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

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

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

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.

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

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

I did not really like this.

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

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

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

I really thought I was going to love this album completely. Old school southern rap? Sign me up! It starts great, and it ends great, but everything in the middle was a complete and total bore to me. How disappointing. Giving this a very high 2

This album sounds like a teacher trying to teach his 7th grade students about politics through the magic of hip hop.

Not musically special, but feels culturally significant.

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

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

Give a Man A Fish and Mr Wendell

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

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

4/10 - It was fine. A lot of the backing tracks sounded the same. I feel like most 80s and 90s hip-hop sound basically the same and it is just not the style that I like.

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

Very nice :-)

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

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

That didn’t leave much of a mark.

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

intolerable

Not terrible, but not great either.

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

Fun

This is a very positive album. Like in the Will Smith genre of rap/hip hop. On that note, it’s not for me but I can acknowledge that it almost has its place in the list that it is presented in. Most songs flutter just above the listenable level but when they aim for the stars, the blow past them into whatever is beyond the stars they aimed for. People Everyday and Mr.Wendel carry this album farther than it should have gone. There are samples. There are, at times, decent hooks but again, it’s the Will Smith friendly hour with these guys. They don’t seem like they could ever be filled with rage. Choice cut: People Everyday

From that era when folks were still deciding where they wanted hip hop to go, and there was still a strong predilection towards positivity, especially from those who were put off by the anger and violence which quickly thereafter became hip hop’s mainstream. Not all of the positivity hip hop is terrible, but this one sure is. Corny, preachy lyrics, irritating vocals, faux-reggae world beat nonsense…yep, this one’s got it all.

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

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

Mamas always on stage…. Come off it

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.

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

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

2 sterne

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

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

As a suburban white woman, I know I’m not the target audience for Arrested Development. But God, Speech really is pretentious and insufferable at the worst of times. (“Tennessee” is still a classic though.)

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 is a gem, really enjoy the production

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

Too long. Too many beats that sound like they were made in Guitar Pro. Very repetitive.

1992. alternative hip hop

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.

Probably didn’t listen to this as intently as I should have done. Seemed okay but not one to come back to 4/10

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

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

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.

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

90’s hip hop

Funky 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

Another meh album- I lose Interest half way in

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

Not really my thing but some bits of it were funky enough to make it bearable. I’m just not a rap fan, though this was very family friendly 90s rap, so I actually made it through the whole record!

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

Sick

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

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

I would agree this is a hip-hop history artifact. A tough listen and would not listen to again.

Incredible

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

Great socially conscious hip hop.

Recommended for: - old hippies who get sentimental when someone says "we just to need to, like, unite humankind, you know" - hip hop fans anxiously pondering what to show to their grandma who just asked to be shown some of their music - people who REALLY like Sly and the Family Stone samples

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

Mixtape era. I like it. Interesting compilations.

Yeah, it's fine. I like it more than a lot of the other rap albums I've listened to on here so far, but I still don't think I'd put it on just to listen to for fun.

Not my style

Mama’s Always On Stage //

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

This feels like it was written for 90s children’s programming.

Some tremendous stuff on here. Warmly humane boom bap.

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

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

Has a Sly and the family stone vibe

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

3.3

"they represented unity, they represented peace, they represented this. *mildly clenches fist and raises it* whatever this is, they represented 100% of that." - Usher this is your stepdad's favorite rap album. he says it's because it tackles real issues and doesn't delve into glorifying the life of a "thug" and that Speech wants real change. you listen to it and you understand the real reason this is your stepdad's favorite album: it is 56 minutes of the record agreeing with him. i can nearly picture him stroking his goatee and nodding whenever a particularly "conscious" bar comes up. "yes... yes... that's so true..." every time i have to hear Speech rap about how the best thing a Black revolution can be kickstarted by is getting a woman pregnant and loving God and not being a gangsta stereotype over those corny fucking Casio beats, it's like biting into a Spicy McChicken and getting a particularly wilted piece lettuce or a sickening amount of mayo in your mouth. it also feels like you're eating it right outside of a Music City Hot Chicken. like, i had other options -- better options. why would i choose this?

