"Express Yourself" by N.W.A. Rap Analysis

"Express Yourself" Lyrics

[Dr. Dre:]
Yo, man... There's a lot of brothers out there flakin' and perpetrating
But scared to kick reality.
[Ice Cube:]

Man, you've been doing all this dope producing.
You had a chance to show 'em what time it is...
[Dr. Dre:]
So, what you want me to do? (Express yourself...)

[Dr. Dre:]

I'm expressin' with my full capabilities,

And now I'm livin' in correctional facilities,

'Cause some don't agree with how I do this.

I get straight, meditate like a Buddhist

I'm droppin' flava, my behaviour is hereditary,

But my technique is very necessary.

Blame it on Ice Cube... Because he says it gets funky

When you got a subject and a predicate.

Add it on a dope beat

And that'll make you think.

Some suckers just tickle me pink

To my stomach. 'Cause they don't flow like this one.

You know what? I won't hesitate to dis one

Or two before I'm through.

So don't try to sing this!

Some drop science

While I'm droppin' English.

Even if Yella

Makes it a-capella

I still express, yo, I don't smoke weed or a sess.

'Cause its known to give a brother brain damage.

And brain damage on the mic don't manage

Nothin'

But makin' a sucker and you equal.

Don't be another sequel...

[Hook:]

Express yourself...

Express yourself...

Come on and do it... (x2)

[Dr. Dre:]

Now, gettin' back to the PG.

That's program, and it's easy.

Dre is back. Newjacks, I mean hollow,

Expressin' ain't their subject

Because they like to follow

The words, the style, the trend,

The records I spin.

Again and again and again

Yo, you on the other end.

Watch a brother playin' dope rhymes with no help.

There's no fessin' and guessing

While I'm expressing myself.

It's crazy to see people be

What society wants them to be. But not me!

Ruthless is the way to go, they know

Others say rhymes that fail to be original.

Or they kill where the hip-hop starts,

Forget about the ghetto and rap for the pop charts.

Some musicians curse at home

But scared to use profanity when up on the microphone.

Yeah, they want reality.

But you won't hear none.

They rather exaggerate, a little fiction.

Some say no to drugs and take a stand,

But after the show they go lookin' for the dopeman.

Or they ban my group from the radio.

Hear NWA and say "Hell no! ".

But you know it ain't all about wealth.

As long as you make a note to...

[Hook:]

Express yourself...

Express yourself...

Come on and do it... (x2)

(Express yourself...)

[Dr. Dre:]

From the heart.

'Cause if you wanna start to move up the chart

Then expression is a big part of it.

You ain't efficient when you flow

You ain't swift, movin' like a tortoise.

Full of rigor mortis.

There's a little bit more to show

I got rhymes in my mind, and better like an embryo.

Or a lesson - all of 'em expression

And if you start fessin' -

I got a Smith and Wessun

For you.

I might ignore your record

Because it has no bottom.

I get loose in the summer. When in spring and autumn

It's Dre on the mic, gettin' physical.

Doin' the job

NWA is the lynch mob!

Yes, I'm a cob?

But you know you need this.

And the knowledge is growin'

Just like a fetus, or a tumor.

But here's the rumor:

Dre is in the neighborhood

And he's up to no good.

When I start expressin' myself,

Yella, slam it!

'Cause if I stay funky like this I'm doin' damage.

Or I'm a be too hyped,

And need a straight jacket.

I got knowledge and other suckers lack it.

So, when you see Dre, a DJ on the mic,

Ask what it's like.

It's like we gettin' hype tonight.

'Cause if I strike

It ain't for your good health.

But I won't strike if you just...

[Hook:]

Express yourself...

Express yourself...

Come on and do it... (x2)

Express yourself...

Come on and do it...

Come on and do it...

Come on and do it...

Come on and do it...

____________________

          "Express Yourself" is a rap song released by the hip-hop group N.W.A. It was recorded solo by Dr. Dre and released in 1989. During the time, the controversial group was under heavy fire for its use of profanity in their music. However, this song stands out from their others as it featured an unseen style in gangsta' rap and promoted a positive message to its listeners, including youths and other artists.

