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

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

Reminiscent of Tribe Called Quest

Really enjoyed this!

Mr. Wendal and Tennessee are really good songs. I like this old-school hip-hip.

Classic 90s hiphop

Super groovy. I can see myself going back to this one.

good 90s hiphop. really funky and upbeat. I liked it

Liked it - particularly children play with earth

trailblazers

Great stuff, perfect for the first hot day of spring. Reminds me of Fear of a Black Planet for some reason. 9

Another where I wish I has .5 stars, 3.5 felt perfect. Wasn't sure on if it was going to tip to 3 or 4 but a day later and it's a 4. Good variety, good bass lines. Between the background crowd and the left channel / right channel switching, a lot of interesting little flourishes throughout.

Love this album! Great music (Brother Larry on guitar really draws me into some of these songs), compelling words, cool production, all with such a sweet feel and positive energy.

9th July 2021 Listened to this first thing in the morning while in bed and while getting ready to go to Costco. Absolutely loved it, had never heard of them before but reading about them they are an institution. Love the messages and positivity of the album.

FUCK THIS IS GOOD! give a man a fish i mean damn.

Very upbeat and catchy, enjoyed most of it! Skipped some repetitive parts.

And now the story of a wealthy rap group who lost everything and the one MC who had no choice but to keep them all together Loved this

Cool, thoughtful hip hop. Not aggressive or abrasive.

Saved Prior: None Saved Off Rip: People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, U, Dawn of the Dreads Cutting Edge: Tennessee Overall Notes: A pretty fun listen. Sometimes the sound gets a little too all over the place and the tone gets a little too preachy for me but still a good listening experience. A 3.5, but I'll round to a 4.

Except for the radio hits “Mr. Wendal” and “Tennessee” I haven’t heard this album before. VERY pleasantly surprised, especially since this style of hip hop is my preferred style of hip hop. On my first listen I’d put it on the list of best rap albums from the 90s. It fits amongst Pharcyde, De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest. Nothing on this is bad or necessarily dated. It’s experimental and fun, the playful sample filled soundscape is ahead of its time. If this came out tomorrow I’d buy it as a retro styled rap album, feels contemporary somehow. I’m not going to give it the Coveted 5, but it’s very, very close, still an solid A for me.

Great listen, first time I've heard of Arrested Development

it's real good

I liked it. I liked it. A lot.

Great vibes and Mr Wendell alone makes this v close to a five but falls just short cos cos I’ve been dishing out too many 5s of late

Really cool album, nice vibes. Shuffle meant I had to listen to it twice, which was fine by me. I've never listened to it before but recognised a couple of tunes. Influenced Outkast. I mean this one ticks a lot of boxes. 8.5/10

This was probably the first rap album I ever purchased - primarily due to the pop tune “Tennessee”. Its a really solid album and the early 90’s lyrics disappointingly hold up well in 2021. Good stuff.

Love Tennessee!

decent but definitely had some boring parts. 7

Hip-hop muy funky

Compelling enough for me to want to listen to again, and I love the samples/beats throughout. 8

pretty good hiphop

Puro Hip-Hop de los 90. Ha sido agradable volver a Mr. Wendall, People Everyday, Fishin'4 Religion o Tennessee.

Pure 90s sugar rush. Is it actually as good as it seems or just 90s nostalgia hitting.

ok

J’aime la basse le flow et le mix de genre. C’est bon et 1hr a passe tres vite. 4.*

Crazy! I listened to the song "Tennessee" a bunch as a kid, it never hit me that there would be a whole album from this group. This is really smooth alt-hip hop. It sounds '90s, but it also sounds different from the majority of '90s hip hop. It's very bright and accessible. So cool that this is on the list. Favorite tracks: Mr. Wendal, Tennessee, Raining Revolution, People Everyday, U. Album art: Really cool band photo, very spacious. Excellent color contrast between the dead grass and the blue sky. The font is nice too. 4/5

Liked it.

Man I remember this one. This was a big one

Classic hip hop

One of my first cassettes. It's interesting what seemed progressive at the time comes off as behind 30 years later.

Another fantastic album that I would have never listened to otherwise, since the genre is not in my wheelhouse. A solid 4 stars.

Hadde ikke hørt før, men bra tidlig hip hop!

Old school beats with them good 90s vibes. Lookin for a throwback, this a chill one to throw on

That final song hit different. The album in itself is so diverse, though not specifically musically, but thematically.

The soul is too daunting of a frontier.

Not my style 🦦

This one is ok. At the very least, it isn't the Drugs, Cash 'n' Bitches variety of hip-hop. And it has that early hip-hop production that find very appealing. Key tracks: Mr. Wendal

I liked the positive attitude and funky vibes. It was a bit preachy in parts, but overall, it's a nice album. I'll take preachy over gangster any day.

On one hand, I definitely see the cultural impact this album had, especially for its time. This album came out when gangsta rap was becoming more and more popular, and in my personal opinion, some cultural decay evolved alongside that movement. Arrested Development were focusing on many of those social issues, with lyrics about homelessness, racial identity, confrontation, and other problems, but approaching them with a sense of light and hope. So I definitely don't want to downplay the message or the context of the time this album came out. If anything, if I would've heard this in the late 90s or early 2000s when I was really into hip-hop, I probably would've loved this album. Listening to it now, though, I got bored with it really quickly. To me, it's another early 90s conscious/alternative hip-hop album that blends in with artists like Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and so on. Those are all important artists, but at this point I'm just burned out on the overall sound.

