Poverty’s Paradise

Released in May 1995, Poverty’s Paradise represents Naughty by Nature at their commercial and technical zenith, eventually winning the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1996. While their previous efforts established them as hitmakers, this record saw Treach further refining his reputation as one of the most technically gifted lyricists of the decade. The production, handled largely by Kay Gee, continues the group's signature style of utilizing soulful, recognizable samples - most notably the use of The Detroit Emeralds on the hit 'Feel Me Flow' - to create a bridge between hardcore rap and the Billboard charts. The album is structured with numerous skits that provide a cinematic, 'radio-dial' feel, grounding the listener in the group's New Jersey environment. Critically, it is viewed as a definitive document of the mid-90s East Coast sound, balancing the 'thug' persona with a celebratory, inclusive spirit that allowed hip-hop to dominate mainstream culture without losing its edge.