Treach
As the explosive frontman of Naughty by Nature, his rapid-fire delivery and streetwise lyrics helped define the sound of 90s East Coast hip-hop.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American rapper·Birthday: December 2·Generation X
Biography
Born Anthony Shawn Criss in East Orange, New Jersey, Treach emerged from the same streets that birthed the raw energy of hip-hop's golden age. He formed Naughty by Nature with Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee, a crew that would become synonymous with anthemic, gritty street poetry. Treach's signature style—a machine-gun flow delivered with a menacing, yet charismatic, swagger—became the engine for hits like 'O.P.P.' and 'Hip Hop Hooray,' tracks that dominated radio while maintaining an undeniable authenticity. His lyrical prowess and imposing stage presence made him a standout figure, and he later parlayed that intensity into a credible acting career, appearing in films like 'Juice' and 'Jason's Lyric.' More than just a rapper, Treach embodied the voice of the urban experience, translating block-party energy into a lasting cultural footprint.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Treach was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Treach Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Treach's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As lead rapper of Naughty by Nature, he helped create the Grammy-winning crossover smash 'O.P.P.' in 1991.
- The group's 1991 self-titled album was certified double platinum and is considered a hip-hop classic.
- He earned an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video for 'Hip Hop Hooray' in 1993.
- He successfully transitioned to acting with notable roles in several 1990s films centered on urban life.
Did You Know?
He is the godfather of actor Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
He was briefly married to singer Sandra 'Pepa' Denton of the rap group Salt-N-Pepa.
His stage name 'Treach' is derived from the word 'treacherous.'
He made a cameo appearance in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" as a radio host.
“I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man.”