*Solid hip hop album with pointed lyricism

Приємний позитивний хіп-хоп з 90х, по атмосфері нагадало якісь класичні гурти типу де ла соул. Але якоїсь ізюминки не почув. Альбом із серії - класно включити десь вранці на вихідних, щоб грав фоном. Поставлю 3.5

There is already a decent amount of that late 80's early 90's rap on the list that this really didn't stand out musically. Pretty cool lyrically though. 6/10

On one hand, I definitely see the cultural impact this album had, especially for its time. This album came out when gangsta rap was becoming more and more popular, and in my personal opinion, some cultural decay evolved alongside that movement. Arrested Development were focusing on many of those social issues, with lyrics about homelessness, racial identity, confrontation, and other problems, but approaching them with a sense of light and hope. So I definitely don't want to downplay the message or the context of the time this album came out. If anything, if I would've heard this in the late 90s or early 2000s when I was really into hip-hop, I probably would've loved this album. Listening to it now, though, I got bored with it really quickly. To me, it's another early 90s conscious/alternative hip-hop album that blends in with artists like Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and so on. Those are all important artists, but at this point I'm just burned out on the overall sound.

Generally, this type of soulful, southern hip hop is right up my alley This record hit pretty hard when it came out. The singles Tennessee, Mr. Wendal and People Everyday got massive crossover airplay but, outside of those songs this album is a little hit and miss and a little bit dated but, It’s a good record. There are a handful of great songs but the album does lose focus at times and tends to wander a bit. All and all… pretty solid 3.4

It was fine but did not hold up that well.

This album was a pleasant surprise. I am not the biggest hip hop fan and I typically find 90's hip hop to have a sound that I don't particularly love. So when this albums came up I had never heard of Arrested Development. After seeing the release date my expectations were low. This album had much less of that early 90s sound and a lot of actual instruments.the vocals were my least favorite part but overall quite happy with this.

Hipster hip-hop from the 90s. Very nostalgic but not a ton of substance.

I had a good time with this! Kinda corny, but hard to listen to without cracking a smile :)

Pretty good.

This was one certifiably funky time capsule if I do say so myself - this album feels like if the 70s and the 90s had a baby. Definitely what I would consider "conscious" rap, which I do like but tend to get a little tired of when I hear a lot of it in a row. That aside, there were several tracks I could see myself returning to again. I really do like this early 90s era of hip hop (ATAQ, Naughty by Nature, Eric B. & Rakim, etc.), and somehow Arrested Development hadn't reached me before today. An upbeat and fun listen! Favorite tracks: People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Natural

I definitely owned this CD. It was in that era of music when I was in high school and just basically bought and listened to everything that was popular or noteworthy. And also probably one of those albums where I only listened to the hits and skipped over everything else... because I didn't remember much of it and honestly I enjoyed the "non-hits" much better than hits.

Die US-amerikanische Formation aus Atlanta nahm ihr Debüt größtenteils in den Bosstown Recording Studios der Heimatstadt auf, ergänzt durch Sessions in den Twenty-Five Sixty Studios, dem Trax 32 Recording Studio und den UWM Studios – veröffentlicht 1992 bei Chrysalis Records. Der Titel bezieht sich wörtlich auf die Zeitspanne, die Speech und Headliner brauchten, um einen Plattenvertrag zu bekommen. Man hört diese Wartezeit dem Album tatsächlich an, nichts hier wirkt hastig zusammengeschustert. Vom Gangsta-Rap seiner Zeit trennte das Album weniger die Musik als die Haltung dahinter. „Tennessee" verarbeitet Trauer und familiäre Herkunft. „Mr. Wendal" schaut auf Obdachlosigkeit. Und „People Everyday" nimmt Sly Stones „Everyday People" als Sample und dreht es Richtung Alltagsrassismus. Live-Percussion, Gospel-Chöre, Funk-Basslines – dazu Speechs ruhiger, fast predigender Flow. Southern Hip-Hop, wie ihn später OutKast und Goodie Mob weitertrieben, fängt hier im Grunde schon an. Was mich überrascht: wie gut das Album seine eigene Ernsthaftigkeit aushält, ohne darunter zu ersticken. Bei anderen Konzeptalben dieser Zeit kippt der moralische Anspruch schnell ins Predigende. Hier bleibt genug Groove, um einfach zuzuhören, ohne sich belehrt zu fühlen. Man merkt dem Album an, dass es sich seinen Optimismus erst erarbeiten musste.

2026-09-08: Quite fun underground hip-hop album with a few highlights but sadly besides that it is a bit outdated and a bit boring as well. Right in the middle once again with 3 stars.

#1045. Interesting enough, if you're into that kind of thing, I guess. 3/5: acceptable

Not bad

Not bad… Got a bit redundant after a while

This is fun, but it runs a bit too long.

The lyrics and content are great and all, I just find the music really boring. If more songs were Tennessee-adjacent or a bit bassier that would have improved the experience. As it stands now it's good, and I get it's impact, but I probably won't listen again. 2.7/5 -> 3/5

Interesanti

Dažas dziesmas patika, bet albums pa garu

After (checking notes) 34 years, this still sounds fresh. Arrested Development were a very talented collective of hip hop artists, and this record shows off their talent very well. It may have sounded more adventurous in 1992, but I think it still holds up. Not my favorite genre, but it’s quite listenable and stays interesting. 3.5 stars

Overall, wasn’t massively fussed on this one. Didn’t do much for me and towards the end it really felt like it was going on forever. The one exception was Mr. Wendal. What an absolute belter of a track. Wish the rest of the album had been even half as good.

