Poverty's Paradise

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 3 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. 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.

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
ProducerNaughty by Nature, Minnesota, Brice, Kid Nyce
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

At the Grammy Awards of 1996 it won the award for Best Rap Album, which was a new category that year.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA[3]
Q[4]
Robert ChristgauA−[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
The Source4/5[4]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[7]
Vibe(positive)[4]

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."[1] 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."[2] 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.TitleLength
1."Intro" (Skit)0:38
2."Poverty's Paradise"1:01
3."Clap Yo Hands"4:39
4."City of Ci-Lo"3:13
5."Hang Out and Hustle" (featuring G-Luv of Road Dawgs and I Face Finsta of Cruddy Click)3:15
6."It's Workin'" (featuring Rottin Razkals)4:06
7."Holdin' Fort"3:34
8."Chain Remains"4:33
9."Feel Me Flow"3:33
10."Craziest"4:12
11."Radio" (Skit)0:09
12."Sunshine"3:13
13."Webber (Skit)" (featuring Chris Webber)0:49
14."Respect Due"3:03
15."World Go Round"3:06
16."Klickow-Klickow" (featuring Rottin Razkals, Cruddy Click and Road Dawgs)5:00
17."Double I" (Skit)0:13
18."Slang Bang"3:42
19."Shout Out" (featuring Gordon Chambers)7:02
20."Outro"0:27
21."Connections" (featuring Cruddy Click, Road Dawgs and Kandi Kain (from the New Jersey Drive, Vol. 2 soundtrack)3:10

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 CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Poverty's Paradise - Naughty by Nature". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  2. Johnson, Martin (June 8, 1995). "Naughty By Nature Poverty's Paradise (Tommy Boy)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  3. Bernard, James (May 19, 1995). "Poverty's Paradise". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  4. Album reviews at CD Universe
  5. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Naughty by Nature". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  6. 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. DaveyBoy (September 14, 2008). "Naughty By Nature - Poverty's Paradise". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  8. "Australiancharts.com – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  10. "Charts.nz – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  11. "Swisscharts.com – Naughty by Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  14. "Naughty by Nature Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  15. "Naughty by Nature Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  16. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  17. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  18. "American album certifications – Naughty By Nature – Poverty's Paradise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
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