Naughty by Nature | |
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 Naughty by Nature members Treach (left) and Vin Rock (right) in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The New Style |
| Origin | East Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Spinoffs | Illtown Sluggaz |
| Members |
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| Website | naughtybynature |
Naughty by Nature is an American hip hop trio from East Orange, New Jersey, consisting of Treach (Anthony Criss), Vin Rock (Vincent Brown), and DJ Kay Gee (born Keir Lamont Gist).
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Treach formed Naughty by Nature with Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee in 1986 as The New Style [1] in East Orange, New Jersey, [2] where they attended the same high school. [1] The group first appeared on the music scene in 1989, releasing an album called Independent Leaders , and the album generated the minor hit "Scuffin' Those Knees". After the release of their first album, the group was mentored by fellow New Jersey native Queen Latifah, [3] and subsequently changed their name. Queen Latifah introduced them to her label Tommy Boy Records and her management company. [1]
Naughty by Nature's first hit was "O.P.P.", which sampled the Jackson 5's hit "ABC" and was released in 1991 on their self-titled album Naughty by Nature . The track peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, [4] and was named one of the top 100 rap singles of all time in 1998 by The Source magazine, [5] and being ranked the 20th best single of the 1990s by Spin magazine. [6] The album generated another hit with a reworking of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" called "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" (the track was also called "Ghetto Bastard" on some explicit releases). That song detailed the experiences of Treach growing up in poverty, and now rising up to live a better life. Powered by the success of that song and "O.P.P.", their self-titled album went platinum.
Fellow New Jersey native Tony D accused Naughty by Nature of stealing a sample from his album Music Makes You Move and using it on "O.P.P." The matter was settled out of court.[ citation needed ] Naughty by Nature scored a hit with the track "Uptown Anthem" from the soundtrack to the 1992 film Juice , in which Treach had a cameo appearance. [7] Treach began to pursue an acting career after befriending Tupac Shakur on the set of Juice, and Naughty by Nature appeared in the 1993 film The Meteor Man as a street gang. After Shakur's murder in 1996, Treach recorded a tribute song titled "Mourn You Til I Join You".
Later, the group had multiple hits from its third and fourth albums, called 19 Naughty III and Poverty's Paradise respectively. Both albums reached the #1 spot on the R&B/Hip-Hop Charts. "Hip Hop Hooray" was a success from the album 19 Naughty III . Its video was directed by Spike Lee and featured cameos by Queen Latifah, Eazy-E, Run-D.M.C., and Da Youngstas. Poverty's Paradise won the Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Rap Album, becoming the first album to win this award. [8] It also spawned a hit song in "Feel Me Flow" which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. [4]
They produced a remix of the Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson song "Scream" in 1995.
In the mid-1990s, Naughty by Nature started their own music imprint, Illtown Records, and in 1995 released an album from their protégés the Rottin Razkals.[ citation needed ]
In 1999, the group released its fifth album, titled Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury . The album was fairly successful, being certified Gold by the RIAA, and spawned the hit "Jamboree" that peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. [4]
After the release of Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury, a dispute regarding finances developed between Kay Gee and Treach. Treach blamed Kay Gee for squandering the group's finances. Due to these disagreements DJ Kay Gee decided to leave Naughty by Nature in late 2000. He started to develop his own record label Divine Mill. In 2001, the group released a song 'Here Comes The Money' that has constantly been used as the entrance theme for Shane McMahon in WWE. The remainder of the group, Treach and Vin Rock, released an album in 2002 called IIcons . Due to Kay Gee's absence, the group used a variety of different producers including Da Beatminerz. The album, however, received a lukewarm reception from the public. In 2002, the group disbanded. In May 2006, Kay Gee reunited with Treach and rejoined Naughty by Nature at a concert at B.B. King's nightclub. [9] In April 2010 they released the single "Get to Know Me Better", featuring rapper Pitbull, while the B-side of the single was called "I Gotta Lotta". Later in 2010 they released the group's first mixtape, Naughty by Nature: Tha Mixtape . In 2011 the three worked on their long-delayed seventh group album, and it finally saw release. Titled Anthem Inc. , it came out December 13, 2011. [10] It featured brand new material as well as re-recordings of the group's past hits.
On June 11, 2011, Naughty by Nature became the first hip-hop group to perform at Fenway Park. They performed "Hip Hop Hooray" as part of the mega boyband NKOTBSB's concert.
