to heal rather than fight.

Интересная группа

A classic album, with some great songs not quite a 5 star but almost

Mjög hressandi og skemmtilegt. Var að fíla þetta. Ekkert skit bull.

I have "Tennessee" in my head pretty much all the time.

Pas le plus grand album de hip-hop de l'histoire, mais quand même fort sympathique.

7,5 of 10. Good albums overall with a couple of great songs, several good and a couple place holders.

Fishin' 4 Religion, U, Dawn Of The Dreads and Washed Away are my standout tracks.

86% Best: People Everyday; Mr. Wendal; Fishin' 4 Religion; Give A Man A Fish; Dawn of the Dreads; Tennessee Must-Hear? Sure

This one has fantastic energy. The rhythms, the rhymes, the messages, all top quality.

Good album. I'd heard a fair amount of Mr. Wendell, on the radio, and then later got into Tennessee though I probably didn't really get it at the time. Themes of revolution, procreation, spirit. Like all the best rock and roll. Thoughtful lyrics good flow, tight beats. Save your rounds for the revolution. Prescient as shit. Seriously, save your rounds for the revolution tho

Dug it! Good old school hip hop, very activist minded

Fun album, with an interesting sounds and awesome beats.

This was good, and I didn’t see it coming. I can see who the Black Eyed Peas are trying to sound like…but coming up way short. Solid hip hop album without all the vulgarities. Points for that.

This group definitely gets credit for absolutely awesome the music and instrumentation is in this album and also for being generally positive and thoughtful, unlike the rise of gangsta rap this same year with The Chronic. It does get out classes lyrically by similar groups like De La Soul, though. Still, the bangers here are great, with my favorites being U, Mama's Always On Stage, and Fishin' 4 Religion. Pretty good stuff by a group I'd never heard before.

One of my earliest MTV-memories is the clip "Tennessee" by Arrested Development. I loved it back then as a ten year old. Still love it. Great album. Fav: Tennessee

A lot of fun!!! Very funky beats throughout, though the lyrics could be a little cornball. LOVED People Everyday, Dawn of the Dreads, and Tennessee.

There is a lot to love about this album: its socially conscious themes and lyrics, the effort to bring in a cultural fusion of themes and music, and great instrumentation. Mr Wendel and Everyday People were well known to me as a hip hop listener in my teens, I'd never heard the album in full. As with many hip hop albums of the 90s, it is bloated with some filler and overly long as a result. Nas, the following year, showed that a hip hop could be condensed to 10 tracks to great success with his debut. I have to admit I got a bit bored on the vocal delivery by the end too. Overall, though, a lot to be positive about.

Genuinely loved this. A few songs had flow that struck me as "educational/anti-drug PSA" but talked about how love and partaking in community is all that'll save us and we need to overthrow the government, super tight.

Fun and creative, with great beats and most importantly - no cringey skits, a rarity in 90s hip hop!

Wow. When this was popular, I HATED it because I heard Tennesse and Mr. Wendall all the frigging time. Today, with some life seasoning under my belt, I have a newfound reverence. Some is a bit hokey, but there's a lot of depth to the lyrics I didn't truly understand or appreciate back then.

Fav songs: mama's always on stage, people everyday, Mr. Wendal, Fishin' 4 religion, dawn of the dreads, washed away 8,5/10

Some of the best older rap I’ve heard Production is great Mr Wendell, banger of the week?

This is a solid hip-hip record, for sure. Favourite tracks: Man's Final Frontier, Mama's Always On Stage, People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Fishin' 4 Religion, U.

nice sound. bought this when it first came out

not my style but wow...love the beats and meaningful lyrics in every song, they just spoke about everyday life and history and toughness, i like mr wendel with the name, it reminds me of mrs dalloway

8.5/10

Has old spiritual advisor "Oldest man in hip hop" Spreadsheet 💻💻💻💻 Vibes 🪬🪬🪬🪬

I love the different vibe and their approach to music, especially in an era that was so hip hop and hard rap focused.

Mr. Wendal is serious nostalgia! I was only familiar with that song and Tennessee, so it was fun to hear this entire album. I like its sparkly, optimistic nature and really love the lyrics and how many topics they speak so poetically and meaningfully on, especially the songs about spirituality and finding your way in life.

Off the bat, I like the name of the album, the cover. Already a cool vibe. Great music that's nice to listen to but also has a very direct, well-stated message for listeners. "The moral of the story is, you better look very hard at who you're steppin' to, 'cause you might get killed or shot and it's not worth it. Africans need to be lovin' each other and unite." Wow not only is it politically good but it sounds great too!

New to me music - wasn't sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it, despite repetitive lyrics. Nice to hear hip-hop music that's not all hos, dicks, guns & drugs.

An okay album, I liked Mr Wendell and Give A Man A Fish the most.

A classic blend of new wave R&B for your early 90s dreams.

The biggest thing was that a number of songs repeated the lines over and over at the end. I felt a fadeout could have been more suited. I remember hearing "Mr. Wendel" on the radio and MTV. Maybe it's age, but I enjoyed it more now than back then. There were other tracks that I enjoyed, but the repetition did get a little grating. Top tracks: "Tennessee," "Washed Away," "Mr. Wendel," "U"

If anything has come from this project, it’s forcing me to go deeper into 80’s/90’s hip hop. And I’m thankful for it. Love the samples, great beats, and I enjoyed it - but ultimately came away not entirely blown away. Maybe it will grow on me to be five stars, but for now, it’s a four.

Muy bueno, me encantó musicalmente, la armónica y el bajo tope de gama. Lo escucharía seguido.

Why didn't it save my damn review? I gave a good one! This was a fun, cool album! New to me. I liked how it started more shreddy and pumped up and aggressive, and then it moved into something more jazzy and lounge-y and R&B. Enjoyed! Thank you!

4.1 Knew a few of these songs. Classic early hip-hop style which i love. great lyrics, super catchy

Apparently I do like this type of "progressive" hip-hop. This album has some intriguing sonic atmospheres, it's funky, and the themes are more life-affirming than hardcore or gangsta, so a nice antidote to all that. I had never heard this before, but I dig the energy and the attitude, good stuff. Easy to listen to, didn't make me want to murder anyone!

Tremendo sonido. Un hiphop cargado de capas de complejidad, funk, country, blues, todo suena en el disco. Además de estar muy bien cantado. Sonido noventoso. Tremenda recomendación.

Pleasantly surprised

норм, особых претензий нет.