Express Yourself (N.W.A song)
Encyclopedia
"Express Yourself" is a song recorded by American
hip hop
group N.W.A. The song, off their 1988 album Straight Outta Compton
, samples Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
's song of the same name. Unlike most songs on the album and by N.W.A, the song is almost devoid of profanity and violent content. "Express Yourself" was released in 1989 as the album's last single.
though an extended version features interludes from Ice Cube
and MC Ren
.
The song's lyrics center around ideas of free expression and the constraints placed on rappers by radio censorship. They also express the opinion that other rappers are afraid to express themselves for fear of what other people might think and that they try to be like everyone else. Dr. Dre also speaks out against the recreational use of marijuana in the song, although he would reference it in a positive light frequently in his later career.
This song is featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4, and EA's Skate.
The track listing for this single was added to the 2002 re-release of N.W.A.'s
debut album Straight Outta Compton
as the last 4 songs. The single's last song "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" appeared on the 1989 reissue of N.W.A. and the Posse
as its fourth track.
In 1989, the Australian government youth radio station Triple J
played the song on continuous loop for 24 hours (360 times in a row) whilst the station went on a protest strike against censorship. After playing NWA's "Fuck tha Police
" for six months, government action had forced the station to stop playing the song. At that time Triple J had been the only station in the world playing the controversial song. Continuously playing the band's other popular song during this strike was deemed an appropriate response to show solidarity with the band and dissatisfaction with the decision.
Silkk the Shocker recorded a version of the song on the N.W.A tribute album, Straight Outta Compton: N.W.A 10th Anniversary Tribute that also was released as a single and had a promotional music video.
Between the Rancid
releases of ...And Out Come the Wolves
and Life Won't Wait
from 1995 to 1998, Tim Armstrong
recorded a version of "Express Yourself" with the band The Silencers on the Life Won't Wait Demos. The first half of the demo consists of Rancid demos and the second half consists of The Silencers demos.
Stretch Arm Strong
also recorded a version of "Express Yourself" for "Engage."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group N.W.A. The song, off their 1988 album Straight Outta Compton
Straight Outta Compton
The lyrics on the album were mainly written by Ice Cube and MC Ren. Critics of the album expressed their view that the record glamorized Black-on-Black crime, but the emcees stated that the group was simply showing the reality of living in the areas of Compton, California, and South Central Los...
, samples Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band is a pioneering American soul and funk band. Formed in the early 1960s, they had the most visibility from 1967 to 1973 when the band had 9 singles reach Billboard's pop and/or rhythm and blues Hot 100 lists, such as "Do Your Thing" , "Till You Get...
's song of the same name. Unlike most songs on the album and by N.W.A, the song is almost devoid of profanity and violent content. "Express Yourself" was released in 1989 as the album's last single.
History
The song's vocals are primarily handled by Dr. DreDr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
though an extended version features interludes from Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
and MC Ren
MC Ren
Lorenzo Jerald Patterson , better known by his stage name MC Ren, is a rapper who formed part of the group N.W.A. His moniker is derived from his first name .-Early life:...
.
The song's lyrics center around ideas of free expression and the constraints placed on rappers by radio censorship. They also express the opinion that other rappers are afraid to express themselves for fear of what other people might think and that they try to be like everyone else. Dr. Dre also speaks out against the recreational use of marijuana in the song, although he would reference it in a positive light frequently in his later career.
This song is featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4, and EA's Skate.
The track listing for this single was added to the 2002 re-release of N.W.A.'s
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
debut album Straight Outta Compton
Straight Outta Compton
The lyrics on the album were mainly written by Ice Cube and MC Ren. Critics of the album expressed their view that the record glamorized Black-on-Black crime, but the emcees stated that the group was simply showing the reality of living in the areas of Compton, California, and South Central Los...
as the last 4 songs. The single's last song "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" appeared on the 1989 reissue of N.W.A. and the Posse
N.W.A. and the Posse
N.W.A. and the Posse was a 1987 Macola Records release that compiled various Dr. Dre-produced tracks and was marketed as an album by N.W.A. It includes previously released tracks by N.W.A, Eazy-E, the Fila Fresh Crew, and Rappinstine. The cover photo is the same as N.W.A's "Panic Zone" single and...
as its fourth track.
In 1989, the Australian government youth radio station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
played the song on continuous loop for 24 hours (360 times in a row) whilst the station went on a protest strike against censorship. After playing NWA's "Fuck tha Police
Fuck tha Police
"Fuck tha Police" is a protest song by the gangsta rap group N.W.A that appears on the album Straight Outta Compton. Despite not being a single, it ranked #425 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time....
" for six months, government action had forced the station to stop playing the song. At that time Triple J had been the only station in the world playing the controversial song. Continuously playing the band's other popular song during this strike was deemed an appropriate response to show solidarity with the band and dissatisfaction with the decision.
Silkk the Shocker recorded a version of the song on the N.W.A tribute album, Straight Outta Compton: N.W.A 10th Anniversary Tribute that also was released as a single and had a promotional music video.
Between the Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
releases of ...And Out Come the Wolves
...And Out Come the Wolves
…And Out Come the Wolves is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on August 22, 1995 through Epitaph Records. Rancid's popularity and catchy songs made them the subject of a major label bidding war that ended with the band staying on Epitaph...
and Life Won't Wait
Life Won't Wait
Life Won't Wait is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on June 30, 1998 through Epitaph Records. It was released as the follow-up to ...And Out Come the Wolves .-Musical style and lyrics:...
from 1995 to 1998, Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
recorded a version of "Express Yourself" with the band The Silencers on the Life Won't Wait Demos. The first half of the demo consists of Rancid demos and the second half consists of The Silencers demos.
Stretch Arm Strong
Stretch Arm Strong
Stretch Arm Strong is a hardcore punk band from Chapin South Carolina, and the flagship band for We Put Out Records. They have been active since 1992. Several of the band members are outspoken Christians, but they prefer not to be classified as a Christian band in some cases. They do prefer to be...
also recorded a version of "Express Yourself" for "Engage."
Track listing
- "Express Yourself" (Extended Mix) - 4:42
- "Bonus Beats" - 3:03
- "Straight Outta ComptonStraight Outta Compton (song)"Straight Outta Compton" is the lead single from N.W.A's second album with the same name. It was released in 1988. It also appears on N.W.A's Greatest Hits with an extended mix and The Best of N.W.A. It was voted number 19 on About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs, and is ranked number 6 on VH1's 100...
" (Extended Mix) - 4:54 - "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" - 3:10