Customer Reviews
One of the greatest hip-hop albums in history! - By: Luke Shep, 17 Aug 2006 
Any true hip-hop fan simply MUST buy a copy of this album. Fans of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jurassic 5, etc. will love the funky beats & laid-back style of this album.
There's no filler here, just an album packed full of soulful hip-hop, the way it should be done. The phrase "They just don't make them like this anymore" has never been more appropriate than when applied to this album.
If you like hip-hop & you haven't got this album, it's a massive gapin your collection. Get one, no - get two, now! It really is that good!
Compelling and inspirational - By: Pieter, 14 Jun 2004 This innovative album opens with Man's Final Frontier, a funky number with lots of scratching & samples. It is followed by the amazingly positive & life-affirming Mama's Always On Stage & People Everyday, black pride anthem & intelligent protest against violence.
Mr Wendall is another gem of a song, about homelessness & recognising the dignityin others. It also has a most compelling arrangement & gripping vocals. Arrested Development highlights personal & social problems without sounding preachy.
The jazzy Raining Revolution is a moving spiritual rap, & 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 & the gentle, melodious Natural are about love & relationships.
Dawn Of The Dreads has lots of pop appeal with its catchy sung parts alternating with the rap; Tennessee has soulful female vocals, & the album concludes on a high note with the spiritual poem Washed Away. What a great album, so originalin sound & upliftingin spirit! It encompasses a stunning variety of stylesin a set of highly accomplished songs.
Did it really take that long to record? - By: , 16 Mar 2001 
Don't be put off by the ridiculous clothes they're all wearing on the cover, this is a truly fantastic album - "Mr Wendal", "People Everyday" (with a strong assist from Sly & the Family Stone), and, of course, the globally huge "Tennessee", are indisputable classics, & there's a splendifferous supporting cast of songs to back them up, including the frenetic "U", & the reflective "Washed Away".
Along with late 80's & early 90's contemparies like De La Soul, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, & the Dream Warriors, Arrested Development presented a fluffy alternative to the gold chain festooned, uzi totin', woman hatin' image that many hip hop acts have succumbed to over the years. But underneath all the cheerfulness, there is a real intellectual depth to this album, & a sometimes painful search for identity, & you shouldn't pass it by.
