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

If only we had all *really* listened to AD in 1992

I am not a fan of hip hop at all…BUT this disc had some really fun funky grooves, great creativity, and some solid vocals with an overall positive fun feel to it. I am surprised to give a hip hop album such a high rating but it was a pretty solid effort.

These rhymes and rhythms still sounds fresh and really fun. They are complex and thoughtful, but the groove emerges organically. The message is timeless (unfortunately) and important — sometimes (rarely) the message doesn’t fit within the rhythm and the rhymes are a little forced. Really a great album. A four — but could potentially be a 5 if i listened to it enough to become familiar.

Finally, a hip hop album I can actually say I enjoyed. I had some expectations coming into this based on what I’d read about it celebrating positivity, and those expectations were met. Mama’s Always On Stage immediately struck me as being highly listenable, I loved the inclusion of blues harp, and the rest of the record remained at a similar level of quality. It was very well produced. Unless there’s some big unexpected surprise waiting around the corner, this will likely be the only hip hop through this project that scores a 4 from me.

I’ve never heard this album before, but I really liked it. Tennessee is good.

I've heard it prior and enjoyed it. At a listen back I think it is both surprisingly advanced in its style for the era and sadly still relevant in terms of its revolutionary message.

strong 3.5

Cool

Listened to this a lot when it came out, just enjoyed it’s positive feel, still do on listening today, 4 Star

A top tier positive hip hop album. It can be a little earnest from time to time. Speech is talented and the music is top notch.

This was a blast

This was the first CD I ever bought. Great album, but it's not as good as I remember it being.

A unique part of the world of music

Great. New it in HS

3.5

Definitely one of the better hip hop / rap albums I've listened to on here so far - it's got a bit of a gospel vibe to it which I appreciate, everything's a bit more vibrant, it's a bit of a party atmosphere, everyone's having a good time and singing together, I just wish it was a little less preachy. Okay, a lot less preachy.

Arrested Development were between a rock and a hard place with this album. On the one side, they had gangster rap and hard-core rappers who were attacking them because they were nerding hip-hop, and rap and on the other side, you had the white people and the rock community who were speaking out against them for taking pride in their culture and for being proud to black and also singing and rapping about the problems that occur in their communities. Everyday People and Mr Wendel were huge hits for them and help make this album a phenomenal piece of history of the times. 4/5

very groovy Favorite track: Mr.Wendal other picks: U, Natural, Tennessee

really liked this, great energy although tailed off a little at the end, really enjoyed it up to give a man a fish.

Enjoyed this a lot. Always avoided these as I stupidly had it in my head that they would be no where near as good as the tv show, Arrested Development…. Unrelated and daft, I know, but that mental model is stuck in mind. And of course, it’s not as good the greatest tv show of all time, but it’s a pretty damn good hip hop record! Im not sure how often I’ll return to this, I imagine I will at some point, but either way its one of the better hip hop records for me. And I can play most of it to my daughter without fear of too much bad language. I learned the hard way when I introduced her to Wu Tang

This definitely had it's own sound, quite different to a lot of other hip hop, particularly at the time. Different themes too, love when rap doesn't tread the same generic path. As an album, some songs were brilliant, the ones built around the vocals mostly, lots of good flow. A lot of filler too mind, needed to be about a third shorter. There was an underlying current that felt a bit dated too, not their fault cos it is but it put me off slightly. Want to listen again but enjoyed the first listen.

Thought this was pretty great mostly. This is what old school hip hop should sound like. No rapping about guns, bitches or bling. Knew a few bits and pieces, I assume from sampling in other music? I don't think it was all amazing, but there was enough here for a 4 I liked mamas always on stage, everyday people, Mr Wendal and fishing for religion. Reckon I'll be back

Enjoyed this. Mr Wendal takes me back to first year at school.

Speech is a good rapper. But maaan.. the lyrics are so annoying and preachy… it really took away from my enjoyment of the album, especially because the production is really interesting and unique! It’s not like they were trying to be a tribe called quest, I know they get compared a lot but they’re definitely distinct. This would be a five if the lyrics were less annnoying

Every part of this made me feel happy. Them mid-90s hip hop bits? No sketches? V. Good.

I hate that the "alternative hip hop" wave became just a footnote in the genre's history during the fruitful 90s. Arrested Development deserves a higher acclamation as one of hip hop's most interesting groups. This is an album full of life and musicality.

Every song is catchy and most have a great message. Definitely a classic album that has for the most part stood the test of time and had a big influence.

Liked track 3, 5, 7

Oh that is a long album title! It's a breath of fresh air and is a shining example of how hip hop is different from rap. At its release in 1992, this type of music wasn't too common due to the rising popularity of gangsta rap. Of course, there's nothing bad with gangsta rap, but there's a fair amount of it on this list for this time period. This alternative hip hop album is restorative in contrast. And I won't lie--there was an added bonus of no misogyny. And songs like "Raining Revolution" or "Mr. Wendal" have great stories or messages. Their lyrics are strong and engaging! And of course Arrested Development included call and response, which I'm a sucker for but also is a great homage to Black culture. 3.5, rounding up.

Still funky and very influential, it's a good listen. It'd be cool if it also included the single version of People Everyday, but you can't have everything.

An enjoyable listen.

Beste Hip Hop album I've heard so far. Good samples, good amount of singing, most of the rapping is quite good. Standout tracks: Raining Revolution & U

Very good

A Schoolhouse Rock reference? You'll have to wake up really early to fool an old cat like me.

The world would be a better place, if this album was a more central figure of hip hopand music as a whole.

First time listen. Loved this! Cool, fun, quintessentially 90s, interesting lyrical content (especially spiritually). My favourite track was definitely Children Play With Earth. “Dig your hands in the dirt” indeed! Words to live by.

Overall: 7/10 Funky and fun! I appreciate that these guys tried to do something different in Hip Hop and I think they succeeded. I can hear their influence in a lot of modern rap. My big problem is that it can be lyrically preachy but it doesn't stop me from enjoying it! Fav Song: Mr. Wendal Least Fav Song: Fishin' for Religion

This was a warm bath of fun. The space in the production really stood out to me that gave it a feeling of summeriness and joy. There are some classics here but the rest of the album stands up. Gil Scott Heron jn the lyrics, bounce in the beats and hooks galore in the rhymes.

Not musically special, but feels culturally significant.

Tennessee is a perfect pop song. It's been lodged in my head for 30 years..Mr Wendell is terrible. I think that sums up the album. Some of the best pop/rap beats and lyrics mixed with some terrible interstitials.

I didn't recognize this one at all at first, but I was surprised when Mr. Wendal came on and it sounded very familiar. Maybe I just recognised the Sly & The Family Stone sample, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'd say this was a breath of fresh air in the early 90s, contrasting nicely to the likes of NWA and Snoop Dogg. Sonicly, it hasn't aged particularly well and sounds very of its time. TCQ's Low End Theory, for ex, has definitely aged better. But I still found this very enjoyable, even if it is a bit saccharine in places. Great sample choices and production, and very positive lyrical themes.

Give a Man A Fish and Mr Wendell

This honestly started out super promising, but just got worse and worse in the second half. I really enjoyed all the songs up until about 'U'. At that point, the songs start to feel a little boring and forgettable. Especially the last song is like, the fuck? Why are we bringing god in to this? It's interesting because of how much I enjoyed the first half compared to the second. I will say, however, that "Tennessee" stood out too. Liked that one. Enjoyed most of it. 4/5

Very nice :-)

05/01/24 I'm not into hiphop and this was a pleasant surprise. Some songs have been added to my playlist.

