Naughty by Nature

Naughty by Nature
Naughty By Nature member Treach (left) Vin Rock (right) in 2009
Background information
Also known as	The New Style
Origin	East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Years active	1988–2002 2006–present
Labels	MCA, TVT, Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., Arista/BMG
Associated acts	Queen Latifah, 2Pac, Apache, Road Dawgs, Rottin Razkals, Eazy-E, Zhane
Website	NaughtyByNature.com
Members	Treach Vin Rock DJ Kay Gee

Naughty by Nature is a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop trio from East Orange, New Jersey consisting of Treach (Anthony Criss, born December 2, 1970), Vin Rock (Vincent Brown, born September 17, 1970), and DJ Kay Gee (born Keir Lamont Gist, September 15, 1969).

The group formed in East Orange, New Jersey, (colloquially referred to as Illtown in the 1980s) in 1988. The group first appeared on the music scene in 1989, releasing an album called Independent Leaders under its then-name the New Style. The album generated the minor hit "Scuffin' Those Knees". After the release of its first album, the group was mentored by fellow New Jersey native Queen Latifah, and subsequently changed its name.

The group's first hit as Naughty by Nature was a track called "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 song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the most successful crossover songs in rap history. The song has become well known in pop culture, being mentioned in TV shows and films such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Malibu's Most Wanted, My Wife and Kids, Monk, and The Office. "O.P.P." also gained critical acclaim, being named one of the top 100 rap singles of all time in 1998 by The Source magazine, and being ranked the 20th best single of the 1990s by Spin magazine