# Treach
**Treach** is the stage name of Anthony Criss (born 1970), an American rapper and actor best known as the lead rapper of the hip hop trio [Naughty by Nature](https://www.edgepedia.org/naughty-by-nature)[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/treach.html). With the group he fronted crossover hits including "O.P.P." and "Hip Hop Hooray," and the group's album *Poverty's Paradise* won the first [Grammy Award for Best Rap Album](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-award-for-best-rap-album)[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) • [3](https://time.com/5526525/grammys-2019-cardi-b-best-rap-album/). In parallel, he built an acting career that began with the 1992 film *Juice* and includes a recurring role on HBO's prison drama *Oz*[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) • [4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/treach-8315/biography/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970, East Orange, New Jersey[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/treach.html) |
| Group | Lead rapper of Naughty by Nature, with Vin Rock (Vincent Brown) and DJ Kay Gee (Keir Gist)[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78) |
| Biggest singles | "O.P.P." No. 6 and "Hip Hop Hooray" No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) |
| Grammy | Best Rap Album for *Poverty's Paradise*, 38th Annual Grammy Awards[6](https://www.grammy.com/artists/naughty-nature/7930/) |
| Acting debut | *Juice* (1992), a role arranged by his friend Tupac Shakur[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) |
| Notable TV role | Malcolm "Snake" Coyle, recurring on HBO's *Oz*[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/treach-8315/biography/) |
| Marriage | Married Sandra "Pepa" Denton of Salt-N-Pepa in 1999; divorced 2001[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/treach-8315/biography/) |
## Naughty by Nature
Treach grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, where he met his future groupmates[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/treach.html). With Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee he formed the group while the three attended the same high school, first performing as New Style and recording the independent album *Independent Leaders* in 1989[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78) • [7](https://www.xxlmag.com/happy-birthday-treach/). Discovered by [Queen Latifah](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-latifah), who signed them to her management company and helped them land a deal with [Tommy Boy Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-boy-records), the trio renamed itself Naughty by Nature[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78).
The 1991 self-titled album produced "O.P.P.," a song built on a Jackson 5 sample that peaked at [No. 6](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-6) on the Billboard Hot 100 and made the group crossover stars while Treach's rhyming kept them credible in the hip hop underground[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78). Treach later explained that he deliberately spelled out the song's concept to broaden its appeal, saying radio took a year or two to work out what the lyrics meant[8](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/a-quarter-century-of-naughty-by-nature).
The follow-up *19 Naughty III* (1993) reached the [Top Five](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-five) and went platinum on the strength of "Hip Hop Hooray," whose music video [Spike Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/spike-lee) directed; the single reached No. 8 on the Hot 100[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78). *Poverty's Paradise* (1995), the group's final album for [Tommy Boy](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-boy), won Best Rap Album at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78) • [6](https://www.grammy.com/artists/naughty-nature/7930/). When the Best Rap Album category became an annual Grammy category in 1996, Naughty by Nature was named its first winner[3](https://time.com/5526525/grammys-2019-cardi-b-best-rap-album/).
Treach carried most of the group's vocal load. On the earlier albums he was often the sole performer on a song, and critics have pointed to his double-time delivery, knotty rhyme patterns, and multi-syllabic rhymes as the group's distinguishing technical asset[9](https://pyramid-ent.com/artist/treach-of-naughty-by-nature/) • [10](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/naughty-by-nature-19-naughty-iii-30th-anniversary/). Eminem has cited Treach's verses as foundational to his own career[8](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/a-quarter-century-of-naughty-by-nature).
## Acting career
Treach's entry into film came through [Tupac Shakur](https://www.edgepedia.org/tupac-shakur). The two had toured together as roadies before either was famous, and Shakur, cast in *Juice* (1992), got Treach a small walk-on role in the film[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) • [11](https://www.complex.com/music/a/julian-kimble/interview-treach-naughty-by-nature-best-rap-album-2pac). Treach had actually read for the lead role of Bishop, which Shakur won, and appeared in the finished film without lines[11](https://www.complex.com/music/a/julian-kimble/interview-treach-naughty-by-nature-best-rap-album-2pac).