That's right! N.W.A - the group largely responsible for the
"Parental Advisory" label, once made a song without profanity.

          The tone of this piece is one that differs greatly from traditional gangsta' rap songs of the time. Instead of being frustrated and aggressive, this song takes on a positive, upbeat tone. This is not only established through the sound of the song but through its lyrics as well. Dre uses phrases, such as, "getting back to the PG," and "some suckers just tickle me pink," to create humor and a sense of playfulness in the song, greatly contributing to the upbeat tone.

          This song strayed away from the controversial groups' typical gangsta rap songs that exaggerated violent crime and notoriously used profanity. Instead, the song used no profanity and promoted originality of thought and self-expression. This decision to not use vulgar language was intended to prove a point about the limitations censorship places on artists. N.W.A. believed that many artists who swear outside of work but not in their songs were only trying to appeal to radio standards, abandoning their own style and acting like slaves. For example, Dre says, "Some musicians curse at home, but scared to use profanity when up on the microphone," explaining how censorship makes artists lose their creativity by conforming to rules that society makes for them.
          The theme of self-expression is reinforced by Dre by using himself and the rest of N.W.A. as living proof, or logos, that artists can and should express themselves in their own unique ways. When Dre said, "I'm expressing with my full capabilities, and now I'm living in correctional facilities," he was saying that he expresses himself how he wants to, not how society wants him to and how he has gone to jail as a consequence. Dre even says, "It's crazy to see people be what society wants them to be, but not me," again, emphasizing the idea that musical standards in society act as creative constraints on artists, hurting their music. Dre also mentions that even though N.W.A. is denied radio time, they continue to use their own style and not change it just for society or money. Everything here also builds up the groups' ethos by showing that they follow their own message and express themselves the ways they see fit.

Fun fact: Eazy-E was only 5ft 2 (and a half)

          Ethos is also built in this piece by pointing out that other artists are guilty of not expressing themselves. For example, Dre mentions, "Or they kill where the hip-hop starts, forget about the ghetto and rap for the pop charts." This was meant to tell how many rap artists rap only for money and radio exposure rather than about vulgar topics, such as life in the ghetto. Dre also says, "From the heart cause if you wanna start to move up the chart, then expression is a big part of it," explaining that you don't need to conform to radio standards to become famous, as demonstrated by N.W.A. themselves, who found great success being unique and controversial. Dre then explains a consequence of doing this by saying, "You ain't efficient when you flow, you ain't swift, moving like a tortoise, full of rigor mortis." This describes through simile that rappers who don't express themselves lose not only their styles but the flow and fluidity of their lyrics. This not only builds up the groups' credibility but shows listeners that they care about self-expression and can see the damaging effects it has on music when it is not present, creating pathos as well.

          This song would also be used by Dre to disavow the use of marijuana. For example, he says, "I still express, yo I don't smoke weed or sess, cause it's known to give a brother brain damage." Dre uses this lyric to tell that he doesn't need weed or other drugs to express himself, later mentioning that rappers who do are "sequels" and not different. Dre also went on to say, "Some say no to drugs and take a stand, but after the show they go looking for the dopeman." This was meant to point out the hypocrisy of other artists who pretend to be people they aren't, condemning drug use in their lyrics, but using drugs outside of their work. This was done to demonstrate how Dre doesn't use drugs to be creative or follow trends set by other people, instead, he stays his own person and expresses himself the way he wants to.
          N.W.A.'s "Express Yourself" has proven to be a song that follows its own message. Its clear contrast from others songs of the time and its unique style showed how far creativity of thought and self-expression can go in the music industry. They made an upbeat and optimistic song that promoted a heartening message of personal style, enforcing their points by using examples of other musicians as well as their own story of success. All in all, this song served the purpose it was meant to, to prove that standing out from others is necessary in entertainment.