I saw this album pop up and immediately thought "oh yeah...this album was everywhere when I was 13 and was HUGE. Whatever happened to these guys??" The answer, it appears, is that they were left behind in a very specific period of time between 1989 and 1992. This didn't hold up quite as well as I thought it would. But there are still some absolute bangers on this album. Combined with a nostalgia bump, I'm giving this a 4.

Mamas always on stage…. Come off it

what i really loved about this album is that it feels like the hip hop sequel to sly and the family stone - not just in the breadth of sly samples on this album, but in tone as well. the beats here are pretty fun and the flow is pretty decent. i generally have found i really like this era of conscious rap, but this isn't my favorite. it's good, not great. some of the production hasn't aged terribly well and it ends up feeling very middle of the road at times. i still liked it, but it did leave a little to be desired at the same time.

This is a gem, really enjoy the production

Golden aged hip hop Scratches, loops, and spits mad yarns With positive vibes

It’s an amazing album. No weaklings pollute this disc. Some of the songs are decidedly excellent including the classic “Tennessee” and “People Everyday”. A middle stretch of tracks I found particularly enticing: “Children Play With Earth”, “Raining Revolution”, “Give a Man a Fish”, and “U”. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-3-years-5-months-and?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

This challenge has taught me I really like early hip-hop and arrested development. This is a great album. Funky music and great lyrics. I was 10 when this album came out and I have great memories of hearing Mr Wendal and Tennessee on the radio. I loved haring these again Favourite song: Mr Wendal Least favourite: All good. Album artwork: Cool cover

Funky hip hop

++: Man's Final Frontier, Blues Happy, Mr. Wendal, Raining Revolution, Give a Man a Fish, U, Eve of Reality, Tennessee, Washed Away +: Mama's Always on Stage, People Everyday, Children Play with Earth, Fishin' 4 Religion +-: Natural, Dawn of the Dreads 8,2/10

Sick

Fun album. A little preachy but tremendously uplifting all the same.

Great socially conscious hip hop.

I really enjoyed this album. I find the positive and thoughtful lyrics refreshing. Put me in mind of Gil Scott Heron the music has jazzy, funky and bluesy undertones that are very nicely presented. 4.5 stars

Some tremendous stuff on here. Warmly humane boom bap.

For nostalgia alone I have to give this a 4. Love the instruments, blend of musical styles, and overall sound.

a really good, fun listen!! but where was jason bateman??

This is the sort of hip hop I have been waiting for - is there anything that's worth more than peace and love on the planet Earth? Favourite track: U.

Found this very danceable and with exemplary sampling!! Enjoyed it all the way through!

Really enjoyed the drum sampling on this specifically. Some lyrics came across as a bit corny but that kinda endeared me to it more.

I had no idea there was a band named "Arrested Development" (or that they would have come long before the TV series) (or that they sued Fox for the name overlap). It's a fun album, and while they sort of sound (to me) like some other groups (at times Public Enemy, other times De La Soul, sometimes Rise Robots Rise, and others), they've put together a great collection of songs and they sound like they had fun making the album. In addition to the iconic "Tennessee", I also really enjoyed "Man's final frontier", the semi-cover "People everyday", and "Give a man a fish". (I also found "Mr. Wendal" kind of disturbing, in a sort of patronizing and utopian/naive way, but apparently it was well received at the time, as well as being highlighted by the "1001 Albums" reviewer.) A shame that their debut was also their pinnacle, and followup albums weren't as strong or well-received. But nice to have this album in this collection, and I'm really torn about whether it deserves 3 or 4 stars; there's so many filler tunes that it probably earns 3 stars, but the good songs were really enjoyable, so....

Embarrassed that I'd never heard this before and really liked it, especially the first 3 songs and, later, Tennessee. Funky hip hop groove!

Early 90s hip hop feels like it was more inspired by politically active 70s soul than previous generations of it's own genre. More a fan of this than what came after it, or the gangsta rap branch of the genre.

A good Hip-Hop album from the 90s away from the Gangsta Rap that marked that time.

musically interesting lyrically i provocative and in need for multiple relistens

I am kicking my younger self now for dismissing Arrested Development as basically another De la Soul (which I found overrated hippy rap), because the radio wouldn't play anything but Mr. Wendal, which is probably the weakest song on the album. Not so. This is great!

Great album!

Enjoyable listen.

It took me a little while to get into but this is actually really awesome.

Would not have listened to the entire album without this. I knew three songs from Arrested Development and all three were on this awesome album.

Rap. Schwierig. Hat was. So richtig kann ich damit nichts anfangen. Aber es hat was ...

I forgot how much I really love this album. I wore it out when I purchased the tape back in the day. I find the positive words and thoughts uplifting, especially compared to other hip hop during the day.

This was a very nice experience (so much better than yesterday's album). I really liked this album, it was just very enjoyable to listen to. They lyrics were refreshingly uplifting, had depth to them, and (this was probably most surprising to me) were pro-faith which isn't normally something that occurs in rap/hip-hop. I really liked the way they seemed to approach and view life and society, was a refreshingly different take from the gangsta rap that helped ruin rap. Overall really enjoyed this album and wouldn't mid somebody putting it on again. Also I love the closest dude's clothes on the cover they look super snazzy.

was only familiar w/ "Tennessee" & "Mr. Wendell"-this was a great listen. enjoyed the different sounds, instruments, samples, and vocals. lyrics are great-they have depth & broach serious topics without being too over the top heavy. this is an album that belongs on this list.

This felt like a throwback even in 1992. I had to keep checking that this _really_ came out four years after "Straight Outta Compton." It feels like an 80s hip-hop, and that's not a bad thing. It's definitely from the preachier school of Afrika Bambaataa, but it was a good listen. There’s a direct line from this to OutKast, btw, so that’s an extra star.

I don't know how much I find truly great, but I think most of it is pretty damn good. A high 3.5 with room to grow to a true 4 stars one day. 3.5/5

My reviews are lame these days. But I really dug this.

4/5. This has a solid collection of diverse rap songs that more air on the side of R&B and spoken word, with some great beats throughout. I appreciate the ability to rap about serious issues like personal growth while still not having to conform to anti-black language, which I know happens when trying to make "anti-gangster" music as a lot of the critics of this album seem to talk about. It's more upbeat for sure but samples and instrumentation of influence and inspiration really make the songs stand out and are more enjoyable. Although some of the themes and lyrics are a little direct versus subtle, it's still a great listen. Best Song: Tennessee, People Everyday, U

The album can edge close to preachiness but Arrested Development deserves major credit for coming up with a positive alternative to early 90s gangsta rap.

The highlight of this album is definitely Headliner. The DJ skills and beats are all great, even if some of the songs get boring after a bit, it’s not due to the backing track. The rapping is good too, and the occasional singing, but I really like the DJing. The content is wholesome without being cheesy, yet with an angry-ish message. I wish we hadn't heard that Jurrassic Five album yesterday because I think I would've liked this more if I didn't have a better example of what this album is presenting fresh in my mind. This isn't a bad album at all, it's just comparatively not as good. The messaging is almost too literal, though I guess that's the point. "Tennessee" might have been the first hip hop song I listened to intentionally. I remember hearing it on the pirate radio station back in my youth, right after a Rage Against the Machine track. In a weird way they occupy the same "agenda", though I hate using that word. Hope for a better world, decrying the system and what it's done to everyone. This is good and it undoubtedly influenced a lot of hip hop later down the line. It's got some filler, though, and it didn't grab me nearly as hard as it could have.