Decent.

hm

Not bad for a hip-hop album as accompaniment to doing something else, but not really a proper’ listening’ experience for me. Competent but not really exciting. 3

Kind of a mixed bag. Some songs were pretty cool and others a bit annoying

Not really my sort of thing but there were a few tracks that I recognised from my youth. I'm not sure it is necessarily a great album?

I enjoyed this a lot - really great beats and cool style. It's definitely a bit dated and some of the lyrics were pretty cheesy, but in terms of rap/R&B I enjoyed it more than most. Very easy to listen and I would revisit. Top Songs: Mama's Always on Stage, People Everyday, Mr. Wendal, Tennessee

preachy public enemy

Обычно я не слушаю хип-хоп, поэтому ожидания от альбома были низкими. Тем не менее он меня приятно удивил. Альбом звучит очень неплохо, а под конец стал даже лучше, чем в начале

There seems to be a strong social consciousness to this record. Uplifting African Americans while highlighting contemporary social issues. It's celebratory, hopeful, and a powerful reminder to not let go of your roots because they give you your foundation. Do prefer their other contemporaries though like ATCQ and De La Soul.

This was pretty good, I have a soft spot for that early 90s hip hop where things were in a transitional period between the 70s and 80s funk into the urban hip hop style. Lyrics are a bit too preachy for me, but I'm really not part of that culture so he's not singing at me. It's also a product of its time, when inner city crime was a bit priority for a lot of people. I have complex thoughts here but its not really my place to share.

It was alright.

I wanted to like it a lot more than I eventually did. Maybe it started strong and petered out or maybe I just got distracted. I threw this on while mowing and at times it was a fun ride, but at times I started keying in on the chore I was performing. When I mow, I like to be mindless. Low/mid 3 Highs: Mr. Wendal, People Everyday Lows: the run-time when I found myself bored

So called revolutionaries supplying the masses with musical Opium!

Mr Wendel bumps this up slightly

5/10 I didn't hate it as much as Dr Dre, so I guess I know where I would have stood on early 90s hip-hop. The lyrics pass me by, unfortunately, but musically it is upbeat, steals well enough for its highlights

I liked it alright, but then I read that Tennessee is on the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s List of Songs that Shaped Rock” and I’m flabbergasted. May be seminal in a way that I’m oblivious to.

Funky

it was fine.

Got a nice groove but doesn't go anywhere really. Mr Wendal! 3/5

Like it 3/5

Pretty good.

Listened before?: nope Man's Final Frontier - 3/5 Mama's Always on Stage - 4/5 People Everyday - 4/5 Blues Happy - no rating Mr. Wendal - 4/5 Children Play With Earth - 2/5 Raining Revolution - 2/5 Fishin' 4 Religion - 4/5 Give a Man a Fish - 3/5 U - 2/5 Eve of Reality - no rating Natural - 3/5 Dawn of the Dreads - 3/5 Tennessee - 4/5 Washed Away - 3/5 Average score: 3.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ most tracks are pretty forgettable tbh. it's not a bad album on paper but it's doesn't stand out among groups like De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest

another milwaukee-related group. like most of the hip hop albums on this list so far, i appreciate the samples and construction of the songs more than the songs themselves. it was an enjoyable listen tho. i really enjoyed “mr. wendal” and “u”.

Very cool album. Love the messaging and everything. Mr. Wendal, Fishin' 4 Religion and Dawn Of The Dreads are some of my favorites. 6.8/10

Bit like de la soul, but a bit less refined? Enjoyed it

The hip hop act Gen X alternative rock fans loved. They weren’t bad and had an easygoing, but intelligent affect, with relatable liberation politics. But still always felt safe, possibly due to the melodic emphasis, but more that they stood out from the likes of NWA, Cube, etc.

Something about the fact that this came out the same year as The Chronicle is sending me.

Just didn’t need to be an hour long

Crazy I had never heard of this group like ever. Is there a reason for this? What makes them different from other positive, progressive hip-hop artists such as De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest? I think I have the answer. For starters, as other more experienced hip-hop reviewers have pointed out, a lot of the sounds and production is outdated, and the Speech's voice is friendly (referred to as a "gentle genius" in the book but that's really Mayfield's title). I actually LIKE it, as it's oldschool and warm. The lyrics are very positive and critical and the hits are worth the hype. I suppose, as the book points out, they are a precursor to Outkast (also Atlanta-based) in terms of looking back and forward from the black American cultural traditions and making it their own. But, it feels like a relic in the same way as music like Archie Bell & the Drells is. Unfair? Who knows - but as a historical reference, definitely no problem being in this book.

Like Public Enemy this band has strong fight the power political vibes that I dig. Nice beats, lyrics and vocals. I knew the singles but the album as a while is good. Not amazing some flaws maybe a little dated sound wise but overall good message and nice beats.

Anti-gangsta räppiä. Aika positiivisen kuuloista, sanatkin on myönteiset ja aika uskonnolliset. Ihan rentoa, mutta ei kummiskaan mun tyylistä kauheasti. Parhaat: People Everyday, Fishin' For Religion

Entertaining roots of rap - generally enjoyed it 3

Solid album. Though sometimes the albums feel a bit all over the place. Some of the drum tracks in particular are really grating. Others are sublime though. For every track I needed to skip partway through there was another that just gripped me. "People Everyday" was a standout. Great female vocals throughout. The singer on "Tennessee" is amazing.

