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

The contrast between this and The Chronic is pronounced. I enjoyed it, it has a fun beat, and it wasn't inherently hostile right off the bat.

Ok, much better albums around this time in the same genra

Quite enjoyed listening to this while cleaning the gaff

This album always feels more interesting thinking about it compared to listening to it. The approach and overall vibe of this album is really great, but it doesn't come to it's full potential often enough imo. The hits here are really great and it's an album that easily listens away. No real bad tracks and the big hits are fun. Speech may not be the best rapper to ever do it, but he has a pleasant flow and some attention grabbing hooks. Still, there's a number of Hip Hop albums from this very year I'd listen to before it.

I remember first hearing of Arrested Development because they wanted to sue the people making the comedy show for using the same name. I never listened to the music until now, and to be honest I wanted to dislike them simply because I love the show. However, this was a pretty fun album to listen to. It had very similar vibes to other hip hop bands of this era, making me wonder if Arrested Development were actually a much bigger group than I realised. It’s not quite on par with Wu Tang and NWA, but it’s not miles off.

Good

well it was nice but it did not leave an impression

The greatest discovery on this album was playing the track ''Mr. Wendal', and immediately remembering the time an old school-friend had played the intro to me in his house one time, and how he loved the 'WaaAAahhH' bit. I'd wondered on that track a few times over the years, and now I know what it's from. A nice little slice of nostalgia there. Anyway! Broadly I think this is pretty fun, and it's quite a nice listen. I like how upbeat it is. Lots of funky grooves, and interesting music. 3.5 rounded down.

For rap this is actually pretty decent! It’s not really for me, but I can get why this one is on the list. Solid 3

This album is a time capsule, and a little preachy. It is unique for the time (the positivity!), but just seems so dated. 3/5

Absolutely fascinating album concept and ethos for this group. I think you have to take the bad with the good here in terms of it's message. It's a bit like the 12 step AA process - effective messaging up until the parts about god, which is where it gets divisive. "People Everyday" is the first example of some surprisingly good production on this album. Especially for the early 90's, the production choices and beats are surprisingly timeless and mostly unobtrusive! "Fishin' 4 Religion" is my favorite here purely for it's beat. It's got a great pocket, great groove, and whether thats a sample or just a looped vocal in the background, it's fantastic. I think it's a fair critique of organized religion too? It's kinda hard to parse through it all, so much is said here. But I like the idea that he feels comfortable enough to recognize some good things about general religion whilst pointing out the many flaws large churches tend to have. Any which way about it, it's a nodder. "Give A Man A Fish" got a bit existential for me as a listener. To realize this album was made over 35 years ago, and many of the societal questions and injustices this song brings up havent been anymore solved today - it was a lot to take in. Especially the lyric "raise your fist but also raise your children so when you die the movement moves on / cuz with the revolution aint no future in front of yall / direct your anger love nothings ever built on hate instead love your life tackle the government the spooks that break down the door are heaven sent". Wow! That's a lot to swallow in a few bars. So many thoughts come up about the movements of today that weren't around then, but this still could be directed at. That was when this album was at it's best. It's not all interesting conscious bars though. This group kinda hammers it into your head over and over again that family and faith are the answer to everything. Also the song "Natural" gets strangely horny and im not even sure if it's trying to be a commentary on lust or if he's just actually supeer horny, there wasnt enough nuance for me to tell? This certainly shouldnt be a rappers rap album either, my ears arent great for this but I know that it's not super varied or intricate in it's delivery, which makes the length of the album a bit hard to slog through at times. All in all, I commend this album for the amount of prolems it takes on in the world, whether I agree with all it's solutions or not. There's something to be said for any art that attempts to take the route of grounded peace and doesnt come off completely corny - at least not the whole time. Interesting 3/5

solid!

Positive hip-hop, somewhere between De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Dream Warriors (East Coast) and Outkast, Goodie Mob, Little Brother (Southern), Arrested Development arrived at the gangsta juncture of rap's evolution. While they're no bums when it comes to constructing catchy tracks, their anti-gangsta crusade is both unsubtle and uninformed: 'But he wouldn't stop and I ain't Ice Cube / But I had to take the brother out for being rude.' The genius of hip-hop manifests thru the convergences of opposites: Ice Cube coexists w/ Digable Planets, Above the Law w/ A Tribe Called Quest. Gangsta is not necessarily 'anti-black.' Speech is a funky moralist, but he is also self-righteous. Best track by far: 'Fishin' 4 Religion.' True & groovy.

2.5/3

Smooth

This is overall a good album, but every song lasts a minute or two too long, which causes the album to last 20 minutes too long.

This album was just a mess for me. It just couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. I know AD was innovative in early hip hop but it just seems like a lot of unnecessary noise now. It’s fun to go back for a listen, but it just didn’t hold up as to something I was happy to hear again. Tennessee will always be a radio favorite, but the rest I could leave behind.

I was so into Mr. Wendel as a kid I convinced my parents to get this for me from Columbia House. But I think this was the first time I’ve listened to the whole record. And it’s fine. Not as good as ATCQ or De La Soul - but similar in feel.

Surprisingly good

Some songs on here I kind of like. The positivity makes it a little easier to enjoy.

What kept this album from being truly great is its length, it's about 20 minutes too long.

honestly not a terrible album

Takie 3/5. Nic szczególnego, ale też nie męczy

Not my thing, but overall not a bad album.

I liked the beats, it was finally a hip hop album that didn't run itself into the ground with the same idea played over and over for 50 minutes, but the vocal delivery felt vey dated.

Only really knew the hits from this record, but overall I liked the vibe and empowerment message. Washed Away was a good closer.

Very listenable slice of Native Tongues-influenced rap, with three big singles.

It was OK

Some good stuff but a little padded.

01) Man's Final Frontier - 6,0 02) Mama's Always on Stage - 7,0 03) People Everyday - 8,0 04) Blues Happy - / 05) Mr. Wendal - 9,0 06) Children Play with Earth - 6,5 07) Raining Revolution - 7,5 08) Fishin' 4 Religion - 7,0 09) Give a Man a Fish - 7,0 10) U - 7,0 11) Eve of Reality - 6,0 12) Natural - 7,5 13) Dawn of the Dreads - 7,0 14) Tennessee - 10,0 15) Washed Away - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,36 (74/100) Current ranking: 269/523

It’s been quite some time since I listened to 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of...by Arrested Development. I’d pretty much relegated them to the group who does the song Tennessee. A song I still enjoy from time to time. I remember when this came out in ‘92. I even owned the CD for a while. It was different, funky and had something to say. And while I liked it, the majority of the music didn’t seem to stick with me long term. Part of the disconnect, I think, was I didn’t feel the music was really meant for a twenty something white boy. And I was probably too immature to appreciate it. So after listening to 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... for this project, I think my appreciation did improve. The funky beats still land. The album still flows nicely. The message still feels positive, but also a little preachy. It sounds 90’s, but not dated. All in all, I do still like it. However, while my appreciation might’ve gone up, I still don’t feel like I’d play this album any more frequently than before. Therefore, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... by Arrested Development will get a 3 rating for me. 3/5

I always liked this band.

it really had its place at his time but i feel this one album fades away for me but it has still good jams and tunes. Not really listenable on repeat or casually for me. (2.5/5.0)

Rentoa ja aurinkoista räbää! 3.5/5

enjoyable! Not my all time favorite but has a lot of charm

Funky hip hop with depth in the lyrics. The funk beats and bass had me bumping the whole time. Definitely seems like an influence to Outkast among others, very forward for it's time

I've never listened to this album the whole way through before and I had no idea there was so much god in it. Even though I think 90's hip hop really was the best... this one just doesnt really do it for me.