**In-Depth Review of "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." by Arrested Development** **Introduction** "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." is the debut album by American hip-hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992. This album was a groundbreaking project that blended socially conscious lyrics with Southern soul, gospel, and Afrocentric themes. It garnered critical acclaim, achieved commercial success, and earned the group two Grammy Awards. In this review, we will delve into the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and its influence on the music industry. **Lyrics** Arrested Development’s lyrics on this album stand out for their thoughtfulness and depth, diverging from the mainstream gangsta rap prevalent at the time. Speech, the group’s lead rapper and lyricist, addresses a variety of social issues, including racism, poverty, and spirituality. - **"Tennessee"**: This track reflects on African American history and personal loss. Speech narrates his struggles with the death of his grandmother and brother, searching for guidance and solace. The lyric "Take me to another place, take me to another land" expresses a longing for escape and understanding. - **"Mr. Wendal"**: Here, Speech tells the story of a homeless man named Mr. Wendal, emphasizing the importance of empathy and respect for all individuals, regardless of their societal status. The lyrics critique materialism and advocate for a simpler, more compassionate way of life: "Mr. Wendal has freedom, a free that you and I think is dumb." - **"People Everyday"**: This song is a reinterpretation of Sly and the Family Stone’s "Everyday People," focusing on unity and racial harmony. It speaks against violence and promotes peace, with lines like "We’re just some brothers and sisters tryna make it in this world." The lyrics are imbued with positivity and hope, offering a stark contrast to the often violent and misogynistic themes in rap music at the time. **Music** The musical composition of the album is rich and diverse, incorporating elements of Southern soul, funk, gospel, and African music. Arrested Development’s use of live instruments gives the album an organic feel, which sets it apart from the heavily sample-based production of many hip-hop records of the era. - **Instrumentation**: The album features live drums, bass, guitar, and a variety of traditional African instruments, which contribute to its unique sound. The use of acoustic instruments on tracks like "Tennessee" and "People Everyday" adds a layer of warmth and authenticity. - **Vocals**: Alongside Speech’s rapping, the album includes soulful singing from members Montsho Eshe and Dionne Farris, as well as background harmonies that enrich the tracks. The interplay between rap and sung vocals creates a dynamic and engaging listening experience. - **Sampling**: While the album primarily relies on live instrumentation, it also makes use of samples to enhance its sound. For example, "People Everyday" samples Sly and the Family Stone’s "Everyday People," creating a bridge between past and present musical eras. **Production** The production of "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." is polished and cohesive, thanks in large part to Speech’s vision and the contributions of producers such as Headliner. The production quality ensures that each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating a unified listening experience. - **Sound Quality**: The album’s sound is clean and well-balanced, with each instrument and vocal part given its own space in the mix. This clarity allows the listener to fully appreciate the intricate musical arrangements and the messages conveyed in the lyrics. - **Creative Choices**: The producers employ a variety of techniques to keep the album sonically interesting. For example, the use of spoken word segments and sound bites adds context and depth to the songs. Additionally, the incorporation of different musical styles keeps the album fresh and engaging from start to finish. **Themes** The themes explored on "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." are both personal and universal, making the album resonate with a wide audience. - **Social Consciousness**: A central theme of the album is social awareness and activism. Songs like "Tennessee" and "Mr. Wendal" address issues such as systemic racism, homelessness, and the African American experience. These tracks encourage listeners to reflect on societal problems and consider their roles in creating positive change. - **Spirituality**: Spirituality is another prominent theme, with many songs exploring the search for meaning and connection. "Tennessee" and "Fishin’ 4 Religion" delve into the spiritual journeys of individuals seeking solace and understanding in a tumultuous world. - **Cultural Pride**: The album celebrates African culture and heritage, promoting a sense of pride and identity among African American listeners. Songs like "Africa’s Inside Me" highlight the importance of recognizing and honoring one’s roots. - **Community and Unity**: The theme of community runs throughout the album, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and mutual support. "People Everyday" and "Give a Man a Fish" advocate for unity and collective effort to overcome adversity. **Influence** "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." had a significant impact on the music industry and hip-hop culture. - **Breaking Stereotypes**: The album challenged the dominant narratives in hip-hop at the time, proving that rap could be introspective, positive, and socially conscious. Arrested Development’s success demonstrated that there was a market for alternative hip-hop, paving the way for other artists who wanted to explore different themes and sounds. - **Inspirational Impact**: The album inspired a generation of musicians and listeners to think critically about social issues and use their platforms for advocacy. Artists like Common, The Roots, and Lauryn Hill have cited Arrested Development as an influence on their work. - **Commercial Success**: The album’s commercial success (peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200 and achieving quadruple platinum status) showed that socially conscious music could achieve mainstream popularity. This success encouraged record labels to support more diverse voices in hip-hop. **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Lyrical Depth**: The album’s lyrics are thoughtful and introspective, addressing important social issues and personal experiences with honesty and nuance. 2. **Musical Diversity**: The use of live instruments and incorporation of various musical styles create a rich and engaging soundscape. 3. **Positive Messages**: The album’s themes of unity, empathy, and cultural pride offer a refreshing alternative to the more negative and violent themes prevalent in some hip-hop. 4. **Cohesive Production**: The production quality is high, with each track contributing to the overall narrative and feel of the album. 5. **Cultural Impact**: The album’s success and influence have left a lasting legacy in the music industry, encouraging the proliferation of alternative hip-hop. **Cons:** 1. **Niche Appeal**: The album’s focus on socially conscious themes and its divergence from mainstream hip-hop may not appeal to all listeners, particularly those looking for more conventional rap sounds. 2. **Production Choices**: While the production is generally praised, some may find the spoken word segments and sound bites to be distracting or overused. 3. **Consistency**: A few tracks on the album may not stand out as much as the hits, leading to moments where the album’s energy dips. 4. **Lyrical Complexity**: The depth and complexity of the lyrics, while a strength, may also be a barrier for casual listeners who prefer more straightforward content. **Conclusion** "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." by Arrested Development is a seminal album that combines lyrical profundity with musical innovation. Its focus on social issues, spirituality, and cultural pride set it apart from other hip-hop albums of its time. The production is polished and cohesive, ensuring a unified listening experience. While the album’s niche appeal and certain production choices may not resonate with everyone, its overall impact and legacy in the music industry are undeniable. Arrested Development’s debut remains a powerful testament to the potential of hip-hop as a vehicle for positive change and introspection.

Really funky and as an avid listener of rap and hiphop , I was surprised I had never heard of this . Gives some A tribe called Quest vibes and that is always good . One thing is that I didn't think it needed to be that long .

þetta er reyndar mjög gott. ber merki útgáfutímabilsins. 4,5.

A nice surprise. I was only familiar with the pleasant, but light, Mr. Wendel. The rest of the album is pretty great early 90s hip hop, with great beats, turntablism and nice, easy flow. A breath of fresh air in what feels like a real dirgey rut of recent albums.

Yes please! I was very pleasantly surprised by this. It's hugely upbeat, both in a musical and lyrical sense, it's genuinely funny at times, and right in the middle it has a run of really top drawer songs, where you can feel how much they must have influenced many more famous and less good hip hop artists in the coming decade or so.

Some classic songs on here. People Everyday, Mr Wendel, Tennessee. I love the 90’s Conscious Hip Hop vibe. AD is one of the more corny but still it’s a 3.8.

I didn't think I knew any of their songs until I heard Tennessee. That one I heard back in '92 and probably not since. The black revolution, religious, and overthrowing the government stuff does not appeal to me at all, but the actual music does. It's upbeat and uplifting, and even some of the lyrical content has a good message, like telling kids to go play in the dirt, lol. It's smarter than 99% of the rap/hip-hop from this time. I will listen to this one again.

