Album: 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days In The Life Of...
Artist: Arrested Development
Artist: Arrested Development
Born: Atlanta, Georgia
Released: March 1992
Genre: Hip Hop
The early 90s really were a golden age for great hip hop records. As a sign that hip hop had spread far beyond its spiritual home of New York, Arrested Development were formed in the Deep South of Georgia. The group definitely had a gentler, more cerebral approach than many of their peers and infused their unique brand of hip hop with Southern-fried funk. This sound is most evident on People Everyday, which filters the funk of Sly & The Family Stone through the Afrocentric lens of De La Soul. Like many songs on the album, the song is unafraid to tackle issues of slavery and inequality, while also exploring the growing divisions in the black community along the lines of politics, fashion and musical taste. It's a call for unity and a great pop record, breaking into the Top 10 in both the UK and US. I distinctly remember enjoying the song when it came out and it hasn't lost any of its charms now. The other hugely successful single from the album was Tennessee, with its (ultimately costly) Prince sample and lyrics written by frontman Todd Thomas (aka Speech) about losing his grandmother and brother within the space of weeks and his relationship with God.
Slavery in the South is the haunting backdrop to Tennessee, as Speech reflects on the injustices suffered by his ancestors ("Walk the roads my forefathers walked / climbed the trees my forefathers hung from"). The upbeat song belies the subject matter and the half-spoken, half-sung lyrics were a really innovative, catchy approach to hip hop. Other highlights on the record include Mama's Always On Stage, with its bluesy opening and harmonica samples, and Mr Wendal, a tribute to the homeless and another song that uses a Sly & The Family Stone sample to brilliant effect. Some reviewers accused Arrested Development of political correctness and naivety for dealing with issues like homelessness or the natural environment, but I say more power to their elbow. In groups like Outkast and the Fugees, you can see the same strain of political awareness and lyrical inventiveness. One small criticism I have is that the album isn't as consistently brilliant as some other early 90s hip hop records like The Low End Theory, especially the middle section of the LP, but it still deserves its place on this list for carving out its own unique, Southern hip hop niche.
The early 90s really were a golden age for great hip hop records. As a sign that hip hop had spread far beyond its spiritual home of New York, Arrested Development were formed in the Deep South of Georgia. The group definitely had a gentler, more cerebral approach than many of their peers and infused their unique brand of hip hop with Southern-fried funk. This sound is most evident on People Everyday, which filters the funk of Sly & The Family Stone through the Afrocentric lens of De La Soul. Like many songs on the album, the song is unafraid to tackle issues of slavery and inequality, while also exploring the growing divisions in the black community along the lines of politics, fashion and musical taste. It's a call for unity and a great pop record, breaking into the Top 10 in both the UK and US. I distinctly remember enjoying the song when it came out and it hasn't lost any of its charms now. The other hugely successful single from the album was Tennessee, with its (ultimately costly) Prince sample and lyrics written by frontman Todd Thomas (aka Speech) about losing his grandmother and brother within the space of weeks and his relationship with God.
Slavery in the South is the haunting backdrop to Tennessee, as Speech reflects on the injustices suffered by his ancestors ("Walk the roads my forefathers walked / climbed the trees my forefathers hung from"). The upbeat song belies the subject matter and the half-spoken, half-sung lyrics were a really innovative, catchy approach to hip hop. Other highlights on the record include Mama's Always On Stage, with its bluesy opening and harmonica samples, and Mr Wendal, a tribute to the homeless and another song that uses a Sly & The Family Stone sample to brilliant effect. Some reviewers accused Arrested Development of political correctness and naivety for dealing with issues like homelessness or the natural environment, but I say more power to their elbow. In groups like Outkast and the Fugees, you can see the same strain of political awareness and lyrical inventiveness. One small criticism I have is that the album isn't as consistently brilliant as some other early 90s hip hop records like The Low End Theory, especially the middle section of the LP, but it still deserves its place on this list for carving out its own unique, Southern hip hop niche.
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