Preachy, self-congratulatory, embarrassingly “deep” lyrics that haven’t aged particularly well. But at least it sounds good. Production and soundscape rules. Easy to listen to.

good but not really my vibe

joa, ganz nett; kamen auch ein paar Erinnerungen hoch :-)

Pretty good upbeat rap. Bye bye

Listened to this on an early-morning flight, and it helped put me to sleep... And I somehow mean that as a compliment. Some cool sounds and chill vibes on this record.

Vastly preferred the 2nd half to the 1st.

3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... has a chill, jazzy vibe that definitely reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest — just not quite as polished or memorable. The positive messages are cool, and there’s no denying Arrested Development had a unique sound when this came out. But overall, the album feels a little uneven and hasn’t aged as well as some of its early ‘90s hip hop peers. Still, a solid listen if you're into conscious rap with a laid-back flow. That said, tracks like “Tennessee” and “Mr. Wendal” still hold up and offer a nice dose of nostalgia. It’s clear they were trying to do something different in a genre that was heading in a more aggressive direction, and I respect that. I just wish the rest of the album packed the same punch those standout songs did.

Low 3 The vibe is good. I have nothing bad to say about it, but nothing feels great either

nifunifa

ta bueno, medio monotono

Dejlig befriet for Gangsta Rappens stupide toksiske maskulinitet. People Everyday og Mr. Wendal er fede sange. Desværre er den førstnævnte markant bedre i det mix der blev sendt ud som single, end det der er på albummet. Resten af albummet virker lidt ligegyldigt.

-this is some of the most polite rap I have ever heard lmao… I do rather enjoy the early 90s Southern sound buuut it’s a little underdeveloped here -some of the songs hit very hard and I like what they did with the beats and unique sounds. I definitely didn’t dislike it! but prob wouldn’t listen to the whole thing again idk -Favorites are Mr. Wendel, Give A Man A Fish, and Washed Away

Has its moments. Better than some other shit on here.

it's funny, because i actually follow arrested development's very good contemporary releases, but I've never really listened to their earlier stuff, and i now feel like that was probably the correct course of action; the very rare act that has actually gotten better in their later career, it seems. this is not bad but it's very very much of its time. at times it even dips into the kind of sound you always hear in parodies of old school hip hop. again, it's good, but you're better off going and giving For The FKN Love and Bullets In The Chamber a shot

This is a different style of rap from back in the day. It’s more positive and fun and was a nice listen. The album could have used some editing down on the number of songs in the back half and overall, it was a little too preachy.

Solid positive hip-hop in the vein of A Tribe Called Quest or De La Soul, just a lot less interesting then those, both in rapping and production. A few bangers but nothing special outside of those.

Great title!!! Some great songs, has its place on the list but I feel the overall production could be better!

Not really my thing, but one of the better hip hop albums on this list. I got through it, but not something I will listen to again. 3/5

Tennessee, People Everyday, and Mr. Wendal are bangers. Tennessee was one of the first songs I saved on Spotify. However, the rest of the album doesn’t really match up as well. ATCQ does “positive” hip hop better imo. I heard Mr. Wendal and was like “this is so Schoolhouse Rock influenced” and then they sampled the verb song in U and my theory was confirmed

Religious tinged 90's hip hop (my favourite because I can understand the lyrics) People Everyday Mr. Wendal Fishin' for Religion

Magari capolavoro maximus ma non ho vibrato, potrebbe essere colpa mia

As far as hip-hop goes, this was definitely the opposite of "hardcore". It was very chill and easy to listen to. I would say the lyrics and general contents of the album reflect this much more "at ease" approach to hip-hop, as well. Looking at this album and its influence on particular subgenres of hip-hop, it's easy to tell that this is yet another album that is on this project due to its historical significance. Once again, I wish this project focused more on albums that are noteworthy listening experiences rather than historically important listening. In my mind, they're not always the same thing. But I digress. All in all, the album was a pleasant listen, though I wouldn't really say I "loved" it.

In the 1990s, I mentally filed Arrested Development under “rap for people who don’t really like rap”, but after listening to this album, I can see that was unfair - there’s some good stuff on here. I still think Mr Wendall is patronising though.

6/6

I owned the CD when it first hit and I only listened to who tracks on it with any regularity. I see why as I listen to the whole thing now. There is a lot of not catchy stuff in here. The good is really good though.

good ol' school bops

3.5

To me, this is generic Hip-Hop, kind of what I was expecting. Though I don't have a passion for the music, at least it was fun, the beats were infectious and the songs were ok. I don't have an issue with this album at all, it's fine, it's good, but it might be another 3 years, 5 months and 2 days until I spin this again.

If you can get past the extremely dated production, at times going as far to even claim something is a "funky bass line" when it's played on a Casio, you'll probably enjoy this album. It's an interesting piece of hip hip history where the imprint is clearly heard across future records in the genre. That said, I think this one drags on a bit too long, especially in the later half. You have four 4+ minute tracks to end the album that probably could've been cut to punctuate it a bit better. It's fun, but maybe not essential to this list.

Not my favorite flavor of hip-hop, yet its unwavering theme of positivity and empowerment breathes fresh air, without veering preachy or overwrought.

Funky jazzy hippy, kult

More likable than expected tbh

definitely some good songs. some boring. decent. thought I would have liked it more though

There are a lot of good beats here, and the album is packed with melody, harmony, and great energy. But wow is it corny, and the preachiness really is too much sometimes. My view of this group is possibly colored by Todd in the Shadows’ review of this album’s follow-up, Zingalamaduni, but songs like People Everyday and U definitely make me understand why they drove some people nuts when they were popular. Best song: Tennessee

Some sick bass grooves and classic hip hop vibes. Sometimes the hooks are kinda corny but still a decent listen.

Never been a huge fan of the spiritual hip hop scene, but Tennessee is a damn good song.

