Zack: I’m going to go out on a limb and say that not
many of the hip-hop albums released in 1992 had a 1:43 track mostly comprised
of a flute and birds chirping. Which is a shame because Dr. Dre’s The Chronic
or Ice Cube’s The Predator really could have used exactly that. It’s exactly
that sort of tranquility that made Arrested Development stick out in a sea of
gangstas. They are reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest (Low End Theory, their
biggest album, came out the year before), although most of their beats aren’t
quite as funky. They do a few different things, but most rely on heavy bass
lines as opposed to the typically drum-heavy West Coast stuff of the era. Lyrically,
they’re inventive and just sort of positive in a way that really matches with
the beats. Overall, I thought the album started out kind of slow, but by the
time Raining Revolutions hits, the album turns into a seminal hip-hop classic.
Favorite Tracks: Give a Man a Fish; Dawn of the Dreads;
Tennessee
Emily: Needless to say, hearing the name Arrested Development automatically makes me think of the great and ridiculous sitcom of Fox and Netflix, not the hip-hop band of the same name. I love the show and its antics, but I know next-to-nothing about early-'90s Afrocentric alternative rap. I was a bit disappointed that Arrested Development's debut album didn't feature a George Michael wood block solo or Tobias' Fantastic 4 musical medly or anything that could spark a Bluth chicken dance, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying it. The album has a laid-back feel from unique instrumentation and samples (like the flutes and birds Zack mentioned) that's perfect for summer listening. Unlike other rap of the era, it's peaceful instead of angry, rhythmic instead of staccato, and just positive and fun. While some of their more experimental choices fall flat, overall Arrested Development's debut is a unique spin on hip-hop from a time when almost everyone was doing the same gangsta thing. And you can always add your own chicken dance.
Favorite Tracks: Raining Revolution; Fishin' 4 Religion; Natural
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