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

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

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.

Wanted to like this and there were some nice moments (Tennessee…Tennessee) and most excellent baselines… …but there was too much 1) record scratching, 2) banter at the beginning of songs 3) repetition—I never want to hear “dig your hands in dirt, children play with earth” again

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.

Я хуею с отбора рэпа в этом списке

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

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

fun but just ok for me!!

meh

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.

Für Hip Hop okay. Mr. Wendal und Tennessee sind aus den 90ern bekannte Songs. Den Rest kann man mal hören, verpasst aber auch nichts, wenn man es nicht macht. 2/5

Favorite Tracks: Tennessee People Everyday Fishin’ 4 Religion

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

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

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

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

Bordering on slam poetry some of this

I remember when I heard "Mr. Wendell" for the first time, I really REALLY liked it. And then it dawned on me that the reason I liked it is because I don't like hip-hop (generally). That track is a bit of a microcosm for the whole album: it's pleasing and catchy, but totally without urgency. Pedestrian, idealist nonsense spews from Speech's mouth (in my opinion, one of the most conservative rappers, independent of his skin colour and pretensions). It's all just a bit limp for me now, even if it charms you into believing otherwise.

2.5, kinda corny but good music

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

This is only very loosely related to hip-hop, more pop music really. It was incredibly dull apart from the big hits, which were just quite dull. I never liked Arrested Development back in the 90s, when they were in the charts. This album was simply confirming the fact that I wasn't missing out on anything. I hated the lyrics and particularly the constant preaching enough to give this 1 star.

musically interesting lyrically i provocative and in need for multiple relistens

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

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

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

People Everyday is great. The rest not so much. They just tend to meander a lot, like what the hell is Blues Happy? Either way it was a bit of a slog but I'll pass on anymore of this.

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

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

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

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

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

unfortunately for me as i love this whole era of hip-hop, this has not aged anywhere near as well as some of its contemporaries

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

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.

Dope

Great album!

Enjoyable listen.

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

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

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

Crazy to think this sold millions of copies and now it's almost nearly forgotten by all. I'll give them that there are some original ideas in there, mostly how they approach beats with different instruments. But most of it just sounds goofy now, this has aged terribly.

The most soft and mellow hip-hop album I've ever heard. No, it's not a compliment.

It's stunning how those beats can stay mid for an hour long. An what about this flat delivery of the lyrics? It was weak.

Very good

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.

Not the most creative or interesting album. Some bright spots though.

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

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

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

Chewing gum commercial music

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

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

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

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

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

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

not bad but completely repetitive

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

I’m always unsure how to feel about this album. Its messages aren’t…very good. Mr. Wendell is TERRIBLE a song about a homeless man that paints the homeless as wise dispensers of knowledge detached from our consumerist culture. And not people who are suffering the injustice of that system that forces them on the streets. It’s insulting frankly. It all comes of as preachy and holier than thou. Which is a shame because I like a lot of the beats and music. Just not the lyrics. Like I’m all for kids having more respect for the earth and where food comes from but by being like teehee stop playing with Nintendo. Good lord. Tennessee is really good. The album is interminably long

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.

Standout Track- Mr. Wendel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This album is Psyop by the US government to try to convince the urban population to go about changing the world in the right way. "Empower yourselve's fellow black people, don't turn to gang violence and crime to get by, put your faith in Christ and realize your own power to rise up through perseverance, education, and strength of character" George HW Bush was in charge and if the minorities weren't going to shape up he was going to flood their neighborhoods with crack and let the prison system have a crack at it. I'll let you decide what happened next. Jokes aside, I think the beats on this are solid but a bit stagnant for my liking. Clearly there's some talent going into these beats, it feels like a real DJ and the rapping fits right over. That being said, I don't care for the lyrical flows and I think they tend to be basic rhyme schemes in the interest of making the message fit. If it weren't for the Jurassic 5 album yesterday, I think that this would be higher because it shows off how much better the genre would be in just a few years. Additionally, I didn't care for Tennessee. It didn't do anything for me, and some of the tracks on here reminded me of Smash Mouth.