Muito fixe, boa onda!

Sympathetic album by sympathetic band.

groovin

Fun beat.

The Golden standard socially conscious hip-hop. I still listen to this album all the time.

When this came out some of the songs were too overplayed and annoyed me (Mr. Wendal, Give a Man a Fish, Tennessee). But upon this listen I was overjoyed. Along the rap spectrum, hip-hop seems to be the level I like. Progressive hip-hop addressing social issues adds a cherry on top.

Really good. Sorry I missed it the first time through.

esta bueno siento q la banda se lleva re bien suenan bien juntos

This is a good album. I now wish I gave it more if a chance in 1992/3. I've seen them live at Lollapalooza, they did put on a great show. But at the time it's just not the hip hop was was interested in listening to. I bet if I did give it a chance I'd have a place in my heart for it. Now I listen and I like it, and I wouldn't turn it off, but I don't see myself listening to the whole album again too many more times. Rounding up for the message of Love, respect and self-worth

I had zero prior knowledge of this group/album. I love going in blind and I ended up really enjoying this. I see some have mentioned it can be corny or preachy at times, and I can understand that takeaway. However, I found the messages uplifting and still relevant today. I was hanging on to every word in Fishin' 4 Religion with its critiques of passivity in the church, of praying to cope instead of taking an active role in making positive changes in the world. I liked the repeated mantra of "Dig your hands in the dirt, children play with earth." (Track 6) It's a metaphorical invitation to get in touch with yourself and shape your own reality. But it's also a literal invitation to get in touch with Mother Earth. It's a fun song that reminds me we all have an inner child. One day I stopped making mud pies in the dirt and became an adult, but how would it feel to connect with that child again? It's far from the best song on the album, but it really resonated with me. Power in something simple. I really like conscious rap/hip-hop and spiritual concepts. If you do too, I think this is an essential listen.

There's so much to enjoy on this album. It's very much of its time, but it has an earnestness, vibrancy and earthy spirituality that I wish we heard more in music. The lyrics are thoughtful and aspirational and the live instrumentation is really refreshing to hear. My main critique is that the album sometimes feels rushed in pace and stylistically cluttered. It's like AD had so much they wanted to express and tried to cram in all the things. I get how some people find this overly didactic or corny. But there's a certain honesty in not trying to be so hard all the time, which I find really lovely. Fave Songs: Tennessee, Mr. Wendal, Fishin' 4 Religion, Raining Revolution, People Everyday, Give a Man a Fish, U, Washed Away

Really good album. Better now than whem it came out for me. It was too slow and maybe too social and compasionate talking about not only the the social-political-racial problems at the time but also talked about solutions for them. I was young and into gangsta rap and even thou I liked the singles and purchased it I mever gave it the airplay it deserved in the soundtrack of my life. Listening to it now is a different thing and mindset understanding better how bad the world is specifically the USA and its social problems which are the same as they were wjen the album was released and 100 years before that. This was a fusion of rap and funk with indie vibes which made it unique and innovative for its time. Arrested Development have not gotten the credit they deserve in the rap evolution.

The first thing I'll say about this album is that the production is incredible. There's some really good lyrics to be found. Another gem from this list. The only problem is that it becomes a bit dull near the end. "3Y5M2DITL..." is the second alt hip-hop album I got in a row. 4 stars for a great album.

Good one here. Beats work better than a lot of the lyrics and delivery but it still carries. Started great, bit of lull in middle, finished strong. Last 3 are best songs. Never heard of the group and wish I had before. Fun one to listen to...3.55.

Weird, funky and refreshing. Don't know Arrested Development but they seem like they would be a blast to see perform. Dug the completely unique hip hop take mixed with beats, scratches and samples. This is one of the most unique albums to show up on this list and I mean that in a good way. What a treat. 3.64 stars

One of my very first CDs. Aged better than I expected

Pretty rad

One of the best!

I have definitely heard of this artist. This style of hip hop just different. I can really hear today's artists influenced by these guys.

7/10 There is an earnestness to this record I enjoy. I think this got in right before irony ruined cool jams. I've liked the singles from this record forever. It isn't the best of the best, but it does tickle some nostalgia. 5-7-2024

Great beats, sometimes a little preachy. Wanted to give it 5 stars because I was nodding my head constantly. But then after the album, Spotify gave me a Brand Nubian song and I was reminded there is better in this style. Still a very good album, just not entirely there.

Apparently I had a little bit of a hip hop phase back in the early 90's only I didn't know it was hip hop because I lived in a tiny little world. Tennessee got a lot of radio play, and rightfully so. I also loved that and US3 and various other bits of cheerfulness that came out around the same time. Listening to the whole album now reaffirms my opinion that Arrested Development is good stuff and I find I still like it.

This got some groove! I love this kind of 90’s hip hop, right up my alley

Fun foundational hip hop album.. enjoyed rap in Mr Wendell and chorus in Tennessee…..

It turns out 90s afrocentric hip hop is one of my vibes.

This was really great. I love how funky this era of hip hop was, and this album was a welcome introduction to Arrested Development. Favorite track: There's Always Money in the Banana Stand

This was nice to listen to, but there isn't a song that really caught my attention to 100% and it also is an album that I will probably never listen again.

It hurts to not give an album that has both Tennessee and Mr. Wendell, but then there were U and Natural, which aren’t bad, but definitely not great, either. The majority of the album is spectacular, though, and I would listen to it again any day. Also, I believe that with the energy and message that Arrested Development rings, the world would be a better place, if there were more hip-hop along their style.

Well, this is interesting: gangsta-less rap. Refreshing and lively. Like it.

From the cover, I wasn't the album to start that way. This was such a fun album with high vibes throughout. I really enjoyed listening to it. Enjoyed the song "U".

Absolutely loving all of the beats. I also like the rapping style. It’s very conversational and easy to understand, with a chill vibe. I started to lose some interest toward the end, but still a good album. I’m surprised I haven’t heard much about arrested development before.

“I’ve made a huge mistake”, is not what I would say about listening to this album. “There’s always money in [90s rap]” “That was a a freebie” is what I would say about this album being placed on this list. If people ask why this album is on this list, “I don’t understand the question and I won’t respond to it”. After listening to this album, “I’m afraid I just blue myself”. These arrested development jokes doing anything for anyone? No? Damn. I did enjoy this album. A good change up from most 90s rap I know. Also shout out to Lin Manuel Miranda for copying one of these dudes flow

Really liked. Surprised by how many I actually knew.

Love how this album sticks too the classic early 90’s hip hop sound all while being original. Great lyrics and this album flows sooo well

3.75

Couple of huge tunes in Mr Wendal and People Everyday but Tribe did it waayyy better.

Sure, it’s an evolutionary dead end for hip-hop but evolutionary dead ends can be super cool. Just ask the platypus.

Groovy, funky, old school

Cool und abwechslungsreich.

Never heard of them, but really enjoyed this one! Catchy music, great bass!

This was great! I’m usually not a big rap fan but really enjoyed this. Will definitely go back to this and listen again

Always a fan of '90s hip

Rating: 9/10 Amazing album. The production was fantastic, very sample heavy. The beats were very beautiful and uplifting and instrumentally everything sounded great. Lyrically this album is mostly about relationships and issues with the black community, which was approached in a thought-provoking and interesting way. Loved the combination of rapping and singing throughout the album, both of which were done incredibly well. This album makes you want to go outside and make some sort of change in the world and I am surprised I never heard it before, will definitely be coming back to this one. Favorite songs: Mama's Always On Stage, People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Raining Revolution, Fishin' 4 Religion, Give A Man A Fish, U, Tennessee. Least favorite song: Children Play With Earth.