I guess there's some charm to this type of hip hop

I remember enjoying this when it came out but it didn’t really have any staying power, so hadn’t heard it for years. Revisiting it, I enjoyed it. There are some good tracks here, but about by the half way mark I think it loses its way a little. That said, it’s still strong for what it is. It’s curious how they just seemed to disappear and didn’t go on to continue the success of this album. But yeah, a competent debut and nice to revisit.

Hoo boy. This is a fraught selection! I remember Arrested Development coming out in the early 90s, back when I watched a fairly massive amount of MTV, and these guys were everywhere. Heavy rotation of "Tennessee" and "Mr. Wendal." At the time these guys were great - they didn't fit into the typical hip-hop mold, and seemed to offer something more optimistic and hopeful than gangster rap. I went to Wikipedia to see what awards this album won, becuase I remember that happening and - no mentions at all? It won two Grammies! And two MTV VMA's...... Hmmmm Ok - the album, totally out of context, is fine. It is much less "alt-hip hop" than I thought it would be, based on the singles. Like every other 90s hip hop record it is way too long. I had to skip "U" because of the incredibly annoying two-note piano sample behind that one. I tried giving more of my attention to the lyrics than I normally do with these things and - I found Speech's lyrics to be fairly tiresome. He believes he's found the solution to the troubles of all Black people in America, and it would all be solved if only all the other Black people would just listen to him! One of the most humble-braggy things I've ever heard in my life is from "Tennessee" - and I quote - "I ask you, Lord, why you enlightened me Without the enlightenment of all my folks" Like - gimme a break, man. "Oh God! WHY oh WHY did you make me so brilliant? And all these other folks so DUMB!??!" It's irritating. Anyways. It was fine. The singles were great, the rest was pretty decent. A generous - THREE STARS

This one took me on quite a journey. At first, I really wasn't vibing with it; it sounded like the really old-school hip-hop that sounds too dated to my ears, the whole 'I'm MC and I'm here to say!' kinda thing. And then I got to Mr. Wendal. LOVED that song. An old-school classic for me already. And then I started to like the latter half of the album. It almost sounded like you could hear hip-hop evolving in real time with this album. The roots of that old-school dance-y sound beginning to evolve into what hip-hop would quickly become in the next year or so.

Bastante lindo, que se yo. Me faltó algo de guau en todo. El tema final me encantó. Nota: 3.2

not my style but kinda fun

One of the better hip hop albums on the list. Neat!

Mr. Wendell…best track by a long way

when it's actually a song its fun but theres too much talking.

Nothing really jumped out at me about this but it wasn’t bad

Because "3 Years..." was an early success for an Atlanta hiphop crew, they deserve the "must listen" designation. They were not the first to chart non-violent lyrical content--De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest did that so well, and some years prior. Personally, I wasn't a fan at the time. They sounded too much like a supergroup to the ears I'd trained on the aforementioned Soul and Quest, as well as BDP and Queen Latifah. But I was by no means deep into the extraordinary development of hiphop. Live long and prosper, Arrested Development.

Alternative, conscious, thoughtful hip hop album that can balance fun with message and substance - generally a message of positivity, for peace, community, and unity. Tracks vary in tempo but generally have a groove of sampled drum breaks and basslines that can get you moving. The main vocalist is impressive but not often flashy, he’s got a clear, clean, smooth voice and raps with some melody, but is also capable of spitting long, quick, complex bars with a crisp delivery. He can be a bit direct on on the nose though - he just tells it as it is, which can be corny, preachy, or chill depending on your perspective. Overall, it’s got a sound similar to the Native Tongues stuff, and is just a fun and thoughtful album. But I’d also rather just revisit a few of my favorite songs than listen to the full album regularly.

Был норм, но что-то groundbreaking нет

there was some good parts. early rap just isn’t for me though. it’s just so corny. tracks 6-9 is a pretty solid run though, i think

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? ✅

I always enjoy old school hip hop, this was a new one for me. Funky, upbeat, fun.

i had no expectations going into this, but wow what a vibe

When considered to its time it is good but to my personal preferences its not the cup of tea that id like to go with at hip hop

Thought this album was really fun, counter culture anti gangsta rap with lyrics glorifying spirituality and connection to the earth. Good lyricism and well performed. 3.5 (3) stars

3,5

A solid straight-ahead effort

Fun and different, the obvious stand out songs becoming hits

Not a bad listen, quite enjoyable in places. Certainly on the more listenable side of hip hop

If you want to spend 22 more minutes on Arrested Development, check out this very entertaining episode of Todd In The Shadows' "Trainwreckords": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqKPkVzJnN8&pp=ygUodG9kZCBpbiB0aGUgc2hhZG93cyBhcnJlc3RlZCBkZXZlbG9wbWVudNIHCQk5CwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

And the review goes mild.

7/10 - Its a really fun album. Catchy, and dance-able. I want to listen to this in a dark room and read along with the lyrics. I get glimpses of some really deep topics Fav Tracks: U, People Everyday, Mr. Wendal Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅ Album Cover -------Where's Mr. Bateman?

Another quite fun album. I like this kind of 90's hip hop. Favorite Songs: People Everyday ; Mr Wendal

3.5

3.5

Production is great, delivery is good. Everything works and has aged well, but I can't get over the lyrics. Points for doing positive stuff, but it's just so preachy.

