Today in Hip-Hop: Arrested Development Drop ‘3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of..’

Today, March 24, in hip-hop history...

1992: On March 24, 1992, Atlanta hip-hop group Arrested Development ushered in a budding era of alternative rap with their debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of... With heavy folk and spiritual influences, Arrested Development brought a sound that was completely different than the gangsta rap dominating the airwaves at the time. In addition to the musical differences, most of Arrested Development's lyrical content focused on black unity, love and compassion. The title of the EMI Records album is a nod to the amount of time it took the group to secure their record deal.

The group's biggest hit off the album was the single, "Tennessee." At the time, the song was so big that you'd hear it everywhere you went, whether it be via radio or through the video airing on your standard-definition TV. The track became their calling card, so it came as no surprise that the accolades would start rolling in. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992, and also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in that same year.

Talking about taking a pilgrimage to the Southland for clarity, "Tennessee" won the 1993 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and was voted to be one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll as an inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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