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

Really good. Added to my cookout classics playlist.

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

Fun!

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

incredible

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

It's not bad but some parts are really annoying. 2

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

Not for me.

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

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

Muito fixe, boa onda!

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).

Sympathetic album by sympathetic band.

groovin

Not bad, but also not exciting or, special in any way. Just dated old school rap/hip hop.

Fun beat.

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

woh had no idea

Super fun!

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.

This may have been the first hip-hop album I ever bought. And I dug it for about two weeks until I got tired of it and never listened to it again. Today, I wondered why this album didn't have staying power. It's produced well. It's catchy. I dig the overall positivity from these guys. But it's pretty corny and preachy and not even the tiniest bit profound. It's hard to hate on, but at the same time, it's like the "Free to Be You and Me" of hip-hop.

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

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.

Never listened to Arrested Development much and this album reminded me why. It’s a bit too zany and corny at times, with that early hip hop sound before the hard-hitting gritty production came onto the scene. This album is playful and entertaining, but doesn’t resonate much with me. Hopefully others enjoy it more than I do.

ganz coole lyrics aber manchmal nervig und zu viele interludes

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

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of... is sort of like Janet Jackson from the other day, they set out wanting to deliver a message and the music becomes an afterthought. By 1992 hip-hop was already sounding quite different, layered and bigger than this, and although it's a fun and energetic sound it's also really stale and not interesting enough. Another meh 2 though it's better than Janet's effort.

Didn't grab me really, pretty straight down the line early-ish hip hop. There's a lot more interesting other stuff going round at this time, this is almost easy listening in comparison. We've had some other more feel good hip hop - Tribe Called Quest the obvious one I can think of - and that was much better than this is, doesn't really bite at all. 2/5.

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.

Oldschool hiphopalbum. It actually sounds like an important work, but it does not really much for me.

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*

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

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

Kinda goofy and annoying. D teir.

I'm usually down for some upbeat, positive, early 90s hip-hop but this one didn't do it for me. The beats and rhymes are solid but not very impactful or memorable. Most of all, it's pretty heavy-handed in the messaging. They were clearly setting out to be an antithesis to the era's over-the-top gangster rap but sometimes it feels like it goes too far in the other direction. There's a good amount to appreciate here but in the end, this album feels more like part of a time capsule than essential listening.

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

I'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.

Hip hop just isn't an interesting musical style for me. At least this isn't full of swearing like some others I can mention, so this album is a bit better than some hip hop that this list has passed my way.

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

Some of this was catchy, and lyrically interesting, but it's still not my thing.

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.

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

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

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

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

Dug the storytelling of the lyrics, but felt more artsy than fun

'People Everyday' sounds like a later a commercial jingle adapted from it. Alt hip hop.. eh, can't get into it.

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

Freaky

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

Starting this project, I wasn't a fan of hiphop. Then, album after album has proven me wrong. Public Enemy is great, De La Soul is fun, Kanye West is talented, The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy have a good message, etc. There is a limit though, and Arrested Development draw that line. I didn't hate the album, I just disliked it. Not for me.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Pretty rad

One of the best!

Geggjuð

hip hop. Un 3. sin más.

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

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

Non particolarmente bello, genere che non mi fa impazzire

It gets incredible conceptual and all the ligjts shine the brighest ligjt to the nysic.. and it conoletely blinds you, you screan in pian as the nerves in your head collapse as the music siphons the will to live... straught oug of you...

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.

OH the JAMS ARE IMMACULATE

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?

Kiinnittää välillä huomion, muttei aina hyvällä tavalla, sillä tällä levyllä sanoitusten silmplistisyys ei yleensä välity rohkeutena. Tennesseessa on koukkua, tai ainakin koukkuisuutta.

meh

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

Nope

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

first listen production is weak and the lyrics are kinda square

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

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

meh...I like Tennessee but 15 tracks of Hotep is a bit much for me.

Def appreciate the early rap days contribution and style. But I liked other groups more.

Enjoyable but didn't stand out. Not a fan of spoken interludes.

I mean it was alright. Not really my bag.