In March 2012, following the release of a documentary on fellow New Jersey–based hip hop group Sugar Hill Gang, Naughty by Nature performed in Asbury Park, NJ at the Garden State film festival. [11]
In May 2013, frontman Treach shocked fans when he revealed that Vin Rock had been "fired" from the group after failing to put in the same amount of energy as himself and DJ Kay Gee. At the time, Treach said he and Vinnie had not been on speaking terms for around two years. [12]
In April 2015, Treach said he and Vinnie had resolved their issues, but now their relationship was strictly "business". "You got teammates, sometimes, that's on the same team, they may not feel each other. At the end of the day, you going out to win. That's what we doing", Treach said. Although the two were cordial, he said another Naughty by Nature album was unlikely. [13]
In January 2016, in celebration of their 25th anniversary, Naughty by Nature posted the video for their song "God Is Us" from Anthem Inc. to their YouTube channel. [14] [15]
On May 2, 2019, the Mixtape Tour commenced in Cincinnati, Ohio. Performers included Naughty by Nature, Salt-N-Pepa, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany, with New Kids on the Block being billed as the headline performers. [16]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Poverty's Paradise | Grammy Award for Best Rap Album | Won | [17] |
| "Feel Me Flow" | Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated | ||
| 1993 | "Hip Hop Hooray" | Nominated | ||
| 1991 | "O.P.P." | Nominated |
| Year | Artist | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Naughty by Nature | Favorite New Artist - Rap / Hip-Hop | Won |
| 1994 | Naughty by Nature | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated |
| 1996 | Naughty by Nature | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Hip Hop Hooray" | Best Rap Video | Nominated |
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella. Their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986), sold more than 1 million copies in the US, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album included the single, "Push It", which was released in 1987 as the B-side to their single "Tramp", and peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Anthony Shawn Criss, better known by his stage name Treach, is an American rapper and actor. He is perhaps best known as the lead rapper of the hip hop group Naughty by Nature.
Zhané was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit "Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Other popular hits include "Groove Thang" and minor hit "Sending My Love", both released in 1994. The group was part of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit collective.
Naughty by Nature is the second album from Naughty by Nature, released on September 3, 1991, by Tommy Boy Records. The album was recorded through November 1990 to August 1991. It was a critical and commercial success, having been certified platinum on February 6, 1992, thanks in large part to the hit single, "O.P.P.," which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
Tha' Rayne was an American R&B singing girl group that was formed in 2000 and disbanded in mid–2005. Tha' Rayne was a trio consisted of two singing members and a DJ. The original members of the group were Yummy Bingham and Shaquana Elam, who shared lead vocals on all of the group's recordings.
19 Naughty III is the third album from Naughty by Nature, released on February 23, 1993, through Tommy Boy Records. Recording sessions took place at Unique Recording Studios, Soundtrack Studios and Electric Lady Studios in New York City from February 1992 to January 1993. Three singles were released from the album, the group's second top 10 hit, "Hip Hop Hooray," as well as the minor hits "It's On" and "Written on Ya Kitten." Production was handled entirely by group member Kay Gee himself, with additional production from S.I.D. Reynolds. It includes guest appearances from Heavy D, Queen Latifah, Freddie Foxxx and Rottin Razkals.
Poverty's Paradise is the fourth album from Naughty by Nature, released on May 30, 1995, as their final album under Tommy Boy Records. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. A single released from the album, "Feel Me Flow", achieved major success, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, two other singles "Craziest" and "Clap Yo Hands”, achieved minor success, the former peaking at number 51 on the Hot 100.
IIcons is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Naughty by Nature. It was released on May 7, 2002 on TVT Records. Production was handled by Naughty by Nature, Da Beatminerz, DJ Twinz and Lil' Jon. It features guest appearances from Rottin Razkals, 3LW, Carl Thomas, Chyna Whyte, Freddie Foxxx, Icarus, Lil' Jon, Method Man, Pink, Queen Latifah, Redman and Road Dawgs. The album was a success, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned the single, "Feels Good " which made it to No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"O.P.P." is a song by American hip hop group Naughty by Nature, released in August 1991 by Tommy Boy as the lead single from the group's self-titled second album, Naughty by Nature (1991). It was one of the first rap songs to become a pop hit when it reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart. Rodd Houston and Marcus Raboy directed the music video for the song. Its declaration, "Down wit' O.P.P." was a popular catchphrase in the US in the early 1990s.
"Hip Hop Hooray" is a song by American hip hop group, Naughty by Nature, released in December 1992 by Tommy Boy Records as the first single from their third album, 19 Naughty III (1993). The song spent one week at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. It contains samples from "Funky President" by James Brown, "Don't Change Your Love" by Five Stairsteps, "Make Me Say it Again, Girl" by Isley Brothers, "You Can't Turn Me Away" by Sylvia Striplin and "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel. Pete Rock made a remix that samples Cannonball Adderley's "74 Miles Away". It was certified Platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 1,100,000 copies in the United States. The music video for "Hip Hop Hooray" was directed by Spike Lee and filmed in Brooklyn, New York City.