I can't remember when I last heard anything from AD. It's not the usual, angry hip-hop/rap stuff one was used to back then—maybe a bit too much love and peace, but still quite pleasant: interesting writing, good production, and some nice voices.

kinda mid but some songs were ok

dont really see myself listening to this again but it was fine

Dated and forgettable

socially conscious hip hop. a fun listen.

Had this as a teen and enjoyed it. Still like it but some of it is pretty annoying,

I walked into this listen fully expecting to be a hater. Arrested Development is one of those well-known One Album Wonders™️ who you know of if you’re into their genre, but who you also know you never really need to get around to listening to because, like all One Album Wonders, they’re bugs trapped in amber, products of their era. As an avid fan of VH1 countdown shows during my pre-teen years, I was well aware of Arrested Development even before I became a hip-hop fan. And even then, just over a decade after its release, 3 Years, 5 Months, And 2 Days In The Life Of… was already dismissed as something no one ever needed to revisit. It wasn’t a joke, but almost was; it wasn’t bad, but it was definitely dated; it wasn’t essential listening, but it was essential to know about and yet also not worth going out of your way to find in the $1 bin at your local FYE. So, despite knowing about this group and their brief meteoric popularity, I never felt compelled to seek this out. So I’ll admit, I was kind of shocked that this album isn’t absolute trash. The beats are all pretty good, with intricate live instrumentation and unique approaches to samples and beat structures. Speech’s flow may be a bit dated, but he’s able to switch it up and can be an interesting rapper. And the vocals really do add something to this. On a passive listen, it’s pretty solid. Mind you, this style of hippie-esque hip-hop is very much not for me 99% of the time, and as a white woman, I’m not the target audience for the Afro-Centric angle, but I can acknowledge that it’s doing these things well, and better than I expected based on the retrospective criticism. Mind you, it never reaches the peak of a Tribe, or a De La Soul, or even a Digable Planets, and sometimes it’s a bit too sonically cluttered, but it’s mostly enjoyable to listen to on face value. The knock against Arrested Development is their preachiness. It’s been the knock against them since 1993. Early ‘90s hip-hop had a habit of being woke in a way that aged rapidly, and I think that’s because those values were teenage worldviews. The majority of the Native Tongues were in their late teens when they first gained popularity. Arrested Development came much, much later in the movement, and Speech was in his mid-20s when this came out. In many ways, the messaging on 3 Years has a stink of immaturity mixed with exhausting martyrdom because it lacks a lot of the complex nuance of a real, fully formed personal ideology. It’s just talking points straight off of a pamphlet without any unique self-reflection or critical thought. I get the impression that a Political Science major who was on a high school debate team could very easily convince Speech to change his opinions, because these all feel like they’re not strongly held beliefs, but rather beliefs held for the moment because at the moment, they are the beliefs “cool” people hold. That seems cruel– and obviously, I don’t know the dude or anything about his current beliefs– so this could be totally out of line to say. But when listening to 3 Years and dissecting the lyrics, the message feels both extremely out of date and extremely superficial. That would be fine if the music was amazing, but it’s not. The music is only pretty good, never great, and that means that if the lyrical content makes you roll your eyes a bit, then the whole thing starts to unravel. Again, that doesn’t mean 3 Years is a trash album. In a weird way, I feel like it should get a bit more praise than it does. But when I really start to think about it, do I need this if I have Queen Latifah and A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde? Would I choose this over Souls of Mischief or Digable Planets? Would I prefer another De La Soul record to this, or even an early OutKast record? What about bands who came after Arrested Development but pulled more influence from everyone I just named above, like Slum Village or Little Brother? Even if I don’t personally enjoy some of those records (although I do enjoy most of them), I’m still more likely to press play on all of them over listening to 3 Years ever again. That doesn’t mean that 3 Years is bad, but pop culture and the historical narrative of pop culture have moved on from needing to revisit and uphold 3 Years as a cultural object, and that’s obvious as I listened to it. Even if it’s fine, it belongs only in 1992. It’s an interesting citation, but you don’t need to go read the referenced source.

This was a cool listen. Felt like a different style for the time and it's well built.

This is fun. Has that bounce. You can tell this had some influence on a group like Outkast. A little storytelling rap, some conscious hip-hop. It was fine driving music and I might even put it on again sometime, but overall it's nothing to write home about.

2.5/5. Meh, I did not really enjoy this. I'm sure there's more here that I'm not getting, but I found this average overall.

Favourite song - Tennessee

That didn’t leave much of a mark.

Interesting instrumentals in parts, otherwise not too noteworthy for me.

intolerable

Fun

I like the production and this is often fun, but it’s also preachy and a bit pretentious.

I had forgotten about this group and it was fun to remember. Tennessee was the only song I recognized. I heard samples from Schoolhouse Rock and Salt and Pepa that surprised me. It was a fun album and I added a selection to my playlist, “Favorites from 1001 albums”

I've never been a fan of Arrested Development Still not. Enjoyed the retro sounds though, and appreciate them pushing something more positive than some of the hard mans shite of the time.

Fun record.

Does this count as gospel? I didn't hear all the lyrics, but there definitely seemed to be gospel themes in some of the songs. Don't think I've heard of gospel rap, but of course it exists. This was cool. Some really great grooves in here. Loved that it was a full band and not just one guy and a drum machine. That's always refreshing. Felt like it ran a little long though. Overall this was cool and a second listen is probably required. Curious about the title, too. What is that length of time a reference to? Still things to learn here. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Man's Final Frontier, Mama's Always on Stage, Fishin' 4 Religion, U, Dawn of the Dreads

Felt like a b-boy. Don't want to feel like a b-boy for so long

Some interesting production ideas, and reading the Wikipedia helped provide some context around the importance/influence of the album. Not really my cup of tea though.

Well, this was unexpected. My reactions to this album are all over the place. For starters, I feel that the tone of the album is inconsistent. The intent with this album was to stand apart from the other rap albums of the time by focusing on love and peace rather than violence, drugs, and all the other fun stuff Dr. Dre and other were rapping about at the time. The result, however, feels like an album that feels cheesy for most of its runtime when it’s trying to be serious at other times. One song, Fishin’ 4 Religion, is an ambiguous song about how some churches preach the wrong values; teaching on being passive rather than changing. Then, there’s Children Play with Earth, a corny song telling children to touch grass. The Nintendo Joystick lyric made me want to roll my eyes into the back of my skull. And most of the album constantly refers to starting a revolution. I’m aware this is a socially conscious album, but it’s a little on the nose. Honestly, the saving grace of the album are the beats of the songs. Despite the somewhat cheesy tracks, the songs are fun and funky. It’s easier to pick this album apart for the best bits. Which is good, because this album is a bit on the long side. Overall, I thought I was going to hate this, but it was rather ok. Favorite track: Tennessee Other hits: Mr. Wendal, People Everyday, Fishin’ 4 Religion

This album hasn't aged particularly well, and the beat from song to song is maybe a little too similar. "Mr. Wendel" and "Tennessee" do their best to carry this into three-star territory.