Through the 1990s he split his time between recording and acting, taking supporting roles in *[The Meteor Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-meteor-man-film)* (1993), *Who's the Man?* (1993), and *Jason's Lyric* (1994), and a recurring guest role on *Oz* as Malcolm "Snake" Coyle[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/treach-8315/biography/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78). *Jason's Lyric* remains his biggest box-office film at $20.9 million worldwide[12](https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/person/treach). His first leading role came in *Love and a Bullet* (2002), and television work followed on shows including *The Sopranos*, *Law & Order: Criminal Intent*, and *Soul Food*[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/) • [13](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/treach/).
His screen work since 2000 spans more than 30 credits, including *Conviction* (2002), *Feast* (2006), *[Atlantic Rim](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlantic-rim-film)* (2013), *Lord of the Streets* (2022, also as executive producer), and *The Getback* (2023)[14](https://cinegraph.org/people/treach) • [15](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/treach). He has also toured in the stage play *New Jack City Live* as Nino Brown and played a recurring role as Brother X on BET's *The Family Business*[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/).
## Later career
Naughty by Nature continued recording into the 2000s, releasing *IIcons* (2002) as a duo after Kay Gee's departure and the reunion album *Anthem Inc.* in 2011[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78) • [11](https://www.complex.com/music/a/julian-kimble/interview-treach-naughty-by-nature-best-rap-album-2pac). Treach has remained an active touring act, including a long run with the "I Love The 90s Tour," and in November 2024 he signed exclusively with Universal Attractions Agency[2](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/).
He has also released solo material. Recent releases include the singles "FREE PAPER BURN" featuring Sadat X and KRS-One (2023) and "Scar Tissue" with a Dae One remix (2025), plus collaborations such as "We Got the Power" with Coolio[16](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621256563).
## Personal life
Treach married Sandra "Pepa" Denton of Salt-N-Pepa in 1999; they divorced in 2001[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/treach-8315/biography/). Their daughter Egypt was born in 1998[1](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/treach.html).
## References
1. [Treach – Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/treach.html)
2. [Rapper/Actor Treach, Of Naughty By Nature Fame, Signs Exclusively With Universal Attractions Agency, Pollstar News](https://news.pollstar.com/2024/11/12/rapper-actor-treach-of-naughty-by-nature-fame-signs-exclusively-with-universal-attractions-agency/)
3. [Cardi B Just Became the First Solo Female Artist to Win a Grammy for Best Rap Album, Time](https://time.com/5526525/grammys-2019-cardi-b-best-rap-album/)
4. [Treach (Actor) – Biography, Showtimes](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/treach-8315/biography/)
5. [Naughty by Nature – Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p78)
6. [Naughty By Nature Grammy Awards and Nominations, Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/artists/naughty-nature/7930/)
7. [Happy Birthday, Treach!, XXL](https://www.xxlmag.com/happy-birthday-treach/)
8. [A Quarter Century of Naughty by Nature, The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/a-quarter-century-of-naughty-by-nature)
9. [Treach of Naughty by Nature, Pyramid Entertainment](https://pyramid-ent.com/artist/treach-of-naughty-by-nature/)
10. [Naughty by Nature: 19 Naughty III (30th Anniversary) Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/naughty-by-nature-19-naughty-iii-30th-anniversary/)
11. [Interview: Treach Talks Winning First "Best Rap Album" Grammy, Meeting 2Pac, and How Naughty by Nature Blew Up, Complex](https://www.complex.com/music/a/julian-kimble/interview-treach-naughty-by-nature-best-rap-album-2pac)
12. [Treach: Movies & Box Office, What's After the Movie](https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/person/treach)
13. [Treach – Rapper, Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/treach/)
14. [Treach · Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/treach)
15. [Treach Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/treach)
16. [Treach on Apple Music, Apple](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621256563)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Hip hop scenes worldwide › Artists, groups, and people: Hip hop scenes worldwide › East Coast rap (New York and Philadelphia) › Golden era East Coast rap (1980s–1990s)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license