With their feel-good humanism, uniquely rural perspective, and melodic blend of funk and rap, Arrested Development seemed like the next big thing in 1992. The group hailed from Atlanta, which was not then a capital of hip-hop and R&B, and this, their debut recording, won the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll. Speech, the primary lyricist, wrote and delivered eloquent attacks on gangsta rap's mindless nihilism: the band's first hit, "Tennessee," spoke of reclaiming Southern black traditions from the racism that sullied their memory, while their second, "People Everyday," deftly updated the Sly Stone classic. Although Speech's rapping style was not distinctive, Dionne Farris's keening vocals highlighted the band's front line. Unfortunately, Speech began to run short of ideas and the band failed to maintain the high standards that this debut set. They disbanded a few years later. --Martin Johnson

uuid:	FB665622-5F33-41CD-A5E3-8044D4CDF8FB
upc:	0094632192929
tracklisting:	Man's Final Frontier Mama's Always on Stage People Everyday Blues Happy Mr. Wendal Children Play With Earth Raining Revolution Fishin' 4 Religion Give a Man a Fish Eve of Reality Natural Dawn of the Dreads Tennessee Washed Away People Everyday [Metamorphosis Mix]
title:	3 Years 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of--
rating:	2
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	24-03-1992
price:	$11.98
net Rating:	4.5
last lookup time:	137387152
genre:	Experimental Rap
fullTitle:	3 Years 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of--
currentValue:	$0.01
created:	137387056
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD
asin:	B000003JBE
artist:	Arrested Development