Track Listing

1. Man's Final Frontier
2. Mama's Always on Stage
3. People Everyday
4. Blues Happy
5. Mr. Wendal
6. Children Play with Earth
7. Raining Revolution
8. Fishin' 4 Religion
9. Give a Man a Fish
10. U
11. Eve of Reality
12. Natural
13. Dawn of the Dreads
14. Tennessee
15. Washed Away
16. People Everyday [Metamorphosis Mix]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32207 in Music
• Released on: 1992-03-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

I draw strength from this CD
When this CD first came out I was 10 years old and I loved it. I bought the tape and listened to it all the time. I made a back-up copy of the tape and listened to both till they were destroyed.

A few weeks ago I stepped into the library and picked this CD up and I can't stop listening to it. I can now understand many of the lyrics that didn't quite catch when I was younger. I also think that I draw a lot of strength from this CD.

The music itself is innovative and wonderful. But the lyrics are truly powerful and seem to affirm the choices I have thus far made in my life. These songs discuss the importance of mothers and fathers raising their children, respecting all people (tribute to a homeless man "Mr. Wendal"), valuing nature (Children Play with Earth), the importance of marriage ("U"), and being honest and natural in a relationship ("Natural").

There are some aspects of the songs that I find more spiritual than religious although there are many reference to God. I am not particularly religious and don't think it comes off as being too preachy. There are also many calls to a revolution that seem almost silly but it is very tied to the poetics of original rap music (before it was swept away by gangsta rap).

Although I am not black, I am an immigrant and relate very much with their most famous song "Tennessee" which discusses a nostalgic reconnection to the violence of African American past in the United States. It's dealt with in a way that is mature, deep and intelligent.

A lot of intelligent beautiful rap music exits. This is a great place to start. Here are some other artists you may also enjoy: Spearhead, Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, The Roots, Ms. Dynamite, Public Enemy, Mos Def, Talib Kweli.

Take care of yourself.

peace-

inspirational! a hard act to follow......
This album is definitely unlike the majority of r&b/hip hop albums from 1992 (when it was first released) or the music of today. For starters, the lyrics are not misogynistic, violent or about drug use. They go deeper, and penetrate your thoughts.

The title refers to the duration of time it took to find a distributor and finally record this album. Though, it is unbelieveable, to me, that while a duo like Milli Vanelli can lyp synch their way to a GRAMMY, Marky Mark can drop his pants and become a model for Calvin Klein, posing in his tighty whities, and yet and yet an intelligent, thoughtful and beautiful group with affirmative content in their songs has to wait THREE years to even get a record deal! What a world!

Arrested Development mixes rap (by leader of the band, and lyricist, Speech), the stirring African drum rhythms and arrangements and the powerful vocals of the great Dionne Farris. It's like taking a musical journey, filling your ears with truthful and poetic messages about poverty and humanity ("Mr. Wendel"), anti-"gangsta" inspired messages about treating young Black women with respect ("Everyday People"), and taking an introspective look at the racism of the South and the ghosts that continue to haunt the descendants of slaves ("Tennessee").

This band was made up of a great group of storytellers, and it is truly a shame that they weren't able to continue together for more than a couple of years. We need you, Speech! We need to hear from the poets who take their gifts and use them to educate, not escalate.

Compelling and inspirational
This innovative album opens with Man's Final Frontier, a funky number with lots of scratching and samples. It is followed by the amazingly positive and life-affirming Mama's Always On Stage and People Everyday, black pride anthem and intelligent protest against violence.

Mr Wendall is another gem of a song, about homelessness and recognising the dignity in others. It also has a most compelling arrangement and gripping vocals. Arrested Development highlights personal and social problems without sounding preachy.

The jazzy Raining Revolution is a moving spiritual rap, and Fishin' 4 Religion is a critical look at organized religion. The energetic Give A Man A Fish deals with the music business whilst the bubbly uptempo U and the gentle, melodious Natural are about love and relationships.

Dawn Of The Dreads has lots of pop appeal with its catchy sung parts alternating with the rap; Tennessee has soulful female vocals, and the album concludes on a high note with the spiritual poem Washed Away. What a great album, so original in sound and uplifting in spirit! It encompasses a stunning variety of styles in a set of highly accomplished songs.