Q: What does it take to leave Hip Hop legend Eminem unable to write a rhyme for an entire summer?
A: Treach from Naughty By Nature.
You see, in the 2012 documentary, The Art of Rap, Eminem discusses his emcee influences with fellow wordsmith Ice-T and tells a story about how his friend Proof (RIP) played him a song called Yoke The Joker by Naughty By Nature which, after hearing Treachs rhymes on it, left him unable to write a single rap for an entire summer.
So besides having the ability to leave one of Hip Hops greatest emcees wordless for an entire summer, Newark, New Jersey native Treach (aka: Trigger Treach) is also much more than just a rapper. Sure, hes definitely know as one of the Hip Hop greats, but he transcends the confines of even that honorable title as hes also an actor (you may have seen him in Juice, The Sopranos, Jasons Lyric, Oz and more), director, writer, and shit, hes even known to host some badass events just for good measure.
Currently on tour with the 2013 Old School Hip Hop Jam (which also features Rakim, DMX, Slick Rick, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane and more,) I had the chance to catch up with Treach and talk about the current internal strife with fellow Naughty By Nature member Vin Rock, as well as discuss things such as gang life, Hip Hop, the film industry and more. Enjoy.
CG: So just to get this out of the way right off the bat, are the reports that as of September, when this run of shows that Naught By Nature is doing, that Vin Rock is officially fired from the group?
TT: Its like thisweve got the rest of this year and were gonna ride it out the best we can. If some new shows come up and we agree on them, cool, but after this year, there will be no more Naughty shows with the three of us. Me and Kay is venturing out to do some new stuff. Me and RL from Next have an E.P. coming out next month. Ive got my second mixtape coming out the end of next month. If you check out Treach Warning on Youtube, theres a new project and video Im involved with. Theres also three or four new movies popping off right now. So you know, Im just taking it to the chapter after. We had a great run22 yearsbut now its time to venture out and start new branding and all the stuff that comes along with that. But me and Kay are just gonna keep doing our thing and it will be crazy.
CG: Cool. Ive checked out the video for Warning and its definitely good shit. Real Hip Hop.
TT: Alright, thanks.
CG: For sure. So will you and Kay continue to do any Naughty By Nature stuff as well as the new projects you mentioned?
TT: Yeah, definitely. I mean Kay is behind the music and I got the mic, so well always be able to do our thing. Well just combine it with the new stuff. The Naughty youre gonna see in the future will be new, but with the classics too, so youre never gonna miss out on any of that.
CG: Cool, Im sure fans will be happy to hear that. So theres one more thing regarding the end of Naughty as a three piece I wanted to address.
TT: For sure.
CG: I checked out the interview you and Kay did on Power 105 last month, and you confirmed that 2 years ago Vin suckered punched you, which is what basically started the beginning of the end for Naughty By Nature. The story behind the actual event howeverwhy Vin sucker punched you in the first placeis still pretty vague. Can you clear that up?
TT: Well the thing is, business is business and everything else is everything else, and some people cant talk business, you know? Everybody looks at me like Im the wild guy. They look at me and they think blackout, like Im gonna do something. Were 22 years in the game man. When we were wild and young, that was one thing but now, here, its like thiswhen youre with your man and you have a problem, ask him to step outside and there wont be no problem. But in a meeting, when shit is going on and you do something, then it becomes a done deal with the homey. Its like dawg, I cant fuck with you no more. Theres no more business with us, no respect. If you cant have enough respect for me to ask me to come outside if youre planning on doing something like that, but instead, you sneak me dawg, well now I dont trust you, I dont like you and I dont want to fuck with you. Its in the past though and were finishing up these shows and thats it. Im looking forward.
CG: Right on. So leaving the breakup shit behind, I wanted to ask you about the song and video(s) for Flags. Theres two versions of the video, each with a different ending but both focusing on gang life (Bloods and Crips) and a decision a youngster has to make after his friend is murdered. The death version of the video is
TT: Retaliation.
CG: Right, exactly. And then theres the life version, where rather than retaliate, he rises above. So can you tell me what inspired you to write the song itself, as well as creating both versions of the video?
