Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
N.W.A
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Charles Wright
Songwriter
Timothy Mckenzie
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Dr. Dre
Producer
Dj Yella
Producer
Donovan Sound
Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Yo, man, it's a lotta brothers out there flakin' and perpetratin'
But scared to kick reality
(Man, you've been doin' all this dope producin')
(You ain't had a chance to show 'em what time it is)
So what you want me to do?
[Verse 2]
Express yourself
[Verse 3]
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' flavor, my behavior is hereditary
But my technique is very necessary
Blame it on Ice Cube, because he said it gets funky
When you got a subject and a predicate
Add it on a dope beat, and it'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 of two
Before I'm through so don't try to sing this
Some drop science, well, I'm droppin' English
Even if Yella makes it a cappella
I still express, yo, I don't smoke weed or sess
'Cause it's known to give a brother brain damage
And brain damage on the mic don't manage nothin'
But makin' a sucka and you equal
Don't be another sequel
[Verse 4]
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
[Verse 5]
Now, gettin' back to the PG
That's program, and it's easy
Dre is back, new jacks are made hollow
Expressin' ain't the 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 guessin' while I'm expressin' 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 cuss at home
But scared to use profanity when up on the microphone
Yeah, they want reality, but you will 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 dope man
Or they ban my group from the radio
Hear N.W.A. and say, "Hell, no"
But you know it ain't all about wealth
As long as you make a note to
[Verse 6]
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
[Verse 7]
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, embedded like a embryo
Or a lesson, all of them expression
And if you start fessin', I got a Smith & Wesson for ya
I might ignore your record because it has no bottom
I get loose in the summer, winter, spring, and autumn
It's Dre on the mic, gettin' physical
Doin' the job, N.W.A is the lynch mob
It's so macabre, but you know you need this
And the knowledge is growin' just like a fetus
Or a tumor, but here's the rumor
Dre's 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'ma be too hyped and need a straightjacket
I got knowledge and other suckas lack it
So when you see Dre, a DJ on the mic
Ask what it's like, it's like we gettin' hyped tonight
'Cause if I strike, it ain't for your good health
But I won't strike if you just
[Verse 8]
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
Express yourself
Written by: Charles Wright