Naughty by Naughty
Label: Tommy Boy
Release Date: 1991

There was not a bigger, more contagious crossover radio smash in the autumn of 1991 than Naughty By Nature's "O.P.P.," a song that somehow managed the trick of being both audaciously catchy and subversively coy at the same time. Its irrepressible appeal--the Jackson 5 sample, the saucy subject matter, the huge anthemic chorus, Treach's phat rat-a-tat flow--was so widespread, in fact, that it played just as well to the hardcore heads in the hood as it did to the hip-hop dabblers in the suburbs. The beauty of the trio's self-titled full-length debut is that it is every bit as musically accomplished, and every bit as ghetto-fabulous, in its entirety as that watershed first single. Naughty By Nature is both a pop and a rap classic that chews up stylistic real estate by the block, easily shifting from an old-school rhyme-off between Treach and Vinnie ("Pin the Tail on the Donkey"), the unflappable "Louie Louie" Vega-produced posse cut "1, 2, 3" (with verses from Flavor Unit compadres Lakim Shabazz and Apache), and the teeth-clinching combative dirge "Guard Your Grill," all of which very much come out swinging from the streets, to the more measured, emotionally developed "Ghetto Bastard," which brings an upbeat but nail-tough point of view to a grim tale of parental and societal deprivation without ever asking for an ounce of sympathy. With the assistance of Queen Latifah's makeshift patois, the trio even brought something of the Caribbean to East Orange with "Wickedest Man Alive." All the tracks are as street- as they are club-astute, trimming the funk loops with live keyboards and saxophone and sanguine, soulful melodies. A must-have album for fans of East Coast rap.
- Stanton Swihart, All Music Guide

19 Naughty III
Release Date: 1993

Naughty by Nature clearly comes from the streets, and have all the aggression of the streets, but they don't glamorize the streets; sure, they'll take care of themselves in a harsh environment, but ultimately they prefer to steer clear of trouble, cops, and jail. It's a refreshingly grounded and realistic perspective, best heard on "Daddy Was a Street Corner," "The Hood Comes First," and "The Only Ones." There are also energized guest appearances from Heavy D ("Ready for Dem") and Queen Latifah ("Sleeping on Jersey"). Kay Gee again shows himself a sorely underappreciated producer, with one foot in the clubs and the other one on the street corner, and that's true of the group as a whole. A few slower moments don't prevent 19 Naughty III from ranking as Naughty by Nature's second straight triumph.
Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Proverty's Paradise
Release Date: 1995
from the June 1995 issue of The 411:
NAUGHTY BY NATURE, Poverty's Paradise, Tommy Boy
Coming "straight off the alleyways of Illtown," Naughty By Nature returns with a diverse third effort that combines a solid mix of uptown anthems, political consciousness and laid-back summertime grooves that makes Poverty's Paradise a strong candidate for album of the year. After two quick intros, Treach, Vin-Rock and Kay-Gee get things started off right with "Clap Yo Hands," an old school-type jam complete with a sample of Rakim from "Eric B. Is President." Other tracks, like the trio's current single, "Feel Me Flow," will definitely get plenty of play this summer, while "World Go Round" goes back to the tried-and-true formula of using Michael Jackson samples to get the job done. Also worth mentioning are "Chain Remains," which pays respect to those who are on lock down (and even gives a few a chance to give some shout outs), and "Connections," the last track on the album -- even after the "Outro" -- that's worthy of its encore status with a Method Man sample and some quick guest appearances from the Road Dawgs, the Cruddy Click and a dope female MC named Kandi Kain. Overall, the album is a definite improvement over the disappointing 19NaughtyIII and ranks up there closer to their debut. Treach, as always, provides tight lyrics and delivery while Vinnie plays the role of the right-hand man who comes through when called upon. Kay-Gee's trademark sound has evolved and matured with the help of some newcomers to the production game, making the chances for a big 19Naughty5 a lot stronger.

