Express Yourself (N.W.A song)

"Express Yourself" is a song recorded by American hip hop group N.W.A, performed solo by Dr. Dre. The song, off their 1988 album Straight Outta Compton, samples Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band's song of the same name.[3] Unlike most songs on the album and by N.W.A, the song is devoid of profanity. "Express Yourself" was released in 1989 as the album's last single, the album version of the track features rap vocals from Dr. Dre only whereas the 2002 reissue, single edition and video version features small verses from MC Ren and Ice Cube, the writer of the song. The song reached number 26 in the UK in September 1989.[4]

"Express Yourself"
Single by N.W.A
from the album Straight Outta Compton
ReleasedMarch 27, 1989 (1989-03-27)[1]
Recorded1988
GenreGolden age hip hop
Length4:26
4:42 (extended mix)
Label
Songwriter(s)O'Shea Jackson[2]
Producer(s)
N.W.A singles chronology
"Gangsta Gangsta"
(1988)		 "Express Yourself"
(1989)		 "100 Miles and Runnin'"
(1990)
Audio sample
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History

The song's vocals are primarily handled by Dr. Dre though an extended version features interludes from Ice Cube and MC Ren. The song samples Charles Wright & the Watts 103 Street Rhythm Band's hit, also titled "Express Yourself" (1971).

The song's lyrics focus on the concept of free expression and the constraints placed on rappers by radio censorship. The song is notable for including lines criticising other rappers for not swearing in order to get radio airplay despite the song itself containing no profanity, being based on a pop music sample with a clearly 'radio friendly' tone.[5]

In May 1990, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's music radio station Triple J notably stunted by playing "Express Yourself" on a loop. The station's staff had gone on strike over the suspension of Triple J's news director, Nick Franklin, after he had played a portion of fellow N.W.A. song "Fuck tha Police" in a segment discussing the song's subject matter. The station had, notably, been playing the song without incident for several months, but ABC's radio head had requested that the song be given a "rest". The song was played 82 times in a row until the employee was reinstated. Triple J paid tribute to the event in April 2014, when the launch of its new service Double J (which replaced ABC Dig Music) was preceded with another loop of "Express Yourself", including the original recording and covers performed by Australian musicians,[6][5] such as Darren Hanlon and The Audreys.[7]

Music video

The music video starts with a black and white video of slaves working on a plantation. The video then moves to the ghetto, as the band members walk through it and dance with the local residents. A "No Rapping" sign is shown. A mounted officer (played by Skeeter Rader) enforces the law on the crowd. Occasionally band members are depicted rapping in a prison environment. Later on Dr. Dre plays the role of the US president. At one point he is talking on the phone with Mikhail Gorbachev, and a photo of Martin Luther King can be seen in the background. A parody of John F. Kennedy's assassination follows. The video ends with Dr. Dre being executed in an electric chair. In the version appearing on the EMI YouTube channel and on N.W.A's official VEVO channel on YouTube, numerous parts are blurred out including logos and faces. Despite this, the complete uncensored video can still be found online.[8]

Cover versions and samples

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."

Labrinth released his own rendition of the song in 2012.

German metal band Rammstein sampled the intro, albeit slower, in their song "Klavier" off their sophomore album Sehnsucht.[9]

The Basque band Negu Gorriak released his cover version in their ultimate album Salam, Agur in 1996. This last album was only made of covers, "Express Yourself" is the last one, named "Adieraz zaitez" in Euskara [10]

Track listing
  1. "Express Yourself" (Extended Mix) – 4:42
  2. "Bonus Beats" – 3:03
  3. "Straight Outta Compton" (Extended Mix) – 4:54
  4. "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" – 3:10

Charts
Chart (1989–90) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 96
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 26
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 45
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[14] 2

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000*

^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. "N.W.A* - Express Yourself". Discogs.
  2. "The D.O.C. on Ice Cube Leaving NWA: Cube Was the Spirit". YouTube. 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  3. "N.W.A's 'Express Yourself' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
  4. "N.W.A - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  5. Casimir, Paul Chamberlin and Jon (2015-09-02). "Express yourself: The day Triple J played the same N.W.A. song 82 times in a row". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  6. Vincent, Peter (2014-04-28). "Double J pays homage to past with Express Yourself stunt". The Age. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  7. "Express Yourself: Why Is Dig Music Playing The Same Song Over And Over? - Double J".
  8. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3vmzt The complete uncensored music video on Dailymotion.
  9. "Rammstein's 'Klavier' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
  10. http://www.negugorriak.net/diskografia/comentsalam.htm
  11. "Australian-charts.com – N.W.A. – Express Yourself". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  13. "N.W.A Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  14. "N.W.A Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  15. "British single certifications – N.W.A – Express Yourself". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 27, 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Express Yourself in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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