Naughty by Nature back w/ Kaygee, bringing clothing line back

[Koolest]

Hip-Hop Hooray! Naughty By Nature is back! The legendary hip-hop icons and international superstars, returned to the NY stage for a one-night exclusive engagement at BB Kings on May 17th. The concert marked their first performance in the New York tri-state area since 1999. Treach and Vinnie took the crowd through memory lane performing classics like "O.P.P.," "Hip-Hop Hooray," "Everything’s Gonna Be Alright," "Uptown Anthem," and "Mourn You Til I Join You" bringing nearly half of the audience onstage to party with them on their closing song, "Wild Muthaf***as," (produced by and featuring Lil Jon) from their last album, iicons.

The highlight of the evening came when a special guest joined them onstage. Treach requested his signature drink, Hennessey, shouting the request out to the bar, but instead of a waitress, bringing the bottle of cognac up to the stage was none other than Naughty By Nature’s former producer/DJ, Kay Gee, who joined Treach and Vinnie onstage. While photographers bulbs flashed simultaneously, Treach proclaimed "he’s back" alluding to Kay Gee’s return to the group as producer of the next Naughty By Nature album.

This BB King performance marked the first time that the three original members of Naughty By Nature have performed together since their split in 1999 with the release 19 Naughty IX: Nature’s Fury. Now reunited, the three will return back into the studio to record a forthcoming album while in the meantime, Treach is writing songs for long anticipated his solo effort. "The party anthems that we created with Kay Gee defined Naughty By Nature sound, so we’re really happy to have him back with us," said Vinnie backstage after the show. Treach still reeling from the performance said, "Looking back and seeing Kay there brought so many memories. It’s good to know that he’s back!" Rebekah Foster, president of Ujima Entertainment who has managed the career of Naughty By Nature since 1998 adds, "Kay Gee was instrumental in producing Naughty By Nature’s party anthems which helped to mold and shape Naughty By Nature’s sound, so we’re happy that the original members are back together."

If Kay Gee’s return to the group marks a return of Naughty By Nature to their origins, the relaunching of Naughty Gear, the first clothing line started by a hip-hop group makes its return as well. The line which includes embroidered hoodies, heavyweight ringer Tee, boxers, bed sheets, and even lingerie for the ladies all imprinted with their ‘naughty’ logo can be purchased on their official website, www.naughtybynature.com.

Naughty By Nature was the catalyst that ushered hip-hop culture into a new age, reaching new and diverse audiences around the globe redefining the boundaries of hip-hop. One of the first hip-hop groups to successfully walk the fine line between mainstream acceptance and street credibility, Naughty By Nature has received numerous accolades in their 10 year career: Grammy Award for Best Rap Album; American Music Award for Best New Rap Group and a Source Award for New Artist of the Year (1991) and emerged as hip-hop’s icons.

Since their last album, iicons, released on Naughty Records distributed by TVT, Naughty By Nature has been touring non-stop. "We don’t need to have a release out to go on the road, that’s how naughty now we are," says Treach who when not in the studio can be found on the big screen. He made his onscreen debut in Juice prompted by good friend, Tupac and has gone on to appear in Jason’s Lyric, Empire, 3AM, First Time Felon, Conviction, and Love & A Bullet where he landed his first lead role. He recently guest-starred in the final of HBO’s Emmy Award winning series, The Sopranos and his latest release is "Faces," which premieres on the Sundance Channel. While Treach takes over the big screen, Vinnie is working on a pilot for a TV show called The Block. "It’s a Teen Summit meets 106 & Park kind of show," he explains. "I want to impact today’s youth in a broader sense. There’s a bunch of negative energy out there and I’m gonna bring some positive vibes to young people."