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3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...

3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992 (see 1992 in music). The album's chart success was the beginning of the popularization of Southern hip hop. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... stood in stark contrast to the gangsta rap that ruled the hip hop charts in 1992 (such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic), in its focus on spirituality, peace and love. It was voted as the best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll. The album's title refers to the length of time it took Arrested Development to get a record contract.

The song "Tennessee" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.^[1]

Track listing

1. "Man's Final Frontier" – 2:39
2. "Mama's Always on Stage" (Speech) – 3:25
   • Samples "Snatch It Back And Hold It" by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells
3. "People Everyday" (Speech) – 3:26
   • Interpolates "Everyday People" by Sly & The Family Stone & samples "Tappan Zee" by Bob James.
4. "Blues Happy" – 0:45
5. "Mr. Wendal" (Speech) – 4:06
   • Samples "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone.
6. "Children Play With Earth" – 2:39
7. "Raining Revolution" (Speech) – 3:25
8. "Fishin' 4 Religion" (Speech) – 4:06
9. "Give a Man a Fish" (Headliner/Speech) – 4:22
   • Samples "When It Comes Down To It" by Minnie Riperton
10. "U" (Speech) – 4:59
    • Samples "Mighty Quinn" by Ramsey Lewis
11. "Eve of Reality" – 1:42
12. "Natural" (Speech) – 4:18
    • Samples "Sunshine" by Earth, Wind & Fire.
13. "Dawn of the Dreads" (Speech) – 5:17
14. "Tennessee" (Speech) – 4:32
    • Samples "Alphabet Street" by Prince.
15. "Washed Away" (Speech) – 6:24
    • Samples "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" by The Persuaders.
16. "People Everyday [Metamorphis Mix]" (Speech) – 4:55

Personnel

• Arrested Development - Arranger
• Baba Oje
• Brother Larry - Guitar
• Rasha Don
• Montsho Eshe
• Dionne Farris - Vocals
• Headliner
• Aerle Taree - Stylist
• Tom Held - Engineer
• Larry Jackson - Saxophone
• Terrance Cinque Mason - Vocals
• Don Rasa
• Sister Paulette - Vocals
• Speech - Producer, Executive Producer, Mixing
• Alvin Speights - Engineer
• Howie Weinberg - Mastering
• Richard Wells - Engineer
• Lindsey Williams - Project Director
• Jeffrey Henson Scales - Photography
• Matt Still - Assistant Engineer
• Randall Martin - Art Direction

Chart positions

Billboard Music Charts (North America) - album

Billboard (North America) - singles

References