(Lagos, Nigeria) – While most U.S. artist make their tour stops through Europe, Japan, and the Caribbean to perform for fans, Naughty By Nature (NBN), headed to West Africa, the first hip-hop group to tour Nigeria. Naughty By Nature hopes the experience encourages other US based artist to make The Motherland part of their tour itinerary.” This is not the first time Naughty By Nature performed in Africa; last year the group performed in South Africa. “We wanted to be the first hip-hop group to lay the path for hip-hop through The Motherland. Nigeria and South Africa are just the beginning. Next year we hope to visit Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, just travel all across the Motherland and give the continent back some of what it has given to us,” says Vinnie.
The fans were so enthusiastic for Naughty that when they arrived into Nigeria at 7:55am in the morning, over 300 were already waiting at the airport. The group was escorted motorcade fashion by Nigeria’s Deputy Superintendent of the Police Force and Voltron Security (Nigeria’s strongest protection service) who Naughty has renamed Defenders of the Universe). “We couldn’t have done the trip without the security measures. It was impossible to move from block to block without Voltron and his men clearing the way,” says Naughty By Nature’s manager, Rebekah Foster.

Naughty By Nature performed a 2 hours sets of their hits songs: “O.P.P,” “Hip-Hop Hooray,” “Ghetto Bastard,” “Jamboree,” “Uptown Anthem,” and “Feel Me Flow,” to over 150,000 fans in Benin (Ogbe Stadium), Ibadon (Trans Amusement Park), and Lagos, Nigeria (Polo Club). They even performed a new song “Swing Swang” from their upcoming album, iicons to be released Spring 2001. From young to old, the Nigerians knew every classic word for word and soon learned the hook for the new song. “Hip-hop is flourishing in Africa. Whenever we perform, we invite local acts onto the stage to represent hip-hop for their hometown. In Nigeria, it is so apparent from their verses and rhyme style that U.S. hip-hop has a strong influence on young people throughout Africa. Sometimes when we gave them the mic, they didn’t want to give it back,” says Treach.

One lucky fan at the Lagos concert left the stage wearing Naughty Gear from top to bottom. “I felt so much energy coming from the fans that I brought one onstage and gave him everything straight off my back from my pants to my shirt with my name on it,” says Vinnie. Treach invited another who had a baseball bat that. “The baseball bat is part of our logo, so we had to have him onstage to rhyme.” explains Treach.

As ambassadors of hip-hop, Naughty visited the US Consulate to show their support for the Marine Security Attachment stationed in Lagos, Nigeria. Approximately 45 U.S. Marines were surprised by a visit from the Naughty duo organized by Gary Gibson, Regional Security Officer of U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. Naughty By Nature also greeted the press with Miss World 2001, Agbani Darengo, the first Black African to win the coveted title.

“Nigeria is a beautiful country and we can’t wait to return. The journey was well worth it,” says Naughty’s publicist, Jackie O. who says the journey to Benin was the most unforgettable. “I wish that we had MTV’s Dairy or BET’s Access Granted with us out there because the car ride from Lagos to Benin could have been a season highlight. We have footage of some of the things that happened on the road to Benin like the Voltron security lifting a van to change the tires, and our Nigerian Police escort (Chris nicknamed Ram-Z) running down the street chasing armed robbers. It was great to be home. We wish we could have stayed longer and visit other parts of the continent.” The trip was sponsored by the Legend Brewery, US Department of State, Nigeria’s Cool FM and promoted by Pop’s Entertainment and Marathon Events.

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