Hip Hop Hooray / The Hood Comes First

Released in early 1993, Hip Hop Hooray served as the second single from Naughty By Nature's second studio album, 19 Naughty III. The track was produced by the group's own KayGee, who built the song around a distinctive sample from The Isley Brothers' Make Me Say It Again Girl. Emerging during a period when the group was cementing their status as architects of accessible, anthemic hip-hop, the single was strategically released under the Tommy Boy label to capitalize on the massive crossover success they had achieved with their self-titled debut.

The record design follows the standard aesthetic language of early 1990s hip-hop singles, prioritizing clear branding and artist identification typical of Tommy Boy's professional output. The visual presentation was intended to reinforce the group’s street-smart yet celebratory persona, which proved highly effective; the song became a defining hit of the era, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. It was widely praised by critics and fans alike for its infectious chorus and production, remaining one of the most recognizable anthems in the history of the genre.