I would like to give it a 3.5 but I don't feel like rounding up to 4 I like the sound but for the most part it's not super catchy to me, I also would like to be surprised more, songs sound interesting but get a bit boring imo, as much as I can enjoy long songs I don't have the same patience with repeated samples tbh fishin 4 religion is my favourite track

Quite a bit of fun. I really enjoy the production, especially how it sounds now (where it is a bit lower resolution).. it's a dusty sound but in a way I hadn't heard before. It's a new type of old, and that's exciting. My excitement waned over time.

This is fun, great beats and bombastic sound. Some of the religious messaging is a little too strong for my taste but not enough to stop me from enjoying the record.

There are a few classics on this album. Really different to a lot of things that were out of the time and still stands out.

I'm going 3 stars even though playing the same folk fest twice 15 years apart makes a hip hop group look real corny

yeah it's fine

Some was pretty fun, but overall I wasn’t that captured by it.

Very powerful messages, groovy Favourite track: Fishin 4 Religion

I liked listening to it. I’m not a big hip hop guy but I really enjoyed the soul influenced beats. Speech also had some good observations about the world. I was a little tired by the end, feel like it could have used some trimming.

..

Cool for someone who likes african rap

I didn’t mind this one. It was innovative in its time and I appreciate they were contrasting from the early 90s gansta rap stuff which is a big positive straight up. I remember Mr Wendel well and even Give a man a fish did moderately well even in Australia. Good effort

The singles are great but the rest of this album suffers from really thin sampling: "Here. Have the same hook 150 times in 3 minutes."

Ich mag das Album eigentlich sehr, die beats und der Vibe generell machen einfach spaß. aber die Lyrics.. puh.. ich weiß nicht

Arrested Development are considered little more than a footnote in alternative hip hop history today, so it's easy to forget that this album sold millions and cleaned up at the award shows. The press genuinely thought this was the direction rap was going to go. Of course, we can't discount the press' attempt to distance hip hop from gangsta rap, the sub-genre that became the true herald of 90s hip hop. This album came out in the intermediate period between the 80s old school and the eventual gangsta takeover. Evidently, this is a very Afrofuturist record, conjuring up images of fists raised in the air, dashikis and Black Panther slogans. The music contained within is surprisingly mellow and offers a contemplative look at the social issues plaguing Black Americans in the early 90s. Despite the associated imagery, this record is less intent on calling a listener to direct action as much as it invites them to think about what's really going on. The cause is noble enough, though there's a fairy thick veneer of soapboxing and preachiness permeating this album. I mean, the frontman literally named himself Speech...! His raps have aged the most bizarrely, with some of them fitting right into music that came out years later while others are firmly dated to 1992 in both style and subject matter (that magical Black man allegory on "Mr. Wendal" is the prime example.) I actually appreciate this album being included on this list, because it offers a look into the general vibe and attitude of rap as it entered a new, more prolific decade. Though Arrested Development is largely confined to the memory holes of the early 90s, they played a vital part in shaping what would eventually become the gold standard alternative hip-hop style. Key Tracks: Mama's Always on Stage, U, Tennessee

Pretty cool beats, uses of samples and melodies. Nothing really standout but might give it another go.

Went back and forth between 3 and 4 for this one. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it quite a bit for an album/artist that I've never heard of. That being said none of the songs really stood out enough to me to be a huge fan of it.

for me, this is very much a part of hip-hop history, but it is important to view it as such. This isn't comparable to Lupe Fiasco which I had straight after this, and it certainly cannot be looked at in the same lens as 2020s HH. I like it, but conscious rap that makes you very aware that they're not like one of those guys, a pick me, does and will always grate. Great sounds and textures but this isn't as fun or adventurous as it likes to think it is.

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: People Everyday, Give A Man A Fish Good beats and okay rhyming/lyrics, but maybe a little too socially conscious. Or maybe it's just most of the songs seem increasingly particularly relevant these days :/ God, reality is so depressing. I don't exactly consume and listen to music to escape reality, but this is nearly an hour of decently heavy shit to process: homelessness, religion, making ends meet, motherhood, however you conceptualize the story being told in People Everyday, with a guy and his girlfriend having to confront a group of.. disrespecting hooligans, while trying to mind their own business, the raising of children with certain ideals (or not). I don't dislike or hate this, but I am not in love with it either. I think I would rather go listen to A Tribe Called Quest, Atmosphere (Slug and Ant), De La Soul or Mos Def.

This album was goooooood and made me feel like dancing!!! It also really reminded me of Digable Planets

Fine

this was a lot, but it was mostly good?

Funky and precise in it's sound, this album is squarely in the middle of 90's hip hop. It pushes no boundaries and sounds exactly like one would expect for a band/production agency trying to create an album for broad appeal. It stays inside its lane and doesn't exert itself to make a strong point or convey a controversial message. Some of the songs are little too long and overstay their welcome, but overall it was a fun album to hear.

Parts are kind of funky, and get me vibing along. But then, a lot of the songs, and especially lyrics, are just super dated and corny. I was not alive when this came out, so I don’t have a nostalgic feeling for the record. To me, a lot of it starts to sound like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme. I get what they were going for, and it’s certainly not terrible. I did really like Mr Wendal. But, as a whole, it’s pretty dated and doesn’t hold up. 2.8/5.

Lidt i stil med Public Enemy. Hvis det skal være sample-scratchy rap, er det sådan noget her, der er festligt nok at lytte til.

