By Sonia Murray of the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Published on: 12/13/2007

The Grammy Award-winning Atlanta collective that took the city — and the hip-hop genre — by storm in 1992 with its thoughtful positions and embrace of blues and funk.

• The last time we heard them: And were really paying attention, may have been when they made that 1992 debut, "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of..." Its follow-up "Zingalamaduni" didn't generate the sales, attention or the airplay that "3 Years" singles "Tennessee" and "People Everyday" did.

Since then, co-founder Speech and one-time members Dionne Farris and Aerle Taree have released individual projects.
This time around: They have a new CD titled "Since the Last Time," which was actually released as an import last year. The group has changed a bit, too, though Speech is still frontman, and Montsho Eshe, Rasa Don and Baba Oje remain.

• The peculiar thing about the event: Rare is the nightclub in the metro area where you'll hear Arrested Development's 1994 single "Ease My Mind" mixed in with the hits of the moment. It worked this evening at Pure nightclub.
• The good thing about the event: The lineup all around — from host Shelley Wynter of 1380-AM and poet Cocktails, opening performers Kelly Love Jones and Eshe, and, of course, the headliners. The performance drew a crowd early, including early Arrested Development member Farris, Ron DeVoe of New Edition, Professor Griff of Public Enemy and DJ Boom Bip of Atlanta's World Famous Superfriends.

• The bonus: Apparently there was a politico of note as well as later that night they were asked to perform that upcoming weekend in South Carolina at Oprah Winfrey's campaign stop with Barack Obama.

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