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

The title is the length of time the group spent getting a record contract. Speech produced and executive produced the album and mixed it, and the credits include Headliner, Baba Oje, Aerle Taree, Montsho Eshe and Rasa Don. Dionne Farris sang on Tennessee, on Fishin' 4 Religion, where Speech called her solo her best with the group, and on Give a Man a Fish. The set leans on samples, among them Sly and the Family Stone's Sing a Simple Song on Mr. Wendal, Bob James on People Everyday, and Prince's Alphabet St. on Tennessee.

It contrasted with the gangsta rap that ruled the charts in 1992, and its chart success is credited with helping popularize Southern hip-hop. It was voted best album of the year in the Village Voice Pazz and Jop poll and was The Wire's record of the year, the first time its year-end critics poll covered albums outside jazz. James Bernard of Entertainment Weekly gave it an A+ and called it a fresh-sounding debut. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune wrote that the group displays unusual worldliness, wisdom and awareness. Robert Christgau gave it a dud. Looking back, the critic Steve Huey called it a fine record that often crosses the line into excellence. It is in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.