There was a Combat Jack interview where someone said that they witnessed De La whupping ass in a club. I can't remember if it was Ice T but I've heard him say he's seen De La get busy. Multiple rappers have said that De La were notorious for fighting and it was a shock because their image was the opposite of that. They had songs and skits about beating people down who tried them all on their second album.
The real reason they were a problem is because of Chris Lighty. Y'all think Violator was a record label/management company but it was named after Chris' gang The Violators. I read a long article about them in a magazine called Wax Poetics. I've been looking for it for years but there's no digital version. I think Lighty scrubbed it because you can't really find any info on his street past online.
Lighty was a gang leader and heavy in the streets. De La was his entry into the music business when he became their road manager. When they got tested because people thought they were soft they found out quick they had hands and The Violators were with them so they were deep too.
When Suge was getting at Lyor and came to NY looking for him Lyor called Lighty. Chris brought one of his goons with him to see Suge and that was the end of his issues with Lyor. De La had a man with them who could back down Suge

. Treach just caught them at the right time. It's just like when Wreckx N Effects jumped Q Tip and they had to peace it up because the Zulu Nation was going to get involved and be on their heads. The Native Tongues had gangsters behind them. A lot of the street rappers were soft outside the booth and the peaceful rappers didn't play. Rakim was all about peace and probably had the livest crew ever with him.
There's a reason 50, Fat Joe and all these street affiliated rappers in NY respected him so much. He was an OG in their eyes.