Naughty by Nature Awarded at the 38th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Quotes
"Uh oh, uh oh; here comes the news flash from LA where crooked cops just walk away; so there has been rioting all day; the only thing that made my day a little better . . . uniting forever, CRIPS [and] Bloods fighting together";
"Daddy Was a Street Corner"; Naughty by Nature, 19 Naughty III, 1993, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.

"They give a man a cell quick before they give a man work. . . . jails ain't nothing but the slave-day sequel; trying to flee the trap of this nation, seeing penitentiaries, the plan to plant the new plantation. . . . plotting to rotting our stocks. . . . judges look at our seed, brothers, like enemies. . . . ain't no freedom. . . . for the brothers and sisters locked [in prison], the chain remains. . . . ain't no mystery, we need victory; the system conspired; the days of the riots ain't retired; but brothers staying calm because they soldiers; until when the only solution is revolution, know we told you; the chain remains until we 'uprise'; stuck in a land where we ain't meant to survive";
"Chain Remains"; Poverty's Paradise, Naughty by Nature, 1995, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.

Article
      Naughty by Nature was awarded "Best Rap Album" for Poverty's Paradise at the 38th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 28, 1996.

      On its debut album which came out in 1991, Queen Latifah takes on double duty as one of the album's executive producers and as one of its back up rappers. Queen Latifah was an executive producer for all of their later albums, and the albums are discussed below. The Naughty by Nature rappers introduce her as a "messiah," and, on the same track, a rapper gives out the Islamic greeting used by members of Nation of Islam, in particular, he says "peace, As-Salamu 'alai-kum." ("Wickedest Man Alive.") A song is relayed about a young man who "stick-ups" people, and the man says that he could not get a job because he claims that "nappy hair was not allowed." ("Everything's Gonna Be Alright.") Naughty by Nature rappers say that they are "packed with black positivity," and they conform to the "gangsta" rap formula when they claim that they carry around guns and that they will kill rival rappers. In a few phrases, they mean to show off the ruggedness of their lyrics when they say that blacks will not tolerate Ku Klux Klan images, and the way in which they say so is as follows: "should have had projects in the days of Mississippi Burning; I let it see the white sheet hit the concrete, and see the head go up and down from a thousand feet; because the brothers from around my way don't even play all that; they see a white sheet and cross, they say: oh, don't give me that; Halloween in Illtown [Harlem], now don't you be a ghost because you could get yours broke or even worse, smoked." ("Let the Ho's Go.") On another track, they show off their toughness in the same way, referring to historical slavery as "cotton," which is common usage of the word "cotton" in "gangsta" rap, and the example follows: "I'm more of a threat; I'm more of a problem; to hell with cotton." A rapper from Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit, namely Apache, is a guest rapper. ("1,2,3.") The popularity of some rappers and rap groups are boosted by positive words, and artists addressed are Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, her Flavor Unit, Digital Underground, Tupac, and Def Jef. ("Every Day All Day.") Also promoted are the rappers Kid Capri, Dr Dre, Eazy E, Kool G Rap, Brand Nubian, and Grand Puba. ("Guard Your Grill" and "1,2,3.") Naughty by Nature threatens to shoot in the face any rapper who tries to undermine, and such a rapper is called a "snake." The rappers boast that they "knock cops off." ("Pin the Tail on the Donkey.") An example of them using black identity is as follows: "cussing wasn't nothing until a black man rapped." ("Uptown Anthem.")

      On their 1993 album, the rappers again praise Queen Latifah. A common trait among "gangsta" rappers who put out violent racism is for them to issue threats at rappers who do not write about the problems in black communities, such as about drugs and violence, or to issue threats at rappers who do not direct hatred and violence towards the police and whites. The Naughty by Nature rappers do so on their 1993 CD's, and they let the sellout rappers know what the topic should be: "we saw the Rodney King thing. . . . we should've left the homies alone and went to paint the White House black." ("The Hood Come First.") The rappers complain that the police knock down the door and raid their place looking for drugs. They say that they used to do "dirt" (commit crimes) but that now their money is earned legitimately with rap music. "The truth hurt--don't it," they say, "and a black man own it." They say the following: "I'm the powwow who know the White House will be sprayed black with two coats." ("The Only Ones.") Track 5 begins with a skit in which the rappers make drug deals on the street, but then they flee after police cars come screeching forward. After the drug-dealing skit, the rapping begins, and the rappers take the point of view of a drug dealer who robs people "at gun point." Naughty by Nature says that blacks who become criminals had no choice because their fathers left early on and because their neighborhoods do not have recreational facilities. "Gangsta" rappers consistently lift some or all of the ultimate responsibility for improvement off of black conscience, and Naughty by Nature holds onto the trait when they threaten violence as follows: "uh oh, uh oh; here comes the news flash from LA where crooked cops just walk away; so there has been rioting all day; the only thing that made my day a little better . . . uniting forever, CRIPS [and] Bloods fighting together." ("Daddy Was a Street Corner.") Apache's song "Gangsta Bitch," from his Apache Ain't Shit album, is promoted twice. ("Written on Ya Kitten" and "It's On.") Listeners are told to "listen up to the Nubians." ("Knock Em out da Box.") Rapper Heavy D joins in on a track. ("Ready for Dem.") Support for the rap group Cypress Hill is verbalized. ("Hip Hop Hooray.") Shout outs are given to Kid Capri, Red Alert, Dr Dre, Das EFX, De La Soul, Queen Latifah, her Flavor Unit, and Apache, and also to prisoners at Rikers Island and at Trenton State. ("Sleepwalkin II/Shout Outs" and "Hot Potato.") In the liner notes, the following artists are thanked: 2Pac, Eazy E, MC Ren, Dr Dre, Snoop Doggy Dog, Red Alert, Kid Capri, Onyx, Run DMC, Kriss Kross, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Flavor Unit, Public Enemy, Geto Boys, Heavy D, Black Sheep, Fu-Schnickens, Organized Konfusion, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, Ice Cube, Da Lench Mob, Eric B. & Rakim, Luke, Nas, MC Lyte, Cypress Hill, Gang Starr, Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, and Wreckx-N-Effect. Also thanked are "all the radio stations across the country who program Hip Hop."