Entertaining, lot of interesting sounds and layers. Probably a 3.5-star album, just not quite enough for 4-stars.

It's ok

Afrocentric midwestern alternative conscious rap for the masses? Rap around this time was either gangster rap via Dr. Dre's The Chronic, East Coast Hip Hop via A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory, or whatever the Beastie Boys were doing in Check Your Head (punk rap?) so a legitimate alternative was a breath of fresh air. Powered by the three monster singles "Tennessee", "People Everyday", and "Mr. Wendell" this album felt like it was everywhere. It mostly stands up, once you get past the realization that the version of "People Everyday" isn't the same as the single version you know.

oh i forgot i listeners to this one yeah it was ok

Pre-listening thoughts: cannot believe they tried to sue the tv show like 😭😭 the audacity Post/during listening thoughts: yeah let’s rap about peace love and Jesus! It’s almost refreshing but like also kind of corny. Musically there are some good moments though. Lyrically… it’s not my fav. Can we please find a balance between blatant misogyny and let’s all hold hands and sing kumbaya? 5.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: god Fishing for Religion is so catchy but like ???, U, Dawn of the Dreads Least fav tracks: Raining Revolution

Some of the subject matter in the lyrics came off a bit squeaky clean and naive though, but overall a fun listen.

Too long by half, and everything started to sound the same

I just noticed that Mr Wendal samples the same song as De La Soul's Eye Know. Overall I like De La Soul more, but this is still good stuff in a similar vein. A high 3, close to a four.

Godt gen-hør :-)

I don't dislike the music and it has its moments. For me it often gets a bit to religious preachy, but I like the funkiness. Also this is a pretty strong quote from 'Give a Man a Fish' "Raise your fist but also raise your children So when you die the movement moves on" Standouts Give a Man a Fish 3/5

Not my thing, but pretty interesting. I still like the show more.

Thought I was going to be Washed Away by this album, but instead it was all Natural. U should give it a listen.

90’s hip hop

90s hip-hop, have had worse, but this was way too fucking long. Some tracks were annoying but most was listenable. Stand-out: Children Play With Earth

2.8 1x catch up on 12/29/24

I wanted to like this, but just couldn’t get very into it. Felt repetitive towards the end. Not my jam.

Not bad. Not my thing generally but not intolerable.

Ce n'était pas tellement mon style de hip-hop, mais je respecte vraiment beaucoup ce que le band a fait sur cet album. Bien que ce ne soit pas quelque chose qui m'a captivé, je pense qu'ils ont fait de quoi de vraiment solide. Mériterait une seconde écoute. 6/10

Got some jams, got some stuff I'd skip next time around. Overall it's just kinda whatever.

pleasant, actual singing on this rap album

Another one of those whole vibe records. I don't love everything here but Mr Wendal totally holds up, Tennessee too, I didn't know U but that is terrific, proper De La Soul type stuff. Probably won't return to the other stuff and it's far too Goddy but I enjoyed this listen.

“Tennessee” is an amazing song and there’s good moments but in total it doesn’t hit me as much as others.

As soon as I read the title of the album, I thought I'd be done with it quickly. The genre was obvious to me from the name of the group and the album, although I had never heard of either before. Playing the first track was enough for me. I wasn't in the mood for hip hop or to be shouted at by an African-American teenager. Later I did a bit more research on the album and the band. I was interested after all. So I listened to the whole album. It was OK. I'm not going to be a fan of hip hop or the band. But it was interesting. 3/5

Music was great lyrics were a little boring

Mixtape era. I like it. Interesting compilations.

Has a Sly and the family stone vibe

3.3

Pretty decent album

I was not even aware of this band and once again it is a genre that is not a regular punch up for me. That said, this was a fun and chill listen. This sound and style lean more towards the lighter and fun side of 80’s hip hop vs the mainstream gangsta rap that was getting all the attention at the time. Nice to hear some of this style that is more more focused on what binds us vs what divides us. Major kudos to them for believing in themselves and staying the course long enough to be signed. The LP needle static in places is a nice touch too. I saved a couple from this and will revisit, although most likely not often. 3.5/5

I remember this circulating around campus during my college years. And while my go-to rap/hip hop of that time would’ve leaned more into the Beastie Boys or Public Enemy, I still like the overall vibes. A lot of this does kinda sound alike but I can appreciate the grooves and sampling selection while also recognizing the positive side of things they were promoting.

I like this quite a bit more than I was expecting. Feels a bit silly to give it the same rating as Synchronicity, but here we are... 3.5/5

I had forgotten about this group. Mr Wendel, Tennessee and Everyday People got flogged to death on the radio back in the day. Strangely not this version of Everyday People though. I'm not sure if they had a radio version or re recorded it on another album. (I had a look and it's the Metamorphosis mix that's the big hit of Everyday People) This album is funky and has some interesting samples, but oh my it's so overly preachy that it got on my nerves.

fun but just ok for me!!

great sound and variety. Liked it a lot but hip-hop has never been my scene although I appreciate its quality. Some really good tracks and varied enough to keep my attention.

The 90’s was full of optimistic music like this that’s hard to imagine existing now. Decent album, didn’t light me up but appreciated the tone and the production standards.

Favorite Tracks: Tennessee People Everyday Fishin’ 4 Religion

This sounds exactly what you’d think hip hop from 1992 would sound like, even if you had no prior knowledge. It’s fine.

The singles earn the stars. The rest is boring and annoying hippie blabber

They’re very friendly but they’re right up in my grill. Just give me some space, man.

and then the daisy age dawned, and all was peace and light in hip-hop forever more

I guess this album and act was a massive influence on the 90's backpack and pop hip hop community because of how much influence I can hear on these tracks. I can hear De La Soul a bit, some Tribe Called Quest, some Will Smith and Dj Jazzy Jeff, even a bit of Mary J Blige. Like it had to have had a massive impact on the community. And rightfully so, its really diverse and pocesses a great use of samples and thematic songs. Shame I didn't know about it sooner. But, all that good stuff in mind, I found the album lacking some type of personality. Its jovial and inteospective, but bounces off topic and around quite alot.

Funky but not a lot really stuck to me. It was fine though.

Good music but don't know if its something I will listen to consistently.

I thought I'd like it more than I did. I didn't dislike it though, some funky beats and some catchy tracks, but there's plenty of early 90s hiphop that I'd listen to over this.

This album is fine, it is a little too repetitive for its own sake, but the length doesn't help either. However, I think the biggest problem keeping me from enjoying this album is the weird holier than thou are vibe I got throughout the album. Children play with earth sounds like someone who would say "no phones, just people living in the moment" unironicly, and people everyday is some kind of weird power fantasy. Probably could have cut 4 or 5 songs and had a tighter album. Low 3

guess there's a reason why "gangsta rap" is king. Not as bad as I thought it would be though

Not usual hip hop but it was decent. It was neither good or bad. I feel like I should give it 3.5 if possible

not bad but completely repetitive

A fun listen most of it, liked the production, some of the lyrics. Def. preferable over most of the Gangsta stuff of the era, but rather lengthy at times. There is not much though that is really impressive or would stick with me.