This was the perfect album for a nice warm spring weekend in the UK. I remember the album coming out in the early 90’s and it not really being my thing. I think Mr Wendal was everywhere, all the time! And that sort of got on my nerves but it was very refreshing to hear the song again after 34 years and it still sounded great as did the album. Maybe a touch to long…

It was creative but i js dont like the repetitive loud drums thats in every song

Hip hop with a message

Mommy, I want to listen to A Tribe Called Quest. We have A tribe Called Quest at home.

Never heard of this band but this was kind of fun. Wholesome feel good funky rap. Nothing blew me away, but I quite enjoyed it. Almost four stars.

Day831 - mr wendell and tennessee were nostalgic listens. the rest of the album wasn’t as good as i remember

I've long loved Mr. Wendal, Tennessee and People Everyday (unfortunately the single version is much better than the album one) but the rest of this album let me down. I appreciate the positive vibes but a little preachy and weak at times.

Sure, it's ok.

Pretty relaxed and positive hip hop, I like that in general. I actually knew "People everyday" before Sly Stone's original and found it great. It's much too long, though, and the lyrics are too preachy and religious for my taste. Still like it way better than anything by Kanye, Biggie or all the other mysoginist guys.

This was genuinely great. You can feel the groundwork being laid for bands like Outkast and Black Eyed Peas, but less pop-y. Really good stuff.

Favorite Track: Tennessee

softer rap

ok

64/100. I liked the overall meaning behind the album. An interesting record that moves at a surprisingly slow pace for hip hop, even by the standards of its time. It leans more into message and atmosphere than energy. Thoughtful and respectable, just not something I would listen to again.

I like it. Great vocals, simple, peaceful lyrics, with a touch of pride, angst, and humor. I could do without the god priase, but I enjoy the vibe.

It felt preachy in 1992 and it feels preachy today. The production is fun, but repetitive. There's a couple of bops.

2.5

This album is just straight-up fun to listen to. It made me feel happy, hopeful, and kinda proud all at the same time. There’s this warm, groovy energy that runs through the whole thing — funky samples, live percussion, and those sunny soulful hooks that make you want to nod your head and smile even when the topics get heavy. It’s not really a strict concept album with one continuous story, but the whole record revolves around Black life, African roots, and the everyday struggles people go through. Speech and the crew talk about spirituality, family, homelessness, respecting women, staying connected to nature, and fighting for a better way without ever sounding preachy or depressing. Instead, they wrap it all in this positive, uplifting vibe that feels like a celebration of Black culture and resilience. Tracks like “Tennessee,” “People Everyday,” and “Mr. Wendal” hit different — they make you think but also keep the party going. The production is so alive and organic compared to a lot of hip-hop from that era. It’s funky, soulful, and full of life. In a time when gangsta rap was taking over, this felt like a breath of fresh air. It still sounds fresh today. If you need some music that lifts your spirits while reminding you what really matters, put this one on. Pure joy mixed with real substance.

I remember owning this at the time, it was probably one of my first albums and I may have even owned on cassette tape. Mr Wendal remains a great song and is worthy of a revisit alone. People Everyday is also good but it sounded different to how I remember it which confused me but I later realised the single was a remix. This has many plus points but at the end of the day, there must be a reason why it’s been a good 30 years since I last listened.

Tough record to review. I liked the first half a lot, while it started to feel repetitive in the second one. I love modern conscious hip hop, but i didn't know this retro classic. It feels a bit outdated, but I'm glad i gave it a listen.

I can't believe I had never heard these guys before. This is right up my alley for old school rap. I liked Mr. Wendal for sure.

A good time

this is super fun! i like the laid-back feeling...maybe due to the southern genre? i really enjoyed listening to the lyrics too. i don't think the beats here were the mooost compelling of some of the hip hop albums we've heard especially from the 90s, but this was also 92 so I have to remember where things were at the time and this might've been more interesting comparatively back then.

Donc, aujourd'hui, c'était 3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of..., d'Arrested Development. Donc on parle ici d'un groupe dont je n'avais jamais entendu parler. Si j'en crois la description de Wikipédia, c'est un album qui a grandement participé à populariser le rap du sud des États-Unis, avec un style et un état d'esprit un peu différent. Je sais pas si mon écoute a été influencée par cette description, mais j'ai senti cette différence. Le ton était plus positif, plus joyeux que ce que j'ai pu entendre jusque-là. Est-ce que c'est ça que j'étais censé entendre comme différence ? En tout cas, c'était fort sympathique !

Meh

cooler hip-hop, jedoch teilweise etwas eintönig.

Wasn't expecting old school hip hop married with some truly eccentric beats, but it's got me moving. Mr. Wendal has addicting drums and nice little melodies - it's subtle with quirky vocal samples and a simple bassline. I can't say I like all of this, but it's certainly progressive in its approach. Good when it gets a bit more uptempo - Fishin' 4 Religion has a real groove to it & an aggressive flow. It can almost be too much at times, 'U' brings lightning quick rapping and layers of beats and samples, a sparse piano riff over it. But then Eve Of Reality is a slow, atmospheric instrumental with forest sounds and flute. I wish we had more of this! Natural follows with some pretty chill beats too. The closer leans more into the African sound that was threaded through this. I still dont' know how much I really like it, but it gets points for not sounding like any other hip hop album I can name.

I liked a lot of this but the preacher sitting backwards on his chair vibe kind of killed the momentum to higher rating.