TT: The original gangbanging Crips and Bloods started in L.A. and it spread like wild fire eventually making its way to the east coast in the early 90s. Theres always been a misconception that because there were Bloods we worked with from L.A. we brought them to the East Coast, but thats not true. We worked with them the same way wed worked with people from any other group. We dont ask them where they are from. If they have talent, we invest in them. At that same time, regarding prisons and the federal pen, I mean, they were releasing people who could have been coming out of anywhere. They were locking people up and moving them away form their homes to make it hard for them to stay in contact with people they were connected with, legal, family or whatever, they just wanted to make it difficult. So we first started seeing the L.A. vibe when we would go visit our homeys in the federal pen. The Bloods and Crips we would see in the mid 90s were coming out of the jail systems and whether it was original Cali or not, it was there. So it was a major issue that was going down not only in our neighborhood, but the surrounding neighborhoods as well and we wanted to address that. Its still out there. Just because you dont mention it, it doesnt mean it aint happening or its gone away. We all know that doesnt happen. So we touched on it and we had this concept that we wanted to show which was that youas an individualmake your own decisions at the end of the day. You could call them your life decisions or your death decisions. You know that if you deal with certain things youre more likely to be going down that road to death or vice versa, if youre doing positive stuff, youre more likely to keep on living. So we wanted to tell that story and we got our homey Ice-T up in there, an original homey from Jersey who migrated to L.A. Everyone knows him from L.A., but they dont recognize hes from Jersey, so it was a perfect fit. Plus, were neighbors. We live across the street from each other so it was a perfect match to go up in there and do that together.
CG: Yeah, it was definitely awesome to see him in the life version dropping knowledge, and both videos in general were really well done. Some real shit for sure.
TT: Thank you.
SG: So from you own personal experience, what would you say to the younger generations who are looking to hook up with gangs because they feel like they have nowhere else to go or anyone else to turn to?
TT: Basically, do research on everything man. I mean theres so many programs out there now. Youve got Locked Up here and Locked Up there, The First 48 and a whole bunch of other shit. Its obvious to see theres no loyalty in the streets and in the game like that. Its a dead end and you cant trust nobody. Back in our days, when we was hustlin, 25, 30 years ago, aint none of our homeys killed another homey, none of our homeys turned state. Everybody would do their time and it was just a different era. If I was out there now, Id be scared to death to hustle and gangbang cause I know theres no rules on the streets no more. Before, there was a code. There were rules you had to follow to even be out on the streets. Now, its a free for all. Before, you respected the O.G.s, the ones whove lived the life before you, but now, people make it all about themselvesIts all about me, I dont care about nobody elseand once youre out there like that, at the end of the day, since you dont think you need nobody, youre out there by yourself and there aint no war won by one man.
CG: Thanks for that insight.
TT: No doubt.
CG: So when you were growing up, was there a defining moment or, emcee, group, movie, song or anything particular that made you fall in love with Hip Hop?
TT: It was everything man, starting with listening to my mothers records like Sugar Hill Gang. I remember hearing that and thinking to myself, Whoa, what is this? and seeing it for the art form it was. I mean, everyone in the hood cant sing and dance and theyd see people like Michael Jackson on stage and know they could never be like him. But when the Hip Hop art form came, it allowed people to do music, DJ, breakdance, graffiti. There were so many art forms available to people and thats what made Hip Hop such an addictive thing in the neighborhoods. There were so many different elements, so it was like, if you couldnt do onelike dance or emceethere was still other stuff you could do. There was like four major parts you could join and still be Hip Hop without emceeing or deejaying. I think that was an important element for everyone whos on this show tonight, from Rakim to Special Ed, Big Daddy Kane, even DMX, though hes more our era, but still. So it was like, Hip Hop was on the street corners and I could relate to that. You could be on the street corner and rock out a freestyle while somebody was beatboxing, and somebody else would be dancing and the artwork would be going on and for me, it was like yo, this is me. I dont know about anybody else, but Im gonna claim this Hip Hop as a part of my life.
CG: Most definitely. So in close, outside of Hip Hop, what are you most passionate about? What inspires you?
TT: Films man. Rest In Peace to my bro Pac (Tupak Shakur), but he got me on my first movie Juice, and when I was there, I saw for the first time how movies worked, not just the acting, but the behind the scenes stuff. There were the cameras, the lights, the scriptsthe whole danceeverybody coming together to make it a movie. Most people look at film like its just some actors in front of a camera, but I saw it like a team, like a whole ship working together. I knew right then what they meant about being bit by the acting bug, because I definitely was. And from there I went into directing, writing and getting familiar with all the different parts of the film industry. Like with the Flags video you asked me about, Flags we wanted it to look like a movie because we wanted it to be theatrical, to be real life. I wanted to take my experience with films and help with that video to make people watching it feel like theyre right there on that street and like that song is really playing in that moment. So to give that video the cinematic look, thats like my whole new lane. I love that like I love Hip Hop.
CG: Nice man. Ive definitely enjoyed all the roles Ive seen you in for sure, starting with Juice, a classic.
TT: Thanks.
CG: Cool, thanks so much for your time and have fun tonight.