One of the preachier albums I’ve heard but still delivers an enjoyable product.

Fun and quirky hip-hop (that sounds dated but that’s not really a bad thing) but kinda not much more than that

Good message, good beat, but lacking the banter that other groups deliver.

It's good dance music. Album's too long, though.

Fun!

Interesting and radical. Not something that really stuck in my head musically but I did enjoy the listen and found a lot of the lyrics very cool

Between a 3…4. The sounds were interesting and the lyrics I could sometimes identify with more than the gangster rap of the 90s but sometimes it felt to cheesy/preachy/religous.

I forgot I used to own the CD. I enjoy this music still today. Fantastic storytelling.

There are moments where this is genuinely brilliant but it definitely runs out of steam long before the end

The first 3 seasons were great. Love michael cera's uncle, pity that he never did anything good afterwards. The netflix seasons are not has good, but I think that's just because they gave them too much freedom with episode length and the format is also bullshit.

Well-known hiphop album from 1992. I still got a cd copy, but just like that Fugees record always found the album a little bit boring especially with the straightforward sampling. The only song I really like is Mr Wendal, a 5-star song. Overall 3 stars (5/10).

Whew, those suburban boys propping up gangsta rap finally learned that there was more to the picture than they could imagine. Freed up the gangsta rappers. Something like what happened to post-Nirvana record executives hitting themselves in the head and instead of screaming "get me the next nirvana!" screamed "get me the next non-nirvana!". Opened our ears I love the breadth of the samples and the varied grooves. There is a world (literally) of rap out there and that many kinds. A great place to check in.

I get tired of people, every day. But I never get tired of People Everyday. .

This felt more like a time capsule than a timeless album. Hard to exactly place this amongst what else was going on in rap at the time, especially as I was not exactly steeped in the genre, but I expect this was accessible and contemporary without being groundbreaking.

The production is deeply De La, but beyond a couple of great tracks, the 'conscious' bit is a bit OTT and embarrassing - a lecture from a stern dad, rather than essential bangers with a message.

ganz coole lyrics aber manchmal nervig und zu viele interludes

Peace and love hip hop in the same ballpark as A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Dream Warriors, and the UK’s Ruthless Rap Assassins (who went on to form Black Grape with Shaun Ryder). The Arrested Development album is OK, but the significance is mainly its crossover appeal. In the UK only Public Enemy, De La Soul and PM Dawn had the same album chart success as Arrested Development (leaving aside the more dance orientated MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice). PM Dawn’s Of The Heart… (1991) is something of a forgotten classic in my opinion.

I liked the series better. Nevertheless, Mr. Wendal and Tennessee are absolute bangers. People Everyday is a cool remake of Everyday People. The rest isn't worth mentioning though. 3.1*

I'm not sure what I just listened to. Almost two completely different albums in one. Good but also blah. At points a 4 but others a 2. 56/100

I've heard of Arrested Development as an alternative hip-hop group that was big in 1992 but fell off shortly after. They've since reformed with Speech as the sole original member in the lineup, and 3 Years is still regarded as their best effort. Listening to this album, I can see why. The skits, slow conscious rapping, sampling, and swagger are of the early 90s deviation from the rise of gangsta rap. I give them props for using live instrumentation in the song construction and Speech's ability to command the mic with his flow, even if the sound is stuck to a specific time. Lyrically, this album mainly addresses spirituality, civil rights, and the prevalence of street gangs. A fair amount of the songs pop off well including the singles, particularly "Tennessee" with how Speech reflects upon his upbringing and where he belongs after his grandma and brother passed. Other songs though can come off as either dated, a bit preachy, or in the case of "Natural" questionable with the sexual advancement. Overall, 3 Years is not a bad record and I can see how it paved the way for later conscious hip-hop efforts. Take the singles, and cherry-pick from the rest.

this is smooth, and Tennessee is an absolute banger. i think i have this one a bit lower than my normal old school hip hop ranking, but overall i do enjoy it. i dont see myself going back to it as much as others, but i do respect AD and enjoyed the opportunity to listen to this.

Early 90's "conscious" hip-hop where they look at love and social connections rather than the gangster rap that was smashing records out of the west coast. This is one the the first big albums from the south. Does it sound similar to De La Soul? Yep. Is that a bad thing? No. Is it as good? No. Best Tracks: People Everyday; Mr Wendel; Tennessee

hip hop. Un 3. sin más.

A lot more overt religious and specifically Christian references than I prefer. But still a really fun and entertaining album. But yeah the almost constant references to Christianity knocks it down a peg.

Freaky

Pretty cool but I would probably never listen to it again

That is quite the debut! Heard some zucka, zucka and didn’t mind it. Best song is Mr. Wendal but all songs are good and the album works start to finish. Definitely worthy of the 1001 list. (3.4*s)

This is a more positive spin on rap and was an enjoyable listen. That being said, it doesn't always deliver and I didn't like every song. Sometimes the beat machine sounded corny but that's the 1992 of it. Most of the tracks are good though, the last few being the strongest. Really liked "Washed Away" and a little surprised I've never heard of this group. Solid.

I had this one on cassette when it first came out! Some real solid and catchy work (Mr Wendel pops in my head a lot!), but I was turned off by the religious stuff. It's impressive that they can sound like a backyard party with music and a bunch of mics (even into their next album which got NO love). The album flows nicely. It's a 3.5 for me, but going with 3 as it still hits my religion cringe meter.

There are some decent tracks but the record is long and is just part of that tribe/de la soul camp. Some cool samples/beats but this does not warrant as many tracks as it has in my mind. That being said lyrics always take awhile for me to digest regardless of genre and hip hop being a lyric heavy genre may show my own bias in not taking in the big picture of this one. Another record where the back half (from U to Washed Away) are all immediate tracks just based on samples and hooks. I'd say if it was less bloated it'd be higher rated.

Très positif et bien intentionné; entraînant et accrocheur

Geggjuð

hip hop. Un 3. sin más.

B- Mans' Final Frontier 3 Mama's Always On Stage 4 People Everyday 3 Blues Happy 3 Mr. Wendal 3 Children Play With Earth 3 Raining Revolution 4 Fishin' 4 Religion 3 Give A Man A Fish 3 U 3 Eve Of Reality 3 Natural 3 Dawn Of The Dreads 3 Tennessee 3 Washed Away 3 Good JOB fellas, hehehe

Not a bad record, but it feels very meandering. Each track has cool beats and engaging grooves, but the songs don't feel like they go anywhere.