Queen Latifah is an American rapper, jazz/blues singer, and actress. Born Dana Owens, she has released seven studio albums, six of which were hip hop-influenced albums and two that were all-singing jazz-influenced albums. She has released a total of twenty-three singles as well. She has been given the title the "Queen of Jazz Rap".
Brothers Uv Da Blakmarket is an American hip hop group that at the time of its formation in 1991 consisted of Cool Money Cee, and the DJ Menal. The group formed in Paterson, New Jersey. Discovered by Pookie Gist, older brother of Kay Gee from the group Naughty By Nature. Signed to Select Records, group first appeared on the music scene in 1992 releasing a single called Livin In Da Bottle B/W Ruff Neck Style. Soon after the album Ruff Life was released. The Group performed as an opening act in the Flavor Unit Tour which featured House of Pain, Cypress Hill, Das EFX, Apache, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, and Naughty by Nature. The Group was also a member of the original Source Magazine mobile van tour along with EPMD, Black Sheep, Raheem, K-Solo, Red Hot Lover Tone and the Brand New Heavies. After releasing their second single, Not U Again B/W I Mean It the group felt the Select Records did not do a good job promoting them or their music so they parted ways with the label. DJ Menal Produced three songs for LeShaun's scheduled for release album Ready or Not. He produced the lead Single Ready or Not and remixed the classic Wild Thang which was on the B-Side of the single. Cool Money Cee appeared on Apache's album. He performed on the song Woodchuck which also featured Treach, Vin Rock, Latee, and Double J. Blakmarket also appeared on the Flavor Unit's Roll Wit Da Flava compilation with LeShaun.
"Feel Me Flow" is a song by American hip hop group Naughty by Nature, released in May 1995 by Tommy Boy Records as a single from their fourth album, Poverty's Paradise (1995). The song was the most successful single from the album, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart in mid-June and at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-July. The sole rapper on the song is Treach. The accompanying music video shows him near a pool and the ocean in the midst of a heat wave, and also shows clips of the winter and people snowboarding. The winter scene was recorded at Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont. The song was later featured in the 2002 film 8 Mile.
The Rottin Razkals were an American hip hop group signed to Motown Records' sub-label, Mad Sounds Recordings. Composed of three members, Chap, Fam, and Diesel, the group was closely associated with Naughty by Nature, first appearing on their 1993 album, 19 Naughty III on the song "Knock Em Out Da Box". Eventually landing a deal with Motown, the Rottin Razkals' debut album, Rottin ta da Core, was released on March 14, 1995. Though the album did not make it very high on the charts, only peaking at #190 on the Billboard 200, two singles from the album found some success on the Hot Rap Singles chart, "Hey Alright" and "Oh Yeah" made it to #23 and #14 on the chart respectively. The group has yet to release a second album, but they did appear on Naughty by Nature's albums, Poverty's Paradise and IIcons.
"It's On" is a song by American hip hop trio Naughty by Nature, released on June 8, 1993 by Tommy Boy as the second single from the trio's third album, 19 Naughty III (1993). The song was produced and written by the three members of the group, and found decent success on the US Billboard charts, making it to number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 48 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It samples jazz artist Donald Byrd's "French Spice", for which he received writing credits. The official remix was produced by the production duo The Beatnuts and featured on the B-Side of the single.
"Feels Good (Don't Worry Bout a Thing)" is the only single released from Naughty by Nature's sixth album, IIcons. It was released on April 30, 2002, and featured R&B group 3LW. The single found success, making it to six Billboard charts, including 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Naughty by Nature's only single to not feature DJ Kay Gee on production, instead the production was handled by the remaining members, Treach and Vin Rock.
American hip hop group Naughty by Nature have released seven studio albums, two compilation albums and eighteen singles.
Naughty's Nicest is a compilation album released by Rhino Entertainment containing the greatest hits of hip hop group Naughty by Nature.
Anthem Inc. is the seventh album from Naughty by Nature. The album marks a 20-year anniversary for the hip-hop trio. This is the first Naughty by Nature release featuring all three members - Treach, Vin Rock and Kay Gee - since 1999's Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury.
Monica Lynch is a music business executive, record producer, and former President of hip-hop/dance music label Tommy Boy Records. She has hosted radio programs on free-form WFMU since 1997, and worked as an A&R consultant for Queen Latifah and Martina McBride.
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