Nature's Fury
Label: Arista Records
Release Date: 1999
Longevity is a rare for hip-hop artists, since audiences place a priority on new sounds. It's difficult for veteran acts to continue to cultivate new sounds, and many have fallen by the wayside as they've tried to keep up with the times -- but not Naughty By Nature. They've never really changed their core sound, which is an alluring fusion of hardcore sentiments, pop hooks, and funky rhythms. But by not changing, they've managed to retain an audience, since they're reliable -- each Naughty By Nature record sounds essentially the same, but it's a satisfying sound that balances catchy hooks and clever, literate rhymes. Few artists are ever able to establish a track record like that, and it's amazing that 19 Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury -- the group's fourth album and first for Arista Records -- maintains the high quality. The album delivers what any fan of the group could want: several killer party jams, a couple of slow numbers, and a handful of amiable filler. There's genuine grit to the rhythms and rhymes and the music remains accessible and catchy -- in short, the best of Nature's Fury proves that it's possible to be melodic and hardcore at the same time, to have both hooks and substance. The album proves that Vinnie and Treach have developed their own signature sound and have found ways to keep it fresh and exciting nearly a decade into their career. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guid

Naughty's Nicest
Label: Tommy Boy
Release Date: 2003

Make no bones about it, Naughty By Nature has a knack of bringing street intellect to the pop charts with raw-edged but still accessible East Coast rap. Long before the bling bling of the '90s ushered in a new era, Naughty By Nature stood tall atop the pack with machine-gun snares and heavy kick drums perfect for your stereo or party. It does include selections from 2002's IIcons release (replacing cult hit "Clap Yo' Hands" in the process). This is still a solid greatest-hits package and a wonderful testament to one of the East Coast's most lethal hip-hop groups.
- Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

Nature's Finest
Release Date: 1999
From AMG Reviews:
Right from the get-go, Naughty by Nature's greatest-hits compilation reminds people that before there was the invasion of P. Diddy and the Bling-Blingers, there was a group who perfectly balanced the strength of street knowledge with accessible pop tunes that even had suburban mothers espousing the virtues of "O.P.P." Nature's Finest: Naughty by Nature's Greatest Hits is an amazing balance of their anthems and lesser-known tunes that had longevity in the clubs. But what set Naughty by Nature apart from many of their peers was their unwillingness to sacrifice the sound they developed over the years for commercial success, and some of their most brilliant efforts failed to reach the pop charts. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing either, as it lets fans rediscover classics and orient themselves to songs they might have overlooked. An essential piece of hip-hop history, this album is a treasure trove of greatest hits by one of the most consistently wonderful rap groups of the early '90s.
- Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

iicons
Release Date: 1999
From AMG Reviews:
Right from the get-go, Naughty by Nature's greatest-hits compilation reminds people that before there was the invasion of P. Diddy and the Bling-Blingers, there was a group who perfectly balanced the strength of street knowledge with accessible pop tunes that even had suburban mothers espousing the virtues of "O.P.P." Nature's Finest: Naughty by Nature's Greatest Hits is an amazing balance of their anthems and lesser-known tunes that had longevity in the clubs. But what set Naughty by Nature apart from many of their peers was their unwillingness to sacrifice the sound they developed over the years for commercial success, and some of their most brilliant efforts failed to reach the pop charts. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing either, as it lets fans rediscover classics and orient themselves to songs they might have overlooked. An essential piece of hip-hop history, this album is a treasure trove of greatest hits by one of the most consistently wonderful rap groups of the early '90s.
- Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

IICONS -Double CD and DVD set, Platinum Collector's Edition
Label:TVT, Naughty by Nature Records
Release Date: 2004

Love and a Bullet (2002)
Columbia Pictures
Treach (Naughty by Nature) stars in this action-packed drama as Malik Bishop, a tough-as-nails gangsta kid turned elite hit man. While staking out his next assignment - the innocent girlfriend of his notorious boss - Malik reflects on the dark path he’s chosen but can not escape. Torn between his sense of duty and his newfound sense of humanity, he finds that the only way out is a perilous showdown with men who are every bit as cold-blooded as he is.