3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of…

I get that this was of a time, this was early 90s, so actually these guys were ahead of their time in my opinion. This sounds like late 90s backpack rap, it’s not subtle with its messages, and it’s unabashedly corny. It’s not my favorite thing but I commend them for being true to themselves.

Had been a while since I revisited this album. Closer to a 2.75 for me. Cool ideas, great rapping, but something about it felt a little dated and not as exciting as I remembered. Mr. Wendel and Tennessee are for sure the standout tracks.

Incredibly smooth- feels 90s but not dated. Speech fits into this weird pocket where he's both singing and rapping. The conscious hip hop messaging is mostly pretty likable and inoffensive stuff, which is why I think people call them "corny," but with instrumentals, melodies, and vibes this good, it does not bother me that they are borderline a Christian group.

I got this album when I was 14 and considered it very much in the same vibe as De La Soul and ver different to the more prevalent gangsta rap.

I love the loose, almost improvised sound of the music, which gives it the feeling of a genuine creative collective.

I love their spin on People Everyday and it’s good to be reminded that the original album version is quite a different version to the hit (see also Brimful of Asha by Cornershop)

Mr Wendell grabs you straight out the box. It’s inherent catchiness make it easy to miss the socially aware message that it conveys. Somehow makes me think of sunny days (i am listening to this on a cold, grey January day.

Give a man a fish continues the blend of social awareness lyrical messages with an infectious groove, which separates this from a lot of music that either goes aggressively on the messaging or focuses on the music.
U lifts the tempo and highlights Speech’s skills to great effect. It also lifts part of it’s melody from Me, Myself and I which only reinforce my association with De La.

So getting the bad out of the way first: this is too long. My attention started wandering just past Mr. Wendal, though it locked back in around U, so I think cutting a couple of songs would have improved this (but my personal preference has always been for 45/50ish minutes max).

Other than that, I really enjoyed this. The mixing and sampling is really engaging, I like Speech's sort of talky-singy rapping style and the general timbre of his voice and I like the backing vocals too.

I realise that one of the insults that gets thrown at Arrested Development is that the lyrics are corny, and I just don't get it. The lyrics are talking about social issues earnestly and just because they aren't full of angry and violence, that doesn't make them lesser than others who talk about similar topics.

People Everyday slightly threw me for a loop, because I have only ever heard the much quicker single version, but I still liked it a lot. I even didn't mind the skit-adjacent bits of the record (although cutting them would have helped reduce the length).

Bonus point for the yodally yell at the beginning of Mr Wendal, as I've always loved it.

4/5

I'll take this over "Gansta rap" anyday. Can get repetitive and the delivery could be better but it's a solid album. Definitely of its time. 3/5.

I wonder how different the world would be if hip-hop had been more about the vibes than the hoes?

I remember the track "Mr Wendell" from a compilation album I had (one of the NOWs maybe - not sure) and always enjoyed it's laid-back nature, but had never thought to listen to the whole album. And now I have, and I enjoyed it very much

I mean... soooo good. Not just meaningful, but purposeful and rekindled a rap style that was as funky as George Clinton and as smooth as Mel Torme. I could listen to AD all day.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are seven acknowledged wonders of the world. You are about to witness the eighth..." oh yeah, great hip-hop vibes here!

A fresh and hopeful record from a time when hip-hop was turning tougher. 𝟥 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝟧 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝟤 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘖𝘧… blends rap, soul, and folk with a warm, down-to-earth energy. Tracks like 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘦 and 𝘔𝘳. 𝘞𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭 still feel honest and human, full of rhythm and empathy. Maybe it’s a bit too optimistic for some, but that’s exactly what makes it special — it sounds like hip-hop trying to heal rather than fight.

I completely forgot to rate this. And I think that's because I forgot I listened to it.

There's always money IN... THE BANANA STAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Found myself enjoying this quite a bit, but not sure how much I see myself revisiting this in full

Great music and lyrics, but the goofiness levels on the vocal delivery is hilarious and really drags this down. Also, much too long.

1.5/5.0: Bad

a little corny but otherwise pretty good. interesting instrumentals though it did feel a little preachy at times

Not really my type of rap.. Interesting take though. Appreciated the lack of skits.

Foundational yet also often overlooked or underated.

Yesterday generated Stand! by Sly and the Family Stone and this album samples that a couple times. What a cool coincidence. This is solid, but why would I listen to this when groups like A Tribe Called Quest or De La Soul were doing the same thing, but better. Favorites were People Everyday and Mr Wendal

so overrated - so much better hip hop in that time span.

Eh, I remember trying to get into this album when it came out - everyone was raving about it and it didn't do much for me. Still doesn't, even now that I'm trying to be a lot more open minded. The songs all feel like they drag and the aspirational lyrics just don't connect with me (which might be a function of not living a disadvantaged life - does it say something that I find optimistic rap boring? Then again, I often find gangsta rap uncomfortable - maybe there's a middle ground, but this ain't it). Tracks I liked most: Mr. Wendal, Fishin' 4 Religion, Washed Away. Most awkward track: Natural - settle down, Speech. I'm uncomfortable on behalf of the girl he's singing to.