Since their inception, ESG has affected post-punk, no wave, dance-punk, hip… Read Full Bio ↴Since their inception, ESG has affected post-punk, no wave, dance-punk, hip-hop, and various styles of dance music such as house. They fell in with the late '70s and early '80s NYC no wave and post-punk scene, they had their music sampled countless times, and they became a playlist staple at '70s and early '80s dance clubs like the Paradise Garage and the Music Box.

ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold) formed in 1978 in the South Bronx. The band originally consisted of the four Scroggins sisters -- Deborah (bass, vocals), Marie (congas, vocals), Renee (vocals, guitar), and Valerie (drums); although line-up changes have happened many times since their formation, including bandmembers who were neighbors, daughters of original members, and even male band members.

The Scroggins mother bought the band's instruments when they were still teenagers to keep them supposedly busy and away from trouble. They had to teach themselves their instruments, but it wasn't long before they started playing shows and clubs. Soon, Ed Bahlman, the owner of 99 Records (a record shop and a label that included Y Pants, Liquid Liquid, Bush Tetras, and Konk on its roster), was impressed enough to take them under his wing as a manager and producer. Consequentially, ESG and their music fell in with the no wave and post-punk scene of New York City thereafter, even though their music was neither abrasive in anyway or art conscious -- but the group's sparse, heavily rhythmic, and unpolished sound fit right into the New York scene in which Bahlman's label was a significant factor. Bahlman booked them successfully at punk clubs and they were a hit in the underground NYC scene.

After a few singles and EPs in the late '70s and early '80s the band hooked up with Factory Records producer Martin Hannett while he was in the area recording A Certain Ratio's first album, "To Each" in 1981. The 6 song ESG 12" EP on 99 Records from the same year features a particularly unique and widely sampled track, UFO, using Hannett's fondness for reverb, flangers and feedback to make a song that was so unusual it has been very widely sampled, along with other tracks from that record. That EP is a rarity on vinyl that is highly prized by DJs and copies typically sell on Ebay for about $50 with only a dozen or so copies surfacing there in recent years.

Their first full-length LP came with 1983's Come Away with ESG. Unfortunately, their record label had to soon close because of Bahlman's legal battle with Sugarhill over Grandmaster Flash's sampling of Liquid Liquid's "Optimo" caused him financial and mental stress, with Sugarhill's fall into receivership -- and inability to award 99 Records their due settlement -- acting as the final straw. With the closing of 99 Records, ESG disbanded shortly thereafter (1984), but re-formed in the early '90s, heralding their comeback with a self-titled 1991 compilation of previously released material.

In the years since their original formation, the group's work had become popular among hip-hop artists searching for samples, with such acts as TLC, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys, Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, Tricky, Jay Dee (J-Dilla) on his Donuts album, and indie rockers like Unrest and Liars. The group addressed this issue on the 1992 12" EP Sample Credits Don't Pay Our Bills. The album, ESG Live!, was release in 1995 and featured both old and new material.

The band played what was to be their final show on Friday, September 21, 2007 at Chicago's Abbey Pub, during the Estrojam festival. But the band announced that they reformed in 2008 to play their first returning show at NYC's Santos House Party on September 13, 2008. They also claimed that both more shows and new music will emerge in the future.

You're No Good
ESG Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby, you really need ya
Baby, you really want ya
Baby, you really love ya
And baby, you really hold ya

But you're no good, (you're no good)
You're no good, (you're no good)
You are no good, (you're no good)

You're no good, (you're no good)
Ooooo

I said baby, you better need ya
I said baby, you better want ya
You really love ya, love ya, love ya
You better baby

You better need ya, (yeah)
You better want ya, (yeah)
You better love you, (yeah)
You better want you, (yeah)
You better love you, love you, love you, love you,
love you, love you, love you
Uhhh I said baby,
You better need ya
Baby, you better want ya

You made me love you, love you, love you, love you
(you better baby)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to ESG's "You're No Good" suggest that although the subject of the song may have positive attributes, they ultimately do not make up for their negative qualities. The repetition of "Baby, you really" emphasizes the singer's acknowledgment of these qualities but ultimately concludes with "You're no good" being repeated four times, stating their disappointment with the person they are addressing. It can be interpreted that they are warning the subject about their character flaws and suggesting that they work on themselves.

Furthermore, the lyrics also suggest that the subject might not be aware of their negative qualities, as the singer tries to bring them to light. The lines "You made me love you, love you, love you, love you" emphasize that the singer has invested a lot of emotions into the relationship and could potentially leave if these issues persist.

Overall, "You're No Good" serves as a cautionary tale about not only the need to recognize negative qualities in oneself but also to pay attention to the opinions of those around oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby, you really need ya
You need to have a sense of self-worth and self-care.

Baby, you really want ya
You should have aspirations for yourself and prioritize your own happiness.

Baby, you really love ya
You need to have self-love and appreciation for who you are.

And baby, you really hold ya
You should take care of yourself and hold yourself accountable for your own wellbeing.

But you're no good, (you're no good)
Despite all these positive qualities, you engage in behaviors that are harmful to yourself or others.

You're no good, (you're no good)
These negative behaviors only bring harm and negativity into your life.

You are no good, (you're no good)
Your actions and choices have negative consequences for yourself and those around you.

You're no good, (you're no good)
You need to take responsibility for your negative actions and strive to improve yourself.

Ooooo
expression of frustration and disappointment.

You better need ya, (yeah)
Continuation of the message that self-care and self-love are important.

You better want ya, (yeah)
Encouragement to pursue personal goals and ambitions.

You better love you, (yeah)
Reiterate the need for self-love and acceptance.

You better want you, (yeah)
Encouragement to prioritize your own wants and needs.

You better love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you
Repeated emphasis on the importance of self-love.

Uhhh I said baby,
Expression of concern and care.

You better need ya
Continuation of the message that self-care and self-love are important.

Baby, you better want ya
Encouragement to pursue personal goals and ambitions.

You made me love you, love you, love you, love you
Referring to a past relationship where the other person's negative behaviors affected the singer's feelings of love and care.

(you better baby)
Encouragement to prioritize one's own wellbeing and self-improvement.

Writer(s): RENEE SCROGGINS

Contributed by Chloe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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