Hyvin monipuolinen levy! Vaikka toki funkin hiphopin puolella koko ajan. Hymyilyttäviä sanoituksia, yllättävän paljon jamittelua (siitä en ehkä ihan koko ajan välittänyt). Valoisa. Ei lopulta mun genre kuitenkaan. Ja miks aina muistan, että Arrested Development on metallibändi?

Jújú, notalegt 90s hip-hop, stundum skemmtilegt. Er hrifnastur af lokalögunum tveimur. En ég leita þetta ekki uppi aftur, held ég.

Gucci

This was one of the more enjoyable hip hop albums I've listened to.

This album was such a major departure! You know, it opens and you think this is gonna be a rap album with a Public Enemy vibe and they keep you guessing. As the album progresses, of course, we realize this has nothing to do with rap and is a style unto itself. All of it is pretty listenable. Some of it is funny. And there are a few well known standout tracks that stand quite well. I think I might like this now more than when it dropped.

I’m happy to report that “Mr. Wendel” and “Tennessee” live up to the nostalgia. Arrested Development add in some lovely palate-cleansing interludes, but there’s not much else that really stands out.

Yes the album sounds dated, but some of these tracks really hold up.

This album consists of Mr. Wendal, Tennessee, and a bunch of non-descript-OK-for-background-listening tracks.

Den här mjuka 90-tals Hip-Hopen är så mycket min ungdom. Även om A Tribe Called Quest är det jag lyssnade på. Tycker dom är strået vassare. Men kul att lyssna på den här skivan. Everyday people och Give A Man A Fish är bra. Tyvärr blir det lite samma och för långt. Men som sagt kul lyssning. Vintage Hip-Hop får en 3a.

Andra hiphop-skovan från 1992 som inte är dr dres debutalbum. Men den är bättre än förra iaf. Känns rätt outdated. Men roligare och mer varierad. Känns också mer som ett viktigt försteg till kommande hiphop, mer än förra albumet.

80-talshiphop på 90-talet. Det är lite för primitivt och repetitivt för mig, både i produktioner, texter och leverans. Att det samma år eller året efter släpptes album som The Chronic, 36 chambers, Doggystyle, 93 til infinity, Enta da stage mfl vittnar tyvärr om att detta var rätt utdaterat 1992. Svag trea.

Huh? Hiphop? Geen rock album? Dit kan niet kloppen?? Ik ken Arrested Development eigenlijk niet, alleen de uitstekende serie, maar vind het wel nice! Het is wel echt gedateerd, en ze doen me een beetje denken aan een minder funky Tribe Calls Quest. Dat is opzich best een compliment, want funkier dan ATCQ kan bijna niet he. Vind de eerste helft van het album een stuk minder dan de 2e helft van het album. In de 2e helft zat ik er zelf een stuk lekkerder in ofzo, dan werken de beats voor mij een stuk beter, waar het eerste stuk misschien meer politiek gedreven is? Eerste helft van het album doet me sterk denken aan Public Enemy, niet in de laatste plaats door het vele gebruik van BROTHERS AND SISTEEERS. En ik ben niet zo'n hele grote fan van Public Enemy. De 2e helft deed me juist meer denken aan A Tribe Called Quest, dus meer funky, meer dansbaar en gewoon meer vibey, word ik gewoon een stuk vrolijker van. Misschien ben ik wel te wit om de politieke boodschappen te begrijpen die ongetwijfeld op de eerste helft meer zitten. FAVO: Mr Wendal, Fishin 4 religion, U, Dawn of the Dreads, Tennessee

Cool beats. Oldschool flow, I still haven’t got used to. I am not a native speaker so I would need to consciously listen to all the tracks and maybe read the lyrics. I didn’t have time for that the last two days. From what I could pick up they revolve around the subjects of Black empowerment, social injustice and anti violence (among the Black community). Also, they often discuss god and religion in their raps.

first listen production is weak and the lyrics are kinda square

I never heard of them before- first off interesting album title. After listening all the way through- I really enjoyed the first half of the album but by the second half it got a bit tiresome. I can hear the parallels to A Tribe Called Quest but I think A Tribe Called Quest first album felt more instinctual and fun. This particular album I think got caught up in what it was trying to portray but perhaps this is just my interpretation for a first time listener especially when listening to these two albums closer together. 2.5

I mean it was alright. Not really my bag.

some interesting beats

Easy to listen to hip hop. Interesting style.

It’s good and the singles I remember are bangers but I just wasn’t feeling it

Fav songs: - People Everyday - Fishin' 4 Religion

Good album

Yaaaaay

6/10 Highlights: Mr Wendal Children Play with Earth

Relatively benign, hip/hop, hippy, trippy, afro, I never listen to it again.

Not bad, in fact, I recognized several songs.

Slept for 16 of 24 hours yesterday, this was a good lullaby, I only remember the first song

Arrested Development...what am I getting into here. Well I guess you can't judge an album by it's cover I thought it was going to be traditional African music. But no it's like funky hip hop music. OH! I had heard Mr. Wendal before. Oh shit, I remember hearing Tennesse! Gonna give this one a 3

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! Not a top album for me or anything like that, but I came in expecting some boring early 90's hip hop and was presently surprised by this album. The beats are cool, and the rapping is not bad. I was expecting to give this a 1 or 2 stars, but I think it's a solid 3 stars.

Instrumentally this album is great. The lyrics are so damn corny and preachy.

Musically pretty good

Loved the whole album but didn’t find many singular songs that sticked to me

Still lots of fun, couple great tracks, bit overlong and patchy as an album. 3.5.

This album is refreshing departure from the gangster rap I've heard so far. Socially conscious lyrics and a mostly fun vibe. My pick are Fishing 4 Religion, U, and Tennessee.

Surprised me. Enjoyed the 90s hip hop!

I loved this album in ‘92 and enjoyed it again with this listen. Three very solid hits. It definitely sounds like the 90’s though- all of the record scratching! It was pretty original in its time and even now, really. I didn’t listen to any of their subsequent albums. Curious how their music evolved over the years. 3.8

There are some nice beats on here -- mostly fresh despite being 30+ years old. What feels most dated is the neo-Africanist conscious rap component, but that's what I like most about it. "Mr. Wendal" was a nice trip down memory lane. 3.6

This is early 90's hip hop. It's a breath of fresh air in a time when Gangsta rap was ruling the scene, to have this solid, clean rap. This is hip hop that you could actually listen to in mixed company without fear of offense. SFW. Reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest Favourite songs: Dawn of the Dreads, Give a Man a Fish, Fishin' 4 Religion, U, Mama's Always on Stage, People Everyday Least favourite songs: Blues Happy 3/5

Liked the album. Sounds a bit like Public Enemy mixed with more jazz/afrocentric influence. “Mr. Wendel” is a great song. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again

Surprisingly good!

Yea not bad

Pretty good.

My initial reaction to this selection was “oh no” but I rather enjoyed it. It was not something I would have picked, but it was decent.

