Throwbacks: Naughty by Nature - O.P.P.

When Treach said "O.P.P." probably would have been banned if radio programmers actually knew what the acronym meant, he wasn't exaggerating. Released in August 1991 by Tommy Boy Records, the lead single from Naughty by Nature's self-titled second album was a Trojan horse. It smuggled pure street mischief all the way to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The genius lies in the bounce. The track flips a massive, instantly recognizable Jackson 5 piano loop over heavy boom-bap drums. Treach attacks the beat with a rapid-fire, syncopated flow. He breaks down the mechanics of infidelity with a smirk, turning a neighborhood hustle into a nationwide catchphrase. Directors Rodd Houston and Marcus Raboy captured that raw, block-party energy perfectly in the music video. Tommy Boy's Tom Silverman once said the song "itches your brain, lays eggs, and has babies." He was right about the hook. But honestly, the massive pop crossover of "O.P.P." tricked people into overlooking Treach's actual pen game. He was rapping absolute circles around his peers while masquerading as a pop star. Check it out below.