The art of sampling is an entire genre outside of hip-hop. A perfectly chopped soul sample is as moving and spiritual as the original song, and funky drums hit just as hard when mashed with melodies from another era. Sampling is the supportive spine of the golden age of hip-hop; the genre wouldn’t have been born unless two record players were hooked up to a single mixer. The 90s is a buffet of innovative sample flips, and one of the most iconic is Naughty By Nature’s “O.P.P.” The hit single from the New Jersey trio interpolates Jackson 5’s smash song “ABC” and flipped it into an anthem. The chanting on the hook evokes something primal in all of us, and the nimble cadence of the verses showcases the trio’s rapping prowess.
“O.P.P” was the lead single for Naughty By Nature’s classic self-titled debut. Initially released in 1991, the eponymous album bridged the gap between pure hip-hop heads and weary music fanatics who were just introduced to New York’s lively scene. The album became a national success, with “O.P.P” leading the charge with placements on the charts and radio play. For this Golden Age Thursday, we look at just how impactful “O.P.P” was and continues to be. Watch the iconic trio perform their legendary single on an episode of Yo! MTV Raps. Originally aired on October 3, 1991, this performance captures the start of Naughty By Nature’s illustrious career.