I feel like this is quintessential 90's hip hop. Well, at least one element of 90's hip hop

Very energetic and fun album, lots of textures and feelings

This is some feel good shit, and I'm actually digging it. I mean, the religious parts (which are a lot of the parts) can feel a little hamfisted, but it isn't groan-worthy like that of Christian rock. It just makes you feel sunny and happy, all in a thoroughly 90s way. I think the real killer here is that the love tracks here can feel "not like other boys" at best, and sort of predatory at worst. I mean, I know that was sort of expected as a direct response to gangster rap, but in a modern viewpoint it causes far more eye rolls than that it is competing against. But I cannot deny I was still grooving along with it for a good chunk of the album, and that has to count for something.

me copó bastante 8/10

Flashback from the 90s. Quality hip hop

This is three days in a row of 80s-90s rap, but this one was quite a bit different than Ice Cube and Public Enemy. Those two albums were definitely a lot harder and I think a lot of the value was in the social commentary. This one was thematically much softer, with themes more about love and spirituality. Musically it was also more upbeat sounding and more of a light and fun listen. There's obviously a place for both of these styles, but I found this one to be a nice change of pace after the last two days, and given the harder rap that was dominating the charts mostly at the time (this came out 8 months before The Predator) I think it might have been perceived as a nice change of pace then too (though it definitely does not completely shy away from more difficult themes). \"People Everyday\" is one of the songs that does have racial themes at the forefront, and it's a really interesting update on Sly and the Family Stone's \"Everyday People\". \"Tennessee\" is also a really catchy song near the end of the album. I definitely struggle a bit with early-ish rap, but I really enjoyed listening to this one. It feels more timeless to me (both musically and thematically) than a lot of other rap I've heard from this time period. Favorite song: People Everyday Other: Mr. Wendal, Raining Revolution, U, Eve of Reality, Natural, Tennessee 12/31/23

I remember when this came out and thinking it was such a nice change of pace. Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age but it felt very manufactured this time around, like the whole image was dreamt up by a marketing department. Still liked it, but not as much as I remember. Just under 4 stars

Surprisingly good. I usually dislike 90s hip hop, but this defied all expectations. Warm, uplifting, funky, spiritual album. The lyrics were enrapturing and (for the most part) relatable. And, for once, there were actual vocal melodies! Some darn sick beats rooted in blues, funk, and rock from earlier decades. This honestly has the potential to be a 5/5. What's stopping it is the crude 1-bar repetition that defines most of the hip-hop genre.

A breath of fresh air! This was fun and positive with a lot of atmosphere to some of the beats. Definitely can see the influence these guys had in the south. Production holds up like it could of dropped today. Mr. Wendal is such a timeless track. A bit corny at times but overall a great positive album.

4-

Man. What are really refreshing piece of hiphop. Pre-Gangsta rap this album give us a glimpse into black America pre-Clinton. The struggles of economic and socio-political despair that are now seen as the hallmark of the time. Phenomenally written even if it doesn’t always hold up to modern scrutiny.

This was a lovely experience. It sounds a bit outdated in 2023, but it's just the normal outdated and not some bizarre ancient as is the case for many other albums on the list. I don't know if there is more arrested development on the list, but I'm sure I'll listen to their echoes on many other more recent hip-hop albums.

I really liked this album. Great example of early 90s hip hop that wasn't gangsta rap. Mr Wendell was a great song, constantly on the radio at the time it came out, Tennessee was another good song. The beats on this album were good, funky basslines, and the rapping style was great, you can actually hear and understand the lyrics, which had lots of social commentary that was relevant at the time, and still is to this day

Some really good tracks here, and I can hear the influence they had on Outkast (see Mama's Always on Stage) and even Childish Gambino's flow. While not a total knockout, most of the alternative/positive hip-hop flow of 3Y, 5M, 2D. Fav tracks: Mama's Always on Stage, Give a Man a Fish, Tennessee, Fishin' For Religion, People Everyday 3.5/5

A really enjoyable, if not totally consistent, listen. When it hits, it really hits! The southern soul and funk aspects make it stand out from other contemporary hip hop. I loved some tracks a lot: Tennessee, Give a Man a Fish, and People Everyday are outstanding. The album's themes of unity, peace, and revolution are resonant but sometimes err on the side of cloying or oversimplified positivity. Dawn of the Dreads was a bit of a low point for me -- that particular flow feels really dated and I imagine a bit of a throwback even at the time. Fave tracks: Give a Man a Fish, Tennessee, People Everyday, Eve of Reality, Fishin' 4 Religion

Not bad! This is the early 90s in a nutshell. It’s been 30 years since I’ve heard Mr. Wendal.

Funky hip hop! Highlight: Mr. Wendal, U, Natural

What an unexpected, fun album! I am not very familiar with hip hop, but I really enjoyed how upbeat and positive these songs are. It's not actually so much about the lyrics themselves (in fact, many of the lyrics lean a little too spiritual/Christian for my personal taste). It's more that you can just hear the lightness in their voices and I found it wonderfully contagious. I was especially fond of the beginning of the album, "Man's Final Frontier," "Mama's Always On Stage," and "Mr. Wendel," though I liked the last few songs as well.

Some real high points which make the whole thing definitely worth a listen. They real do sound so similar to De La Soul (down to the flows even) to me that it makes it hard to see them as ripping off DLS a little. Still a good album in its own right though. 7/10

Profound songwriting, head bopping melodies. What more can one ask for?

Experimental but very good

Second 90's era hip hop in two days. But this one was much more unique and enjoyable.

ändå gött häng!

Feelgood Afro-centric 1990s alternative hip hop at its best. Mostly original 'live band-style' jazzy/soul/funk beats with some samples and turntable stuff over the top. Upbeat and uplifting tone combined with dense lyrical content dealing with ISSUES. Sometimes it's a bit cringe, but hard to fault earnestness. The cadence, flow and expressivity of the delivery is great and the vibes are good as hell.

Quite enjoyed it to the end. Still very relevant today

Classic

Interesting that this hip hop group identified more with hippies than gangsters.

Wow!! Again, not a rap fan, really....but this is a definite exception! Truly enjoyed it!

Hilarious that this recommendation comes up immediately following Dre's 'The Chronic'. Two break-out hits for hip-hop in 1992. The contrast between the crotch-and-gun-clutching nonsense of the former versus the social justice and love focus of the latter, is the perfect example of the spectrum that hip-hop occupies. Respect to Arrested Development for going after the higher ground!

This album was influential to me as a young person, and I had not listened to it in perhaps 20 or 25 years -- and, it holds up pretty well. The samples are somewhat dated, but that tracks with the age of the work.

This is rather good. Seems like the antidote to West Coast rap, tracking the same kinds of social injustices, but without resorting to desperate, toxic-masculine traits. I knew a couple of tracks beforehand - I'd only have been able to name Mr Wendal as one of theirs consciously, I think - and I was moderately surprised to hear more that had somehow escaped association. Definitely a nice listen.

Funky and Fresh, a mature listen.

Wat een fijn album, vrolijk, dikke beats, echt even wat anders. Ga ik vaker luisteren.

Fun album with direct lyrics. Live instruments sound great and doesn’t drag despite its runtime. Open to exploring more hip-hop like this.

