# 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 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 ||
| Source | Rating |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Robert Christgau | A− |
| Entertainment Weekly | A |
| NME | 7/10 |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Select | |
| Smash Hits | |
| The Source | |
| Vibe | (positive) |
Professional ratings :
| Retrospective reviews (after 1995) ||
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5 |
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." 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." 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." 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."

## Track listing

Sample credits
* "Poverty's Paradise" contains a sample from "Poverty's Paradise", written by Dale Warren and performed by 24-Carat Black.
* "Clap Yo Hands" contains a sample from:
** "Eric B. Is President", written and performed by Eric B. & Rakim.
** "I Thank You", written by David Porter and Isaac Hayes, and performed by Sam & Dave.
* "City of Ci-Lo" contains a sample from "The Bones Fly from Spoons Hand", performed by The Last Poets.
* "Hang Out and Hustle" contains a sample from:
** "Just Hanging Out"; written by Kevin McKenzie, Shawn McKenzie, and William Mitchell; and performed by Main Source.
** "Hang Out and Hustle", written by James Brown and Charles Sherrell, and performed by The J.B.'s.
* "Feel Me Flow" contains a sample from "Find Yourself", performed by The Meters.
* "Craziest" contains a sample from "That's All That Matters Baby", written and performed by Charles Wright.
* "Sunshine" contains a sample from "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", written and performed by Roy Ayers.
* "Respect Due" contains a sample from:
** "King of Rock"; written by Larry Smith, Joseph Simmons, and Darryl McDaniels; and performed by Run-DMC.
** "Off and On"; written by Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr., Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, Berry Gordy, Edward Fordham, Marcus Jones, Antonio Perry, and Deke Richards; and performed by Trends of Culture.
* "World Go Round" contains a sample from:
** "People Make the World Go Round", written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, and performed by Michael Jackson.
** What You Do to Me", written and performed by Tony Williams.
* "Shout Out" contains a sample from "Our Love Has Died", performed by Ohio Players.
* "Outro" contains a sample from the motion picture Animal House.
* "Connections" contains a sample from "The What"; written by Osten Harvey, Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, and Method Man; and performed by The Notorious B.I.G..

## Samples

* "Intro Skit"
** "Soul Sister Brown Sugar" by Sam & Dave
* "Poverty's Paradise"
** "Poverty's Paradise" by 24 Carat Black
* "Clap Yo Hands"
** "I Thank You" by Sam & Dave
** "Eric B. is President" by Eric B. & Rakim
** "Devotion (Live)" by Earth, Wind & Fire
* "City of Ci-Lo"
** "Bones Fly from Spoon's Hand" by Lightnin' Rod
** "Stranded on Death Row" by Dr.Dre
* "Hang Out and Hustle"
** "Hang out and Hustle" by Sweet Charles
* "Feel Me Flow"
** "Find Yourself" by The Meters
* "Craziest"
** "That's All That Matters Baby" by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
* "Sunshine"
** "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" by Roy Ayers
* "World Go Round"
** "People Make the World Go Round" by Michael Jackson
** "What You Do to Me" by Tony Williams
* "Klickow-Klickow"
** "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players
* "Slang Bang"
** "Inside My Love" by Minnie Riperton
* "Shout Out"
** "Our Love Has Died" by Ohio Players
* "Connections"
** "Hard Times" by Baby Huey & "The What" by The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Method Man

## Singles chart positions

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

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||