Poverty's Paradise

Poverty's Paradise
Studio album by
Naughty by Nature
ReleasedMay 30, 1995
Recorded1994–95
Studio
  • Battery Studios (New York City)
  • Marion Recording Studios (Studio City, Los Angeles)
  • Soundtrack Studios (New York City)
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length62:41
Label
Producer
Naughty by Nature chronology
19 Naughty III
(1993) 		Poverty's Paradise
(1995) 		Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury
(1999)
Singles from Poverty's Paradise
  1. "Clap Yo Hands"
    Released: February 17, 1995
  2. "Craziest"
    Released: April 4, 1995
  3. "Feel Me Flow"
    Released: July 23, 1995

Poverty's Paradise is the fourth album from Naughty by Nature, released on May 30, 1995, as their final album under Tommy Boy Records. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. A single released from the album, "Feel Me Flow", achieved major success, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, two other singles "Craziest" and "Clap Yo Hands", achieved minor success, the former peaking at number 51 on the Hot 100.

At the 37th Annual Grammy Awards, Poverty's Paradise won the award for Best Rap Album, which was a new category that year.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Initial reviews (in 1995)
Review scores
SourceRating
Chicago Tribune[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA[3]
NME7/10[4]
Q[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Select[7]
Smash Hits[8]
The Source[9]
Vibe(positive)[5]
Professional ratings
Retrospective reviews (after 1995)
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[11]

James Bernard of Entertainment Weekly praised both Treach and Vinnie for their commanding presence throughout the track listing and felt the record was prime for summer replays, saying "Dominated by rollicking bass lines, chant-along choruses, and the catchy, tight rhyme schemes that are Naughty's trademark, Poverty is tailor-made for low driving on the beach."[3] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that "[F]or their third album, Naughty By Nature do little to truly change their style. Some of the beats are little slower and funkier, some of the rhymes are more dexterous, some of the rhythms are a little more complex -- yet nothing distinguishes Poverty's Paradise from the group's two previous, and superior, records."[10] Martin Johnson of the Chicago Tribune said about the album: "Yes, there are many radio-friendly anthemic numbers that could make a nifty summer soundtrack, but the real strength of this record is its consistency; there are no weak spots. Most tracks roll by with New Jersey-styled funk and rollicking rhymes from Treach and Kay Gee, whose lyrics depict the 'hood without romanticizing it."[1] Cheo H. Coker, writing for Rolling Stone, gave note of the record following the same formula as the group's previous efforts: "a few party-starting tracks ("Clap Yo Hands," "Craziest"), some social commentary ("Chain Remains," "Holding Fort") and a barrage of lyrical fury ("Klickcow, Klicow," "Respect Due")", but said that it retains their "sheer funkability" thanks to the "production stylistics" of Kay Gee's work, Vinnie's "improved rhyme skills," and Treach remaining consistent in his vocal conviction, saying "there's emotional substance behind the flashy verbal pyrotechnics."[6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" (Skit)  0:38
2."Poverty's Paradise"
Naughty by Nature1:01
3."Clap Yo Hands"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature4:39
4."City of Ci-Lo"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Minnesota3:13
5."Hang Out and Hustle" (featuring G-Luv of Road Dawgs and I Face Finsta of Cruddy Click)
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature3:15
6."It's Workin'" (featuring Rottin Razkals)
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature4:06
7."Holdin' Fort"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
  • Naughty by Nature
  • Al Mal
3:34
8."Chain Remains"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Brice4:33
9."Feel Me Flow"
Naughty by Nature3:33
10."Craziest"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature4:12
11."Radio" (Skit)  0:09
12."Sunshine"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature3:13
13."Webber (Skit)" (featuring Chris Webber)  0:49
14."Respect Due"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature3:03
15."World Go Round"
Minnesota3:06
16."Klickow-Klickow" (featuring Rottin Razkals, Cruddy Click and Road Dawgs)
  • Brown
  • Gist
  • Criss
Naughty by Nature5:00
17."Double I" (Skit)  0:13
18."Slang Bang"
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Kid Nyce3:42
19."Shout Out" (featuring Gordon Chambers)
Naughty by Nature7:02
20."Outro"  0:27
21."Connections" (featuring Kandi Kain, Road Dawgs and Cruddy Click (from the New Jersey Drive, Vol. 2 soundtrack)
  • Gist
  • Criss
  • Brown
Naughty by Nature3:10

Sample credits

Samples

Album chart positions

Singles chart positions

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1995 "Craziest" 51 27 5
"Feel Me Flow" 17 17 3
"Clap Yo Hands" 105 70 33

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Johnson, Martin (June 8, 1995). "Naughty By Nature Poverty's Paradise (Tommy Boy)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Naughty by Nature". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Bernard, James (May 19, 1995). "Poverty's Paradise". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  4. ^ Howe, Rupert (May 13, 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 60. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Album reviews at CD Universe
  6. ^ a b Coker, Cheo H. (June 15, 1995). "Naughty By Nature: Poverty's Paradise". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on July 17, 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  7. ^ Mulholland, Garry (June 1995). "New Albums". Select. p. 86. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Diprose, Andrew (April 26, 1995). "Albums". Smash Hits. p. 63. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Davis, André LeRoy "A.L. Dre" (May 1995). "Record Report: Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". The Source. No. 68. New York. p. 65. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Poverty's Paradise - Naughty by Nature". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  11. ^ DaveyBoy (September 14, 2008). "Naughty By Nature - Poverty's Paradise". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  12. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "Charts.nz – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  18. ^ "Naughty by Nature Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "Naughty by Nature Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  21. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  22. ^ "American album certifications – Naughty By Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
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