This feels like attending a fun, education-based party where I don't fit in at all and everyone is wondering who let me in. We covered lots of important topics like parenting, social justice, income inequality, the environment, geography, and religion. But we did it all while shaking our learning butts to a positive and groovy beat. I wake up the next day wondering if it ever happened at all or if it was just a fever dream but I'm suddenly nice as fuck to my fellow citizens and believe in god. 3.9

Fun

I saw this band well past their halcyon days in a double bill with Chumbawamba at a festival. They shared the stage, like at the same time. It was such an odd pairing but more entertaining than it had a right to be. Both groups were surprisingly talented and mixed well together. Anyway, I don’t find the songs here to be all that memorable but the vibe is mostly positive. This is acceptable music to put on and feel good.

Pretty fun, liked Mama’s Always on Stage.

Expectations were low coming in. This wasnt bad! The samples were really cool. Lots of James Brown. Some corny “clean rap” stuff, but I found it mostly refreshing. Mr Wendal was cool. I liked U.

I appreciated the samplings and my wife was bouncing around the room to this album. And there's really nothing wrong with that, quite frankly.

Great message. Good album.

I don't know much about hiphop but quite liked this fun album which has great beats. It also aged pretty well. It's a bit too long though as it's usually my problem with many post-90s albums.

High quality early hip hop. Every song is fun, but the lyrics are just so cheesy on a lot of them that it’s hard to get to a 4. Good album though.

3 out of 5. Didn't know what to expect but didn't hate it either.

2.71

Okay very good songs at the end mix was bad on some songs

mm idk, this didn't do much for me personally. It's certainly not bad! The production is light and funky albeit pretty dated. It's just that outside of "People Everyday" and "Tennessee" there wasn't much here that really stood out to me. "Teach a man to fish" had a decent message but also was a bit too repetitive and a little corny for me to take seriously. I think at the end of the day there just wasn't much for me to connect to, as a white atheist.

Funky but dated in parts.

3/5, cool. Some pretty interesting things. Something about killing baptists? Wild

All around solid

It’s got that nice bouncy 90’s hip hop sound down. Kinda locks it in time vibe wise but it’s fun

Было весело, но быстро надоело. Немного обнообразно. Семплы, живые инструменты, характерный для 90-х речитатив. Я вернусь к этому позже и, возможно, изменю оценку.

When the song Tennessee was released I came to the realization that rap could include other genres. It was so refreshing. At the time, I should have explored their music more but I there were other groups that captured my interest. Listening to this album for the first time I found the few catchy and fun songs aren't carrying the entire album enough for me to add it to my listening rotation.

Me gusto este disco de hip hop, la onda que transmite y la sintonia en que se encuentran todas las canciones y me parecio muy llamativo la presencia del bajo en muchas canciones.

Loved the beat production and some of the flows on this album, but underneath it all there is this strange sense of 90s corniness that’s kinda hard to get over. It kinda feels like if the Veggie Tale characters tried to make a politically charged album. The sentiment feels a bit too hippy dippie and lacks any rigor.

A hip hop album that starts super fun but gets progressive staler. The first handful of tracks are super fun and funky. The beats sound very uplifting and the rappers have very charismatic deliveries and flows. To make a comparison, another band that this reminded my of is The Pharcyde. The lyrics are also great, having both very positive and critic messages. "Mama's Always on Stage" talks about supporting a young mother and his newborn, "Mr Wendal" about helping the poor and "Fishin' 4 Religion" is a fantastic criticism against religion and about how followers are learnt to cope with their problems instead of searching for solutions and changes. There are some other songs that include some great social and political commentary, but I think these three stand out the most, at least for me. My problem with this album is how it loses steam as it moves forwards, with few moments having the same energy as the first couple of songs, and the tracks after "U" being quite forgettable, both in terms of beats and rapping delivery, and even sounding very quiet. So while I think this is a great album, it is quite a shame it wasn't able to hold up the energy from the initial part.

The two hits from this record still rattle around in my head over 30 years later, occasionally resurfacing when a word or phrase spins them up like an old hard drive. There's something to be said for that kind of staying power even if you don't consistently listen to the group or even the album very much. The rest of the record is well-played jazzy hip-hop that was gaining ground at this time. But unlike De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, this record never hit my airwaves outside of the videos I caught on MTV or the hits on the radio. This seems like something I would have been all over had I given it the time of day at the time.

Overall it’s a sure for me dog

Socially Conscious Rap - good!

de spass isch schomal am durredrucke! falls die ganze 55 min so sind weiss nöd öbs mi iwenn nervt aber s isch schona cool de gsang bi mr. wendal isch mega geiil es isch würkli soo andersch als de vorherrschendi rap zu dere ziit hahaha ich bin chli hii- und hergrisse, es verbreitet echt gueti luune und find sie hend na cooli samples/bgvs aber leider jimmt mi jz wenig würkli mit U isch glichzitig nervig und sehr cool gsi guess what: es isch z lang dawn of the dreads het en geileee ahfang poaah de schluss het sich zoge jaa schlecht ischs nöd gsi

6/10

вроде интересно звучит, занимательно, хип-хоп за столько времени перетерпел много изменений, сравнить с нынешним было бы просто глупо. но я быстро устала от него. забавные порой корни текста, но он имеет некое настроение, посыл, который шел врознь с тем, что подавали в хип хопе тогда

I get that this was of a time, this was early 90s, so actually these guys were ahead of their time in my opinion. This sounds like late 90s backpack rap, it’s not subtle with its messages, and it’s unabashedly corny. It’s not my favorite thing but I commend them for being true to themselves.