TT: Good lookin man.
A: Treach from Naughty By Nature.
You see, in the 2012 documentary, The Art of Rap, Eminem discusses his emcee influences with fellow wordsmith Ice-T and tells a story about how his friend Proof (RIP) played him a song called Yoke The Joker by Naughty By Nature which, after hearing Treachs rhymes on it, left him unable to write a single rap for an entire summer.
So besides having the ability to leave one of Hip Hops greatest emcees wordless for an entire summer, Newark, New Jersey native Treach (aka: Trigger Treach) is also much more than just a rapper. Sure, hes definitely know as one of the Hip Hop greats, but he transcends the confines of even that honorable title as hes also an actor (you may have seen him in Juice, The Sopranos, Jasons Lyric, Oz and more), director, writer, and shit, hes even known to host some badass events just for good measure.
Currently on tour with the 2013 Old School Hip Hop Jam (which also features Rakim, DMX, Slick Rick, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane and more,) I had the chance to catch up with Treach and talk about the current internal strife with fellow Naughty By Nature member Vin Rock, as well as discuss things such as gang life, Hip Hop, the film industry and more. Enjoy.
CG: So just to get this out of the way right off the bat, are the reports that as of September, when this run of shows that Naught By Nature is doing, that Vin Rock is officially fired from the group?
TT: Its like thisweve got the rest of this year and were gonna ride it out the best we can. If some new shows come up and we agree on them, cool, but after this year, there will be no more Naughty shows with the three of us. Me and Kay is venturing out to do some new stuff. Me and RL from Next have an E.P. coming out next month. Ive got my second mixtape coming out the end of next month. If you check out Treach Warning on Youtube, theres a new project and video Im involved with. Theres also three or four new movies popping off right now. So you know, Im just taking it to the chapter after. We had a great run22 yearsbut now its time to venture out and start new branding and all the stuff that comes along with that. But me and Kay are just gonna keep doing our thing and it will be crazy.
CG: Cool. Ive checked out the video for Warning and its definitely good shit. Real Hip Hop.
TT: Alright, thanks.
CG: For sure. So will you and Kay continue to do any Naughty By Nature stuff as well as the new projects you mentioned?
TT: Yeah, definitely. I mean Kay is behind the music and I got the mic, so well always be able to do our thing. Well just combine it with the new stuff. The Naughty youre gonna see in the future will be new, but with the classics too, so youre never gonna miss out on any of that.
CG: Cool, Im sure fans will be happy to hear that. So theres one more thing regarding the end of Naughty as a three piece I wanted to address.
TT: For sure.
CG: I checked out the interview you and Kay did on Power 105 last month, and you confirmed that 2 years ago Vin suckered punched you, which is what basically started the beginning of the end for Naughty By Nature. The story behind the actual event howeverwhy Vin sucker punched you in the first placeis still pretty vague. Can you clear that up?
TT: Well the thing is, business is business and everything else is everything else, and some people cant talk business, you know? Everybody looks at me like Im the wild guy. They look at me and they think blackout, like Im gonna do something. Were 22 years in the game man. When we were wild and young, that was one thing but now, here, its like thiswhen youre with your man and you have a problem, ask him to step outside and there wont be no problem. But in a meeting, when shit is going on and you do something, then it becomes a done deal with the homey. Its like dawg, I cant fuck with you no more. Theres no more business with us, no respect. If you cant have enough respect for me to ask me to come outside if youre planning on doing something like that, but instead, you sneak me dawg, well now I dont trust you, I dont like you and I dont want to fuck with you. Its in the past though and were finishing up these shows and thats it. Im looking forward.
CG: Right on. So leaving the breakup shit behind, I wanted to ask you about the song and video(s) for Flags. Theres two versions of the video, each with a different ending but both focusing on gang life (Bloods and Crips) and a decision a youngster has to make after his friend is murdered. The death version of the video is
TT: Retaliation.
CG: Right, exactly. And then theres the life version, where rather than retaliate, he rises above. So can you tell me what inspired you to write the song itself, as well as creating both versions of the video?
