Poverty Paradise

Albeit this is the only Naughty by Nature album with which I'm familiar, I found it one of the most enjoyable hip-hop albums I've encountered. The beats are incredible, enjoyable, but what distinguishes this cd from typical party music are the amazing lyrical acrobatics. I fully agree with the Amazon review: Treach and VinRock, beyond their impressive lyrical content and manipulation of phrases, enhance their poetics by deftly manipulating the language's sounds and accents, resulting in a flow in the truest sense of the word. Though the content varies from the social/political (World Goes Round, in my opinion the strongest all-round track, intelligent and bumping) to sexual (Sunshine) to classic we're-the-baddest-mcs (Clap Your Hands), their lyrical craft never fails. If anything, the strongest display of their lyrical abilities is Feel Me Flow, also their most light-hearted, upbeat, beach-rolling track.

I never expected to even own this album, but it's now become a staple in my collection.

Naughty by Nature's (Treach, Vinnie, Kay Gee) third album "Poverty's Paradise" (1995) is an banging underated release that still vibes very well many years later. Executive production comes from Naughty by Nature, Sha-Kim & Queen Latifah. Guest appearances come from Road Dawgs, Cruddy Click, Rottin Razkalz, Chriss Webber, Gordon Chambers. On the insert to the cd there is a comment I like from Treach which runs as "You could Leave the Ghetto, But the Ghetto Ain't Gonna Leave You. It's in you forever, If you keep in touch". The albums title track, is a one minute track which has Naughty by Nature reminding there fans that they will always remember there roots, and stay grounded, and that they will represent for those who dont get a voice out there. First tracks that standout for me are upbeat party tracks like "Clap Yo Hands" & "It's Workin" feat. Rottin Razkalz tracks which have nice choruses and are entertaining. On "Chain Remain" NBN goes deeper showing there social consciousness, talking about incarceration, and dropping lines like "Jails aint nothing but the slave day sequel". The lighter "Feel Me Flow" follows, a very nice laid back party track. "Craziest" has NBN showing love to people from city's from NJ to Boston. Another track follows in "Sunshine" which has an addictive beat, and is a track about showing love to the shortys, and getting laid. "World Goes Round" is a track about the youth, cops, media, and the streets. Naughty by Nature shows there harder side on "Klickow-Klickow" feat. Rottin Razkals, Cruddy Click, Road Dawgz while paying some respect to the oldschool. The albums longest track is the seven minute "Shout Out" feat. R&B singer Gordon Chambers a track by Naughty by Nature in which they thank the radio programmers, video shows, DJ and fans that supported there music and helped them make it, while also thanking individuals like Funkmaster Flex, DJ Premier, and many many more. I like this, never have seen a track where a group shows so much love to those who helped them make it and to other artists, while getting specific and being genuine. Next comes outro, which you would think would be closer, cept it isnt as the hardcore "Connections" closes the album off well. "Poverty's Paradise" has music to party to, music that makes you think, and music that goes deeper then the average. Beats, production and lyrics are all solid making this an album to have if you like Naughty by Nature like I do.

This is a high quality rap record full of banging beats and incredible rapping. If you don't own it you are missing out on some great hip hop.