Didn’t love it, but I enjoyed it.

6/10 Favorite: People Everyday

There are definitely some fun things on this album and it's definitely different (in a refreshing way) than much of the other 90s rap we've been getting. But an hour is probably too long for this because it creates too much interstitial space between the high points.

Sounds a bit outdated even by 90's standards. 3/5

I can appreciate how this jovial and spiritually-inclined collective helped divert hip hop away from some of the aggressive and negative trends of the time. It set open a fresh, free-form horizon that was somewhere between the serious, heavy-handed exhortations of Public Enemy and De La Soul's jolly, juvenile skits. Anyway, looking back, 'Tennessee' was revolutionary at the time, but seem unremarkable now.

sehr close an 2 sterne aber es hat mir jetzt zumindest keine schmerzen bereitet

The big singles were certainly a nostalgia trip. A bit dated but overall, a decent early 90s album.

90s hip hop. Southern hip hop, distinct from gangsta rap, is more spiritual. Interesting instrumental elements. Pretty mellow.

EI EU ADORO ESSA SERIE FAVS (top 3): mr. wendal, raining revolution, U mençoes honrosas: man's final frontier, mama's always on stage, fishin 4 religion, give a man a fish, dawn of the dreads um hiphopzinho bem dahorinha nota final: 3.5/5

Had been a while since I revisited this album. Closer to a 2.75 for me. Cool ideas, great rapping, but something about it felt a little dated and not as exciting as I remembered. Mr. Wendel and Tennessee are for sure the standout tracks.

I didn’t save anything but it was a nice listen. Definitely different. Strong 3.

Good stuff, and a good representation of this era of social issues focused hip hop

I enjoyed the first half of this but then honestly it just dragged. I like the sentiment of Arrested Development and what they were doing and I think the sound is interesting and does draw you in but you can have too much of a good thing I'd say. Still, I did enjoy it and so want to give it a 3.

Koselig plate, men en god del av låtene er ikke noe særlig.

It was a good record. Pretty different from the rest of the hip-hop albums from that era.

Gutes Album... Nur nicht meins

Chilly light sight of 90s hip hop

2.6/2.7 cheesy

3 years, 3 stars. If they waited two more years I might've given more.

It's good, but I think old school hip hop just isn't really my thing

A treat of a classic hip-hop album. Can't give it more than a three in good conscience, but I enjoyed this one.

bello come sottofondo

Liked

Yeah cool but weird and too noisy for me??

As usual with old school hip hop, I find it fun for like…a song or two… then it starts getting really repetitive and uninteresting to me. 3/5 Highlights: Mr. Wendal U Dawn Of The Dreads

Decently fun, though not really warranting an hour's length

Genre: Conscious Hip Hop Generally, this brand of hip hop, the early 90s sort of boom-bap stuff, is not for me. But this is so earnest, and so well-meaning, that it's hard to hate. Christian Hip Hop is not a bygone genre, and in fact these guys were sort of on the cutting edge. Albums like Donda, artists like Lecrae, this stuff lives on. This was a fun listen, and again just too positive to hate. 3/5

Let's try to start again. We'll see how it works... First of all, let's appreciate that album cover. I am quit ambivalent about this early hip hop record usually. But I really enjoy this one so far. The beats are consistently great and the vocal delivery and verses are cool. It's all flowing very well. Doesn't feel aged like many of It's contemporaries that I've heard before. Track 9 "Coz we're worked real hard to get this far We're catching the bus before we bought the car", what a great line. 10, 11 go a bit less exiting. Level remains high since 12. It's a very nice listening experience. I do think overall the second half is a bit weaker than the first, but not by much. A nice strong 3.4 to get back to business

Don't really like it much but it is kind of okay. 3 stars or C-.

Vary prince of bellair but it’s fun it’s rap and hip hop

Mr. Wendell trekker masse opp

rap anni 90 con molta critica sociale, non il top per me ma si apprezza sempre

I'll take this over "Gansta rap" anyday. Can get repetitive and the delivery could be better but it's a solid album. Definitely of its time. 3/5.

Very funky , bathed in sunshine

Scratching sounds is definitely something you don't hear anymore, and I think it's for the better. Overall very 90s sounding record. Playful and cheerful. Got some decent tunes in there, but also a lot of jibberish. You definitely get tired of the formula after a while. The record is firing in many different directions, so it's hard to have a cohesive vision of what the album is when finishing it. Very in the middle experience to me, with some good stuff and some not-so-good.

I don't hate this as much as some people, there's some pretty good production on this thing, quite memorable just the vocal performance is a little lackluster

The album kind of got repetitive and ran on. But the first half had some fun jams and beats. Appreciate the goal and message of the album, even if the religious content became a little much at times.

Fresh and earnest hip-hop that may have had only a moment in the sun, but was a fun alternative to gangsta. Kind of like if P.M. Dawn had come back a bit closer to Earth. "Tennessee" still bangs and it sounds more energetic than the rest of the album, which does groove into repetition too often. But it's great to listen to if you want to warp back to the early '90s.

Now I have a solid rebut when people claim hip hop is aggressive and out of touch with its softer side. I didn’t know any tracks here until Tennessee, which rang bells deep in my memory and sent me plummeting back to my childhood. Awesome.

I quite enjoyed that

Not 4 me