NAUGHTY by Nature isn't just a hip-hop group — it's a legacy and a brotherhood, says on-and-off again member Vin Rock.
The Grammy-winning trio, well-known for the songs Holiday and O.P.P., are on the eve of their 25th year as a group.
For a time, Vin Rock (real name Vincent Brown) had a falling out with bandmates Treach and DJ Kay Gee.
But he said he's buried the hatchet with the men he calls his brothers.
"We've been doing this, man, literally since 1984," Vin Rock said.
"We've been together like brothers and just like family you go through difficulties and problems.
"As brothers, we settled everything, we're focused and we're good to go — we've re-formed and if it wasn't meant to be, we wouldn't be doing this tour.
"It's beyond business, it's beyond brotherhood. This is a legacy."
The trio were barely in their 20s when they launched their first album, Independent Leaders, in New Jersey.
Vin Rock looked back at the past 25 years, almost in awe of how fast their career has moved.
"We're basically like child stars," he said. "We sacrificed our teenage years, our 20s and 30s."
The trio learned very quickly how to be "students of the game" of this industry; they went beyond music and began taking control of their brand.
"We didn't realise it but we were forming our own corporation, our own company — since 1990, we've been self-employed."
Despite being veterans, Vin Rock said it was necessary to have a restrained opinion on contemporary hip-hop music.
"Hip-hop culture as a whole has been evolving and evolving," he said.
"It's saturated but in a good way. I'm not one to kill your culture or kill your babies. Every generation of hip-hop has its own style and flavour.
"Let the youth have their time. And let them enjoy their version of hip-hop."
Being in the industry for so long, he cheered the fact that owning and licensing their own music was easier, calling the ubiquity of music-sharing a "dream".
The group will be playing at Rooty Hill RSL, November 12: Details Here.