      On the opening track of their GRAMMY Award winning album, Poverty's Paradise, the rappers describe the purpose of their messages as follows: "letting the whole world hear our peoples' cries, and bringing to surface the years and years of all the wicked lies." Race is important to the rappers, and, after all, they made the album, they say, because they "heard hip hop needed another anthem, black like Noah." (From "Feel Me Flow.") The listeners are told that if the rappers do not make it in the music industry then they may switch to dealing drugs and committing violence. They ask the listeners the following question and answer it themselves: "Can you kill a 'can. . . . I know I can can, an American, a Republican, fucking with this African, 'can, from this Klan land." ("It's Workin.") The rappers say that the police go into black neighborhoods and stop blacks from playing their music loudly, and as a result, the rappers predict, blacks may riot. ("Holdin' Fort.") Track 15 gives the following "justifications" for violent revolution: the people in power spend money to explore space and to save animals before solving the problems of black poverty; blacks are mad about not getting monetary aid; all the while, the police cannot be trusted and shoot black youths who carry toy guns; black boys grow up to be killers, and it is not good when blacks kill blacks; when rappers speak "truths," people try to stop them; and "Farrakhan wants us to take the streets back--time to take it." ("World Goes Round.")

      On track 8, the rappers declare that the system does not give blacks a chance to succeed and instead imprisons them as part of a plot. Many phrases issued forth by Naughty by Nature lift some or all fundamental responsibility off of black individuals and transfer it onto the system which, as it is claimed by them, is so "white" that blacks have no opportunity. A sample of phrases from the track are as follows: "they give a man a cell quick before they give a man work"; "jails ain't nothing but the slave-day sequel"; "penitentiaries, the plan to plant the new plantation"; "judges look at . . . brothers like enemies. . . . ain't no freedom." A violent proclamation is issued: "ain't no mystery, we need victory; the system conspired; the days of the riots ain't retired; but brothers staying calm because they soldiers; until when the only solution is revolution, know we told you; the chain remains until we 'uprise'; stuck in a land where we ain't meant to survive." Between long raps on the track there are excerpts from inmates speaking about when they will be let out of prison, and at the track's end, a Naughty by Nature rapper gives recognition to some inmates by saying their names.

      The rappers use their own names in the song and say that they influence with their lyrics. ("Chain Remains.") In a song about rapping on the street, a Naughty by Nature rapper says the following: "I conjure up raps. . . . they be hitting like that brick that smacked Reginald Denny." ("Hang Out and Hustle.")

      Inside the CD pamphlets, the rappers give a long thank-you list, and some of those thanked are Queen Latifah, Apache, Salt-N-Pepa, Dr Dre, Coolio, Cypress Hill, Dogg Pound, Snoop Doggy Dog, Death Row Records, Ice Cube, South Central Cartel, Murder Squad, Da Lench Mob, KAM, Yo Yo, Eazy-E, Rage, Alkaholiks, Scarface, Bushwick Bill, 40 Theyv, Outkast, Wu-Tang Clan, Luke, Shyheim, Lords of the Underground, Channel Live, Redman, Keith Murray, Nas, Black Moon, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Eric B., KRS-One, Tupac, Dr Dre, Jeru the Damaja, De La Soul, Biggie Smalls (Notorious BIG), Craig Mack, Puff Daddy (Sean "Puffy" Combs), Uncle L (LL Cool J), Rampage, Heavy D, Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, PMD, Afrika Bambaataa, Zulu Nation, Onyx, MC Lyte, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, Wreckx-N-Effect, Kool G Rap, Black Sheep, King Sun, Gravediggaz, Das EFX, Kid Capri, Poison Clan, Public Enemy, Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash, Fu-Schnickens, and Kris Kross.

References
Naughty by Nature, Naughty by Nature, 1991, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.
Guard Your Grill/Uptown Anthem, Naughty by Nature, 1992, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.
Hip Hop Hooray, Naughty by Nature, 1993, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.
19 Naughty III, Naughty by Nature, 1993, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.
Poverty's Paradise, Naughty by Nature, 1995, Tommy Boy Music, Time Warner.

Posted at http://home.att.net/~phosphor on June 30, 1999.

Updates: 8-10-99: link to Onyx.

The above article is not a complete summary of Naughty by Nature's connections to violently racist music, and readers may want to research and expose more of it.

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