There are idiots who gatekeep and just like they might claim that someone isn't black because they have light black skin, they will judge this record and say it's not real rap or not real hip-hop or whatever. Such garbage. Garbage! Just because a record is approachable, and the lyrics are positive and aren't full of f-bombs doesn't mean it's not real. I run into this from time to time with another band I like a lot, Digable Planets, they are a bit weird, and political, and positive, and interesting... and people will say they aren't real hip-hop. I don't care! Really I don't care. I want the music to be interesting, I want the lyrics to be thought provoking, I want the band to take an overall position... and this album delivers all that in spades. Don't gatekeep tunes. It just makes people think that you are someone who wants to force your preferences on other people as if they are the only valid preferences. Garbage!

This is a very unique hip-hop album in my opinion. 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life Of has some of the most conscious lyrics of any hip-hop album I've listened to, but the sound is like nothing else. It's very hard to describe in all honesty. It has lo-fi production with its inclusion of record grain that adds to the hard-to-describe sound. Some tracks feel more funky, obviously showing its classic funk influences (definitely not the more modern G-Funk), but also showing influences of old-school hip hop in a few areas as well. But these sounds are twisted to be different. I think that that's the best way to describe it: different. I don't hate it; in fact, I think I like it. It really does give the album a unique sound. The lyrics are very conscious, especially for the time it was recorded (near the end of the days of Gangsta Rap and a few years before the Bling Era). It is the only album to have had conscious lyrics like this, but they still feel unique. There are songs about spirituality, committing yourself to God, and finding peace with your fellow man. In fact, this album is mostly about spirituality. It gives a unique perspective of a spiritual, Afrocentrist life, while actively promoting said life and discussing why it is a good idea for everyone to help make this life a reality. These spiritual lyrics are really unique and I think that's the big thing it has going for it. There are lyrics about struggles, criticisms of the government, etc., but the lyrics about spirituality do make this album stand out the most. I think this was a very fun, unique, and spiritual album. Easily earning a 9/10.

Hip-hop muy funky. Un 4.

This list has blessed me with another surprise I probably wouldn't have listened to without its inclusion. Really fun and wacky hip hop album, carrying the delivery and sample approach of Public Enemy but with a cheery mood to groove and dance to. Melodies to dance to, funny moments that stick out, and choruses to sing along. Takes significant influence from funk, gospel, and jazz. As with most 90s albums, it should cut down its length by a quarter. It was definitely exhausting in the second half. But this wasn't so bad with so many outstanding deep cuts.

Een lollig potje hiphop, daar is niks mis mee hoor. Sampletje hier, beatje daar en gaan. Zonder moeite meermalen luisterbaar.

Het zit allemaal verrassend goed in elkaar. Snap ik ook wel. Ze hadden even de tijd begrijp ik uit de titel. De losse nummers springer er net iets minder uit dan bijvoorbeeld "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" van "A Tribe Called Quest". Het geheel klinkt gewoon lekker.

Relaxte laidback hiphop uit de 90s. Prima voor de zomer.

Mamas always on staage 😫🗣️ Mr. Wendel had a really catching beat, not a fan of the old school rap style though.. I can lie, a part of me is just waiting for this to be over.. Man this was really good, even for it’s type of hip hop I was super into it

Pretty dope

i really liked this album! 90s hip-hop with an optimistic message. i had only heard Tennessee going into this and enjoyed most of the tracks on here, mr. wendal being a big standout. favorites: mr. wendal, people everyday, tennessee

Classic. For anyone scratching their heads about the version of "People Everyday" on this album, the more well-known version is the Metamorphosis mix from the "People Everyday" single.

Some songs sound like Toe Jam & Earl soundtrack

Makee meininki läpi levyn. Pään nytkyttelyä putkeen ja tuli hyvä fiilis. 3,5 -> pyöristyy ylöspäin!

Loved It! More funk than rap… sounded more like p-funk than outkast.

Really good. High energy, good blending, clear theme

A really powerful album. One that I didn’t love back when but adult me feels quite differently. Wonderful poetry, beats that get you moving, it’s a win.

Hugely impressive and massively enjoyable. Feels like this has been unfairly and unnecessarily forgotten. Groovy and approachable beats, plus positive vibes in the vocals, plus unconventional instrumentation (there should be more harmonica in hip-hop [and possibly cowbell, too]).

I might have had the nostalgia goggles on for this one. I can’t tell.

I had this album! Somehow lost it and forgot about it but I still knew it well. Good to hear again. A nice departure from the gangster rap of the time.

Very good album. Fine songs, enjoyable beats

HL: “People Everyday”, “Fishin 4 Religion”, “Tennessee”, “Washed Away” Unfamiliar with this group; Neat excursion into 90’s alt hip-hop. While the production almost sounds too crisp and clean (wouldn't be the first late 80s/early 90s album I've felt that way about), there's something I enjoyed about the uncool-ness of the flow, and the diverse samples which put it somewhere between "3 Feet High & Rising" and "That's the Way of the World" April 10, 2023

Enorme verrassing. Rap van niet overdreven hoog niveau, maar wel unieke beats. Het doet een beetje denken aan De La Soul en met vlagen ook aan Anderson .Paak. Ik zie mezelf dit nog wel eens aanzetten.

fun! good sampling. i could see why this album is influential.

The hits off this album are great. Though I prefer the other mix of People Everyday to the one on this album. The version on this album feels flat. When this came out, it was so different than a lot of the other rap, since gangsta rap was so huge at the time.

Good Hip-Hop from the golden age...without all the foul language! Thank you! Reminds me of the good, clean fun of De La Soul. The first couple times I head this album in the past, I didn't give it a chance - I went in thinking I was going to hate it... Standouts: People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Tennessee. 4/5

I really liked this one. The album starts with the obligatory scratches on vinyl that's hit the turntables many many times.  The fusion of the southern style rhythms kicks in a works well. The harmonica on Mama's Always on Stage is Exhibit 1.  The singer vocalist seems to be in a good space as opposed to so many MCs who come across as being full of attitude. Dionne Farris' vocals  on Tennessee are really good. 

Outstanding. More of this type of hip-hop needs to return to the mainstream. It's about the music, which is perfectly-mixed using great samples as well as organic instrumentation, and the vocals are set just right which also doesn't happen often enough. Those vocals feel part of the music rather than on top and they're just damn *good* - not overly-aggressive; a great combination of singing and rapping. Hadn't heard AD in decades and am happy to be reminded of them. Keeper. 8/10 4 stars.

Interesting type of hip hop

I don't know if I loved it, but it was funky! It was upbeat! It was positive! Maybe I did love it.

6/14, 43%

классный, стильный хип-хоп некоторые тречки кажутся немного затянутыми, но глобально отличная динамика, хороший флоу, куча сэмплов внутри люблю такое иногда послушать, буду иногда гонять этот альбомчик

Очень позитивный хип-хоп, но не почуствовал чего-то удивительного. Хотя все было более чем круто

Ох ты ж что залетело сюда в подборочку... снова хипхопчик! Причём он максимально олдскульный, с кучей семплов, с таким вот прям трушно-трушным биточком. Но он и не лишён каких-то фанк-джаз клавишных вставок, что делает аранжировки прям очень качовыми. К тому же этому альбому шарма добавляет его "этничность": группа заигрывает с африканскими этно-мотивами. Хотя как бы про джаз я уже написал. Но здесь есть классные бэки, вокализы с явными отсылками к африканскому народному творчеству. A problem that exists within' The American culture I resist against. Не моя музыка. Но... мне очень полюбились несколько песен, сохранил себе

Ля, оч биты зашли, скрэтч, трубы, этническая темка даже чувствовалась. Вполне себе заслуженные 4

A classic

Love this... takes me back to listening to music in the car on the way to school with my friend Dan.

