DEVELOPMENT ARRESTED: There are no sure things...

DEVELOPMENT ARRESTED: There are no sure things in pop music, but a lot of people would have bet on Arrested Development’s second album as a shoo-in hit. After the Georgia rap group’s 1992 debut sold more than 2.7 million copies and the group won two Grammy Awards--including best new artist--the new one was expected to be instant Top 10.

Not so far. “Zingalamaduni” entered the Billboard chart five weeks ago at No. 55 and has been sinking ever since, currently to No. 135.

This is no surprise to the rap community, where observers say there’s been no real street buzz about this album. The perception is that it’s a mainstream album by a wholesome group that’s out of touch with the hip, hard-core fans.

It’s a fate that’s already befallen other wholesome rappers, including De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest--each of which made an impressive debut and never repeated the success.

Is Arrested Development just too nice for people to take seriously?

Even Daniel Glass, president of EMI Records, which releases the group’s albums, says that has been a problem.

“The press made them into this goody-goody group that spoke nicely about women, nicely about overweight people and that’s nonviolent,” he says. “The media said we finally have a group that’s positive. But that’s not really who they are. It’s a polarized picture.”

Glass also says the initial cool reception for the album is just a minor setback.

“We’re looking long range for this album,” says Glass. “We’re going to keep putting out singles.”

Glass also notes that a lot has changed since AD’s debut.

“This is not 1992,” he says. “The rap business has evolved. MTV is different too. They haven’t supported this release. They were an integral part of the group’s success. I hope they’re not fickle and forget about the group.”

Glass, though, is confident that the same fate won’t befall EMI’s other “wholesome” rap group, Digable Planets, whose second album is due in September.

“There’s a strong street buzz about this group,” he says. “That album will be strong out of the box.”