TT: The original gangbanging Crips and Bloods started in L.A. and it spread like wild fire eventually making its way to the east coast in the early 90s. Theres always been a misconception that because there were Bloods we worked with from L.A. we brought them to the East Coast, but thats not true. We worked with them the same way wed worked with people from any other group. We dont ask them where they are from. If they have talent, we invest in them. At that same time, regarding prisons and the federal pen, I mean, they were releasing people who could have been coming out of anywhere. They were locking people up and moving them away form their homes to make it hard for them to stay in contact with people they were connected with, legal, family or whatever, they just wanted to make it difficult. So we first started seeing the L.A. vibe when we would go visit our homeys in the federal pen. The Bloods and Crips we would see in the mid 90s were coming out of the jail systems and whether it was original Cali or not, it was there. So it was a major issue that was going down not only in our neighborhood, but the surrounding neighborhoods as well and we wanted to address that. Its still out there. Just because you dont mention it, it doesnt mean it aint happening or its gone away. We all know that doesnt happen. So we touched on it and we had this concept that we wanted to show which was that youas an individualmake your own decisions at the end of the day. You could call them your life decisions or your death decisions. You know that if you deal with certain things youre more likely to be going down that road to death or vice versa, if youre doing positive stuff, youre more likely to keep on living. So we wanted to tell that story and we got our homey Ice-T up in there, an original homey from Jersey who migrated to L.A. Everyone knows him from L.A., but they dont recognize hes from Jersey, so it was a perfect fit. Plus, were neighbors. We live across the street from each other so it was a perfect match to go up in there and do that together.
CG: Yeah, it was definitely awesome to see him in the life version dropping knowledge, and both videos in general were really well done. Some real shit for sure.
TT: Thank you.
SG: So from you own personal experience, what would you say to the younger generations who are looking to hook up with gangs because they feel like they have nowhere else to go or anyone else to turn to?
TT: Basically, do research on everything man. I mean theres so many programs out there now. Youve got Locked Up here and Locked Up there, The First 48 and a whole bunch of other shit. Its obvious to see theres no loyalty in the streets and in the game like that. Its a dead end and you cant trust nobody. Back in our days, when we was hustlin, 25, 30 years ago, aint none of our homeys killed another homey, none of our homeys turned state. Everybody would do their time and it was just a different era. If I was out there now, Id be scared to death to hustle and gangbang cause I know theres no rules on the streets no more. Before, there was a code. There were rules you had to follow to even be out on the streets. Now, its a free for all. Before, you respected the O.G.s, the ones whove lived the life before you, but now, people make it all about themselvesIts all about me, I dont care about nobody elseand once youre out there like that, at the end of the day, since you dont think you need nobody, youre out there by yourself and there aint no war won by one man.
CG: Thanks for that insight.
TT: No doubt.
CG: So when you were growing up, was there a defining moment or, emcee, group, movie, song or anything particular that made you fall in love with Hip Hop?
TT: It was everything man, starting with listening to my mothers records like Sugar Hill Gang. I remember hearing that and thinking to myself, Whoa, what is this? and seeing it for the art form it was. I mean, everyone in the hood cant sing and dance and theyd see people like Michael Jackson on stage and know they could never be like him. But when the Hip Hop art form came, it allowed people to do music, DJ, breakdance, graffiti. There were so many art forms available to people and thats what made Hip Hop such an addictive thing in the neighborhoods. There were so many different elements, so it was like, if you couldnt do onelike dance or emceethere was still other stuff you could do. There was like four major parts you could join and still be Hip Hop without emceeing or deejaying. I think that was an important element for everyone whos on this show tonight, from Rakim to Special Ed, Big Daddy Kane, even DMX, though hes more our era, but still. So it was like, Hip Hop was on the street corners and I could relate to that. You could be on the street corner and rock out a freestyle while somebody was beatboxing, and somebody else would be dancing and the artwork would be going on and for me, it was like yo, this is me. I dont know about anybody else, but Im gonna claim this Hip Hop as a part of my life.
CG: Most definitely. So in close, outside of Hip Hop, what are you most passionate about? What inspires you?
TT: Films man. Rest In Peace to my bro Pac (Tupak Shakur), but he got me on my first movie Juice, and when I was there, I saw for the first time how movies worked, not just the acting, but the behind the scenes stuff. There were the cameras, the lights, the scriptsthe whole danceeverybody coming together to make it a movie. Most people look at film like its just some actors in front of a camera, but I saw it like a team, like a whole ship working together. I knew right then what they meant about being bit by the acting bug, because I definitely was. And from there I went into directing, writing and getting familiar with all the different parts of the film industry. Like with the Flags video you asked me about, Flags we wanted it to look like a movie because we wanted it to be theatrical, to be real life. I wanted to take my experience with films and help with that video to make people watching it feel like theyre right there on that street and like that song is really playing in that moment. So to give that video the cinematic look, thats like my whole new lane. I love that like I love Hip Hop.
CG: Nice man. Ive definitely enjoyed all the roles Ive seen you in for sure, starting with Juice, a classic.
TT: Thanks.
CG: Cool, thanks so much for your time and have fun tonight.
TT: Good lookin man.