Never heard of this group. Fun album. Mr. Wendal, U, and Natural we’re faves.

Overall: 8/10 Gerçekten beklediğimden daha güzeldi. Feel-good vibe'ından oldukça hoşlandım. Bu tür müziğe farklı bir yaklaşım olmuş.

I kind of expected this to have not aged well. It always had a bit of aww shucks southern corniness to it and is ultimately a little too positive in its outlook. But it sounds good. Speech is still a decent rapper and I do like the content. It’s earnestness and naivety are it’s only real faults.

Surprisingly good! One song was strangely familiar. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

4.5

I absolutely hate rap. This was really good tho. It makes sense this way. This is music

Did not expect to like this record as much as I did. Groovy, catchy, very good.

Hadn't listened to this one for maybe 20 years, and I should not have been neglecting it. Ahead of its time, uplifting and good fun.

great 90s album. prioduction and spacing on the mix was very well done. not to mention the overall direction of the album was fantastic. felt great to listen to.

This one's so close to a five! Great instrumentation, funky, and takes a positive and spiritual perspective on serious topics. Lots of modern artists taking cues from this album: Kota the Friend and Childish Gambino, for two. A bit cheesy and too long though - could have cut at least two or three meh songs. Favorites are Mr Wendal, Raining Revolution, and U.

Awesome discovery. Like A Tribe Called Quest, this is the sort of hip hop I always hoped would be made. It was! I just wasn’t paying attention. Mama’s Always on Stage and Mr Wendal are my favorites.

Love this album, it takes me back to HS and skipping 7th period to go play volleyball in the park.

As someone who's not really big into this genre I found this quite fun. Boppy upbeat sounds, with social commentary, not bad at all. Dragged on a bit by the end. Saved tracks: Mr. Wendal, Natural, Dawn Of The Dreads, Tennessee, Washed Away

Alegre, fácil y amable de escuchar.

Really good album. People are gonna say that its too "preachy" or that its too "clean" compared to its contemporaries, but the basic reality is that its a really fucking good album. 4/5

A bit too hippie and dated, but still quite enjoyable. It's not that uplifting and good for me to revisit it often though. I appreciate that they started something, and that they set the hip hop world on fire, albeit for a while.

Some classics

Mr Wendell and Tennessee. Takes me back to college.

verry nice

I wore out this cassette in middle school. I can't believe a lot of it still holds up (though I have a soft spot for politically charged rap/hip-hop from the late 80s and early 90s). My only complaint is that the recording is compressed within an inch of its life and could sorely use a remaster.

The beats are very typical of the time but aren’t as abrasive as what the Bomb Squad did on the Public Enemy albums. The lyrics are still evocative of Afro-centric cultural revolution. There are a couple of notable songs on here and the rest of the album is worth a listen.

this album was bangin!!!

the production is outdated doesn’t mean the songs aren’t good the basslines and vocals with the symphonys and the flows are all amazing but when some of the verses fall flat but the backround instrumentals and vocals make up for it, the tones switch consistently to a nice fast steady flow to them going all prince and the themes are wonderful, ending track is best ending track i’ve heard in a while.

native tongues but in Atlanta this is fantastic. extra points for all the fishing songs and incredibly funky beats. best tracks: Mr wendal, Raining Revolution, dawn of the dreads

Pretty good, many classics.

80/100: Shockingly fantastic album. I knew nothing going into this one, I wasn't even aware of what genre I was about to dive into. I love the specific sect of rap created in this album. I don't really know how to define it, although Wikipedia calls it "alternative hip-hop." I guess that's probably a fair way to classify it, this album does feel alt/indie-y in the rap realm. Either way, however you classify it, this was a fun and energetic listen. Specifically, the sogns "People Everyday" and "Mr. Wendal" absolutely blew me away. "People Everyday" for its creative and fresh sampling of "Everyday People" and fantastic melody and beat, and "Mr. Wendal" for the though-provoking lyrics. I'd love to explore Arrested Development in the future, because this album indicates a real talent that I'd expect to extend to all of their music.

interesante

I think this is great. Haven't relistened yet but I'm sure it will have stood the test of time.

Listened Before? N Great album. Good positive take on rap at a time when gangsta rap was dominating. I remember these days well, and I always liked these songs until they became overplayed. Now it's been long enough and I'm ready for it again. Well structured, and well performed. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: People Everyday

I liked it, was basic at times and no particular songs stood out but it was consistent and a good listen.

Loved this in 92, haven't listened in forever. Really still pretty good.

Fresh and funky hip-hop, with slick rhymes and some super groovy basslines. Slight deficit of bombast which for me makes it 4/5 rather than a solid 5/5.

7/10

A mix of hip hop, funk, and soul. The album touches on oppression by the system and how the fight for equality won’t end with just one generation. Relevant themes when it was released and now as well

Love 90s hip hop.

Great listen - lots of tunes I didn't even know was them

Love this album. Not my usual fare but has been a regular listen for a long time. Outside the singles I really enjoy Mamas always on stage and Fishin 4 religion are the jam. Well worth checking out.

Eerste helft prima, 2e helft matig

While I don't have a particular song to add to the playlist from this album, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I think I've realized that I enjoy the arrested development, Lauryn Hill type of 90s hip hop more than the Tupac, BIG type. For this album though, I really liked the interesting, inventive production and catchy beats. Also, any song that talks about revolution makes me happy in albums like this.

Hated it as singles - but loved it as an album.

I really like this album. Reminds me of a gentler Public Enemy.

That's just lovely - On a busy morning, this made everything that bit easier. Love the album version of Everyday People, which I don't know if I've heard before. And of COURSE Mr Wendal!

Know it

Knew and liked Tennessee. Good band but not my thing.

I’ve owned & loved the single Tennessee/People Everyday for years. When I owned a jukebox, it was often on it. But I’d never heard the rest of this album before. It’s such a great listen. There’s a positivity about it that is missing from a lot of hip-hop released in the 30 years since this came out. There’s not a dud track on it. And so much of it is made to dance to - Mama’s Always On Stage, Give A Man A Fish, Mr Wendal. And the flow of the tracks is terrific. I loved it.

I am still thirsty

Seems a bit dated now, but really gets in your head. Mr. Wendal is a great song.

This album covers so many topics and does them so well. An extremely enjoyable listen

4.25

Enjoyed this a lot. Varied tracks with good beats and inspiring lyrics.

Pretty straight forward “positive” rap from the 90s. It’s a lot of fun, though not something I’d really go out of my way to listen to again.

Knew that one jam!

This album reminded me that I need to go back and listen some more older rap albums. Obviously, Tennessee is a banger, but I really enjoyed Mr. Wendal and Mama's Always On Stage as well.

Hard to believe it's been 30 years since this album came out. I've never been a big hip hop fan, but I can't help but love this album. It's like Sly and the Family Stone meets hip hop. Great debut album. 4 stars.

Don’t remember it being this good!

Great album. Really fun production and the messaging is very interesting.

pretty good 90s rap album

I enjoyed everything I heard from Arrested Development in the 90s, although I never sat down and listened to a full album. This music isn't mine. I like it, but it is speaking, very intimately, to an experience that I can't claim.

Pretty fine!

70/100 so 3.5 stars loved the beats n the fun vibe. never heard before. some lyrics kinda corny tho

This album was very well put together. The themes are positive and important and the samples are fun and well crafted. I can see this album being a big influence on Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and yes early Kanye. Having said all of that, aside from “dawn of the dreads”, which was my favorite track, it was missing that X factor that would make me want to listen to it again .