A little cheesy and a little overly long, but an otherwise pleasant and charming hip hop album.

a bit too corny

не е лошо и това

It was ok. Not my usual style of music

Kinda cool Very bubbly

probably wouldn't listen through again but i downloaded people everyday

Don't know them, but they sound like Tribe Called Quest meets Jock Jams. Cool bass lines and musical arrangement. But gets a little bit repetitive.

Okay, I'll be upfront. The past few years has seen my vision of Arrested Development skewered and distorted. How were they seen as the saviors of consciousness minded hip-hop that mined whatever the Native Tongues were doing up North and thus (seemingly) thwarted the prevailing success of gangsta rap? Only for them to become footnotes and jokes along the way? It all seems rather simple, what they offered was what those who were still on the fence with hip-hop wanted. The majority of it sounds dated yet I wouldn't consider it to be that bad. It just seems insignificant in the long term. If the record had sounded like Tennessee (the only reason this album became something) in spirit and tone, maybe I'd care a little more. Favorites: Mama's Always on Stage, People Everyday, Mr. Wendel, Raining Revolution, Give a Man a Fish, U, Tennessee, Washed Away.

A pretty awesome classic Hip Hip Album. Not my type of Hip Hop but I did really enjoy some songs. I just found that the Album dragged on for a just a little too long.

I was somewhat hopeful going into this, being a fan of ATCQ and Diggable Planets, but this feels like an early, incomplete version of those bands' works. Lyrics aren't particularly amazing and it often comes across as preachy or even cheesy, that's when the lyrics aren't just the same 4 lines ad nauseum. The beats are decent enough, but once again it falls into the hip hop problem of having the album go on for way too long. 06/01/24

Meilenstein der Hiphop Geschichte.

ambiency jumping hip hop positive it's like hip hop that makes you wanna frolick

The production and the mixing are skillfully done, if a bit dated. Very positive lyrics. I’ve got nothing bad to say about it, but it’s just not my thing at all.

The Hootie and the Blowfish of hip hop in that they were seemingly colossal for a period of time in the '90's and then just as quickly the world got over them. And it was considered too "safe" (i.e. embraced by too many old white folks). They suffered the same curse that many other Best New Artist Grammy winners did, which is a shame because most of this holds up incredibly well. Maybe if their single "Tennessee" was called "Hennessy" their future would have been brighter. But I'm telling you, in 1992, the music press lost their collective shit and fell over each other to proclaim this as THE future of hip hop.

I liked this album. Totally understand why it’s on this list. I just wish I liked it more. The good songs are amazing, but the rest are just kind of middling. I didn’t know much of Arrested Development outside of “Tennessee,” so I’m glad I finally listened to the entire album. “Mr. Wendal” is a great song that I know I’ll listen to a lot. But overall I was hoping for more from this.

Some songs were a bit weird but generally not bad

Digging the beats, differnt type of music... well, it's gangsta/af.amer./ rap... but a different flair to it... flare? anyway... I like some of it. not really my style, or level of intellect

Somewhat uneven but overall decent. Tennessee was the hit but Mr. Wendal is the banger. They should have been bigger and it's a bit of a shame that they couldn't stay together. But it's influence remains.

I do love me some early 90’s hip hop. But, while this one has some jams, overall it’s too preachy for my blood.

Thought I was going to like this more. Running up to a 3 based on Tennessee and to a lesser extent Mr Wendel

While it is a very important Native Tongue adjacent album, it just doesn’t have near the talent or the staying power of anything the Tribe or De La did. Or even Jungle Bros or Digable Planets. Some great golden era hits though. 3.4.

2.8 a couple of jams on it but it kinda sounded like a Parody of a 90's rap album. I don't know if that is because it was so influential and other artist followed or this followed other artists work and layered a bunch of samples and social justice themes

Southern hip-hop, chill nok, men heller ikke sindsoprivende

Fun, but early 90s rap feels inherently silly, and trying to communicate serious themes with a silly instrument feels a bit incongruent. Fantastic "Everyday People" cover though.

Lyrically, I know this album isn't for me but I still dug the socially conscious aspects of it even though some of it can come off a little preachy. And a lot of the beats and mixes are fun and positive. Best Songs: People Everyday, Mr. Wendal Listen Again: Yes

I'm really not used to this style. Lots of sampling all over the place, good rythm sometimes super groovy sometimes chaotic. So far so good. "Mama's Always On Stage" is a bop Quite hard to describe in terms of style! Bluesy/Disco/Funk? "Blues Happy" is quite modern for a blues. It's a good album but I'd need one more listen I think "Give A Man A Fish" is a bop! Not a fan of "Natural" What a trip. Good album, but not really for me I think (so far)

Huh

Overall, an enjoyable album of “early” hip-hop that was a fun listen. It felt a bit dated to me, with the same sing-song phrasing that I find to grow repetitive track after track that a lot of early hip hop does. However the songs were different and atypical, with some odd themes and subject matter that really made them stand out. “Fishin’ 4 Religion” was actually a standout track, with simple lyrics the beats really shone through and there’s a lot of joy apparent on this record.

#1 - Okay, this might be decent as an album. Let's see where it goes. An alright intro song; feels like I'm thrown back to the 90s. #2 - Neat. Rather than the usual east coast v. west coast hip-hop you'd get around this time, this takes a different twist. This album is starting to sound like something Fatboy Slim might have pulled for himself in parts. #3 - Not bad. Actually this is pretty good. Still haven't heard a track I really like yet. #4 - Introduction to the band. Nothing to say - it's forty-five seconds. #5 - Good beat and backing instruments/sounds. Don't think I've heard anything like it in quite some time. ★ #6 - Not bad. Really like the instruments here. #7 - Again, not bad. I do like this album is pretty easy-going in sound, and pretty heavy with the lyrics. #8 - Good stuff. Nothing to complain about it and it's a good all around track with no complaints. ★ #9 - At the risk of repeating myself.. it's okay. #10 - Please see #9. #11 - Intermission track. Eh. #12 - I think my opinion so far on this album is that it's alright. Nothing to really write home about. #13 - It's a bit more memorable than the other tracks in the latter half, but not by much. #14 - I was well fatigued from this album by this point. It feels samey in spots, but it's not awful. There's worse albums on this list. #15 - At the end of the album.. yeah, it could be worse, could be better. I don't have any major complaints, but it feels like the album is too long. The album is alright, but it didn't really grip me. It might be a case of 'a product of its time'. I only ended up liking one or two songs. I didn't hate it. It ranks about a 3 for me.

It very much had that 90s hip hop feel, but it was a lot more tolerabel than most hip hop. I didn't particullary love this album but I didn't hate it either, it's a pretty middle of the road album for me. It was a pretty fun album with good upbeat songs.