Pretty damn good

Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

So nice to hear the conscious side to the hip hop culture. This album is far more musical than any hip hop album from that time with nice melodies, vocals, instrumentation, and sampled sounds. 2 great songs in Mr. Wendall and Natural. Overall, I enjoyed it and it deserved more than a 3.

Greta hip hop. Definitely hear the souther hip. Hop tones in it

Love this alternative hip-hop from the late 80s and early 90s. Great beats, jazzier, super positive messages. This is a lot like the Native Tongues, which I love.

If you can get past the occasional preachiness then it's a very enjoyable and underrated hip-hop album.

7/10 Best Song - Mr Wendal

Funny samples

nice chill and relaxed. Liked the album quite a lot, a stark contrast to something like g funk

I don’t usually like hip-hop but I do like this album. It’s in my collection already.

Funky and so fresh in 1992. Does it hold up? Yeah, somewhat. I’ll give it an extra star for helping to get the Dirty South on the map.

Terrific early 90s hip hop groove. Singles are much better removed from their overplayed-on-the-radio context. Solid album all around, regret not giving it more of a chance back in the day.

Love this. Took me back to a simpler time when both my hair and weed were plentiful!! Definitely be returning to this again.

This was a pretty decent and funky album.

1/24/22

This is my first impression of Arrested Development, and if Spotify is to be trusted, it would also be the most reliable one. After this 1992 release, the group would only release another record in the 00s, but the quality of that work is, at the time of writing, unknown to this writer. This same writer who, up until this assignment, only knew Arrested Development to be the title of the acclaimed comedy show starring Jason Bateman. In summary, the slate for this group was a fresh one. "Fresh" would probably have been the vernacular used to describe this album during its release in 1992; the rhymes and cadences are very much in the line of Run-DMC, which would make sense given that they were probably contemporaries. Equally comfortable with the old school boom bap beats and funky guitar and piano lines, Arrested Development were a fun listen. Rounded off with female gang vocals and sung lines, this would be a fun weekend vibe kind of record. That's not to say that it's all snow cones and good times. Songs like Fishin' 4 Religion, Mr Wendal and Give A Man A Fish engage social topics that are still relevant to this day, like the questionable credibility of organized religion and homelessness. One would go so far as to give credit to Arrested Development for their delivery without dilution of their elucidations on the above. Definitely would revisit when the mood strikes.

The first CD I ever owned. It's way less musical than I tend to like now... highly rhythmic and sort of experimental sounding. But I have good memories from it.

Morate poslušati People Everyday, Mr. Wendal i Tennessee - jednostavno klasici u mojoj knjizi. Naravno, ima još dosta dobrih stvari na albumu. Beatovi mi se isto dosta sviđaju, imaju tu pozitivnu energijicu gdje vuku glazbu iz afričkih korijena.

I enjoy this type of "conscious" rap and it makes me nostalgic for the time period when it was a bigger part of the pop culture landscape.

Strong, interesting lyrics, old school mix of actual musicianship and a heavy beat.

Really love this, some of the sampling is top notch starting with the iconic guitar (I think) sound on Mama's Always on Stage. Boogying all the way through

This was one of the first albums I ever bought, which makes it really interesting to return to it after so long to try and fit it into the context of everything I've learned about music since that time. It certainly stands in stark contrast to the gangsta rap movement that was massively popular when this was released. Their use of funk samples in the big hits off of this album works really well. There are some nice harmonies on this album as well, and it would have been nice if they would have made more use of them 4/5

not my thing but it sounds great. mixed really well and the album flows. the music is very 90s but it doesn’t sound dated at all. all the songs are catchy and the track listing couldn’t be better

Rating: 8/10

leuk, niet alles even sterk tho

First time listening to the whole thing. Their positivity is refreshing.

A few good bops on here

👁‍🗨

I thought this was great! So good and full of great messages, which I think are important to music because music is about communication, and this album communicates well

This was super fun and classic 90s hip hop. Would definitely listen again and want to pay more attention. Good party music

This was great fun

10/1 Uplifting and conscious, definitely very old school and dated but a great album nonetheless. Standout Tracks: People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Raining Revolution, U, Tennessee

Great album!

A.D. has a unique, cool sound, and I like their philosophy. It's very chill, and the instrumentation on some of the songs was great, especially "Raining Revolution".

Kolejny czarny pick, ale tym razem z calkowicie przeciwnego kranca spektrum murzynskiego rapu, bo 3 years, 5 months and 2 days in the life of... jest calkowitym przeciwienstwem fishscale od pana ghostface, a wiec czym jest, jeden z pionierskich materialow alternatywnego conscious rapu, ktory stara sie edukowac czarna spolecznosc w duchu panter i 5 procentowcow, ale jednak jest przy tym krytyczny, bo widzi w jakim kierunku zmierza spoleczenstwo czarnych braci, no i jak rozwija sie sama branza hip hopowa, gangsta rap lat 90 i 80, wiec album stara sie znalezc alternatywny storytelling, nie az tak wypelniony negatywnoscia wyscigu po kilo, ale innym spojrzeniem na czlowieka, a to ze wylosowalo taki material akurat obok fishscale pokazuje jak roznorodny potrafi byc ten gatunek. ale skad w ogole pomysl na taka plyte, arrested development to nie jest typowa hip hopowa banda, bo bardziej swoim skladem przypomina jakis jazzowy kolektyw, 20 czlonkow, bo wiekszosc instrumentow jest grana live, kilku inzynierow produkcji, chorkowe wokale, zwlaszcza rzenskie, oraz niesamowicie ciekawy duet Speech i Baba Oje, dwojka poznala sie podczas studiow na uniwerku wisconsin–milwaukee, co nie byloby niczym dziwnym, gdyby nie to ze pan Baba Oje w czasie gdy byl studenciakiem mial 57 lat, zostal on wsparciem duchowym bandy, tak ciekawej bandzie udalo sie po 3 latach 5 miesiach i 2 dniach dostac rekord dila i wypuscic plyte ktora zapiszac sie w historii hip hopu, nie byl to ich ostatni material, ale material z mtv unplugged czy Zingalamaduni nie sprzedaly sie juz tak dobrze i nie trafily do szerszego grona sluchaczy, nastepnie seria epkow, az do 2020 gdzie ponownie pojawili sie z pelnoprawnym albumem dont fight your demons, ale to wlasnie trzema rokami zasiali ziarno pozytywnych vibow, ktore wydalo plon, ktory zmienil gangsta rap i nadal mu nieco pozytywniejszego odcienia za sprawa ekip takich jak outkast, goodie mob czy nappy roots, plyta nie posiada za bardzo bengierow, bo jest spojna caloscia, gdzie kawalek przechodzi w nastepny, pan speech robi robote jako prawdziwy mistrz ceremonii, bo niektore kawalki brzmia praktycznie jak wyrwane z ambony i to nawet nie 5 procentowej, ale czarnej ambony jakiegokolwiek zgromadzenia majacego na celu poprawe sytuacji danej spolecznosci, z trakow ktore najbardziej do mnie trafily, to menelowy kawalek mr wendal, tennesee czyli kawalek o milosci do malej ojczyzny i jednoczesnie do ludzi bedacych jej czescia, ostatnim kawalekiem na plejke bedzie fishin 4 religion mowiacym o morzu ideii, religii, w ktorym latwo jest utonac, z poprzednich odsluchow mialem juz dodanego people everyday traktujacy o prowadzeniu sie czarnych braci, ktore tutaj pan speech karci jako niegodne czleka rozumnego, kolejny dobry pik, tylko czekam czym lista pokara za takie sluchanska