Although I understand the importance of this album and its great release timing, I can't figure it out musically. There is certainly a good flow in here, but a lot of tracks are just straight up fillers.

Este estuvo entretenido y un cambio de estilo dentro de todos los discos de hip-hop que hay aquí.

Solid

Not my style but definitely a genre defining album. With gangsta rap on the rise and hip hop still at the top Arrested Development blended rap and hip hop with Afro-centri rhythms and just plain old good musicality.

I loved the beats and positivity on this album, but I could do without the religious themes. That’s just my preference.

3.4

I’ve heard this talked about like some kind of forgotten hip-hop classic, but I’m not so convinced. It’s lacking any real high points, just mostly staying in a middling state. The rhymes (which don’t have much presence on many tracks) are also kind of stuck on the early side of the 90s, in the sense that they’re slightly clunky. Mild 3

Two solid tracks the rest entertaining enough.

Pretty sure this is a new album/artist for me, loving the opening track already. This is a sampling gold mine haha. Love how musical this is, hearing samples of real instruments feels so refreshing in 2023.

Got one listen through. Good hip hop, but only previously familiar with Tennessee. Rating a 3 for now, might give it another listen at a later date. The album doesn't land a hit on every track, which for an album held to such a high standard, I feel it should.

Is this a Christian hip hop album? Either way, it is wholesome and full of energy, optimism and excellent tunes (in extreme contrast to the chronically bad gangster rap that was also popular at the time). Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Mr Wendal Date listened: 07/09/23

Listened to this a lot when I was younger. I enjoyed it for the instrumentals a lot, but on a listen now found it too busy. I like the early iteration of 90’s funk/ hip hop

First time listen, enjoyed it and can totally see all of the inspiration it was for things to come. Really liked Tennesee

Haven't listened to this album in over ten years. Hearing Mr Wendal for the first time in years was a delight. Give a Man a Fish is another highlight. The album is a little too long and I wish it ended with Dawn of the Dreads which was another highlight I think mid to high 3/5

Mr. Wendal is fun.

it's meh, didn't really keep me interested

cool samples but didnt care enough

hip hop. Un 3. sin más.

Welp, I had some lovely notes on this album, but then my compute took a massive shit. I remember really liking Mr. Wendal as a song to smile to. I also remember Raining Revolution was an absolute jam with killer instrumental and flow. Reminded me of a fusion of Del The Funky Homosapien and Q-Tip. Plus the lead guy can sing too. The bassline on Dawn of the Dreads is pretty slick. Another late-album jam. Tennessee is the song I know Arrested Development for. I mean its a fine song, but by no means the best song on this record. All around this album feels well produced and like a clean 90s rap album. I get weird polished Public Enemy vibes. Overall, I'm not hug on it, but there are some standouts. More good than bad on here and nothing truly terrible. This sits between a 3 and a 4 for me.

Good hip hop album. Really good beats for background/working music. Unfortunately (once again) I was not listening too closely to the lyrics. Overall I enjoyed listening to this album like most of the early 90s hip hop that is on this list. Might give this one a more earnest listen sometime in the future because I think it deserves it. Until then; 3 Stars, 5 Possible, and 2 Left to Earn...

People Everyday has some great flow and love the female singing the chorus. All around this album has some real fresh beats and I like the variety of singers. Makes each song completely unique Some of the background noises are throwing me off a little bit and can makes the songs sound a little too busy

The main guy sounds like Eazy-E. Can't stop thinking about that when I hear him. Had this one on mainly in the background, but honestly love that early 90's hip-hop sound. Nothing crazy special just good to have in the background.

Pretty cheesy overall, but I’m a fan of Mr. Wendel and Tennessee

Fun and funky. It feels slightly cheesy and outdated now, but I can understand the appeal and influence it must've had when it came out.

This isn't a bad album by any means. It just goes on a little too long, sounds a bit repetitive, and, well, it sounds aged. It somehow sounds more like a product of the 90's than other albums by contemporaries like Tribe or De La. But I still enjoyed it overall! The sampling is fantastic, and the flow is engaging (even when the lyrics are a little corny). Honestly, if it was 10-20 minutes shorter, this would have been an easy 4 stars.

Not bad. Early rap still finding itself, very repetitive beats but indicative of the time.

I’ve heard of this group before, but this is my first time listening to them. This was not at all what I expected. There are a wide variety of beats here, that pull from a number of different genres, which was very interesting. The lyrics throughout are self-conscious and thoughtful in contrast to a lot of other rap albums around the time. Overall, this isn’t usually the type of hip hop I prefer, but I actually kinda enjoyed this one.

M'eh, nothing special

As someone who really doesn't enjoy rap, I found this album to be very listenable. Trading the whole gangsta shtick for more positive messages definitely helped. The soul elements on some of the tracks was a nice touch as well. Still not something I'd listen to by myself, but it was absolutely OK as a change of pace.

Great lyrics on this album. Thoughtful hip hop that won't scare the racist whites like that other violent scary gangster rap. Wouldn't be a bad way to be introduced to the 90's hiphop sound. Didn't overstay it's welcome and it was pretty fun. Score: 70 Art: 70

HoRsEsHoEs - This is lighter and cleaner than the gangsta rap coming out at the time while still being socially conscious, enjoyable change of pace.

I remember Mr. Wendel & Tennesee pretty well and enjoyed both back in the day & today. The rest of the album was ok but not stellar.

Probably one of the better hip hop albums I've ever listened to. Still hip hop though.

Some great moments but a little uneven.

Religious hip-hop. Slowish with interesting timing and instrument choices. Sometimes it hits its stride, but most of the time it’s just preach-rap. I think it works for some casual listening, and perhaps with a small group playing games to have on in the background. Otherwise, not my first choice.

Clever, conscious and organic 90’s hip hop album. Quite the contrast to the eras dominant gangsta rap. The skits are on a minimum as well - but 3 Years… is still too long and meandering at times. My second favorite Arrested Development in entertainment.

It's fun

Pretty dope

pretty good, enjoyed it more than I remembered.

It’s obvious why “Tennessee” is a classic. But other than that I didn’t dig this. There are some other good moments but most of the lyrics are too on-the-nose for me. I appreciate that it was probably a response to the tone and imagery of popular hip-hop of its era, but it doesn’t do much for me today.

Ok

it’s cool, i dig the laid back positive vibe and it’s nice to hear people talking about loving God

80s 90s rnb sample stacatto rap rhytm stuff. sorta wish it was kmd or people under the stairs. or jurassic five. its okay i guess

I had never listened to this before. It's a good album both in historical context to being something that stood in contrast to the rising popularity in gangsta rap and as being one of the first Southern hip-hop records and obviously being influential to everything that came after in that genre.

Interesting and groovy

A good dose of conscious hip-hop.

3.75/5 It turns out I have listened to this entire album before in my 20s. It's got a great message, no slurs or curse words, and pretty fun and funky music to go with it. Not bad.