Express Yourself
N.W.A Lyrics

Yo man there's a lot of brothers out there
There are many people claiming to be something they're not

Flaking and perpetrating but scared to kick reality
These people are afraid to face the truth and live up to their words

Man, you been doing all this dope producing
The singer acknowledges the hard work of someone present

You ain't had a chance to show 'em what time it is
The person being addressed has not been given a platform to showcase their talent

So what you want me to do?
The artist asks how they can help

(Express yourself!)
The singer encourages the person to express themselves fully

I'm expressing with my full capabilities
The singer is using their full abilities to express themselves

And now I'm living in correctional facilities
The artist has faced consequences for expressing themselves in the past

Cause some don't agree with how I do this
Some people are not supportive of the way the artist chooses to express themselves

I get straight and meditate like a Buddhist
The artist remains calm and composed in the face of criticism

I'm dropping flavor, my behavior is hereditary
The way the singer expresses themselves is a natural part of who they are

But my technique is very necessary
The artist believes their way of expressing themselves is important

Blame it on Ice Cube, because he said it gets funky
The singer references their fellow artist Ice Cube for inspiration

When you got a subject and a predicate
The singer explains the basics of constructing a sentence

Add it on a dope beat, and it'll make you think
The singer believes their combination of lyrics and music can make people think

Some suckers just tickle me pink, to my stomach
The artist finds certain people amusing

Cause they don't flow like this one
The artist believes their flow is superior to others

You know what? I won't hesitate to diss one
The singer is not afraid to call out others for their inferior skills

Or two before I'm through, so don't try to sing this
The singer warns others not to try and imitate their style

Some drop science, while I'm dropping English
The artist boasts their skills in English while others focus on scientific topics

Even if Yella, makes it a-capella
The artist can still express themselves without music

I still express, yo, I don't smoke weed or sess
The artist does not need drugs to be creative

Cause it's known to give a brother brain damage
The singer highlights the dangers of drug use

And brain damage on the mic don't manage, nothing
The artist believes drug use will negatively affect one's ability to express themselves

But making a sucker and you equal
The singer sees drug use as a way to be on the same level as inferior artists

Don't be another sequel (Express yourself!)
The singer urges the listener to be original and not copy others

(Go on and do it)
The singer encourages the listener to take action

Now, getting back to the PG
The artist shifts the focus to a different topic

That's program, and it's easy
The artist believes expressing oneself is simple

Dre is back, new jacks are made hollow
The singer references their return and criticizes new artists for lacking originality

Expressing ain't their subject because they like to follow
The singer believes new artists are more interested in following trends than expressing themselves

The words, the style, the trend, the records I spin
The artist emphasizes the importance of originality in their words, style, and music

Again and again and again, yo, you're on the other end
The artist is aware of their audience and aims to reach them with their message

Watch a brother blend dope rhymes, with no help
The artist boasts their ability to create great music with minimal assistance

There's no fessing or guessing while I'm expressing myself
The singer is confident in their ability to express themselves clearly

It's crazy to see people be
The artist finds it strange to see people act a certain way

What society wants them to be, but not me
The singer does not conform to societal expectations

Ruthless, is the way to go, they know
The singer believes being ruthless is the best way to succeed

Others say rhymes which fail to be original
The singer criticizes other artists for lacking originality

Or they kill where the hip-hop starts
The artist warns against sacrificing the authenticity of hip-hop for mainstream success

Forget about the ghetto, and rap for the pop charts
The artist believes artists should not abandon their roots in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience

Some musicians cuss at home
The singer acknowledges that some people behave differently in private

But scared to use profanity when upon the microphone
The singer believes some artists are hesitant to use profanity in their music, despite using it in private

Yeah, they want reality, but you will hear none
The artist believes some artists claim to be authentic, but their music does not reflect reality

They'd rather exaggerate a little fiction
The artist criticizes artists who prioritize telling a good story over being truthful

Some say no to drugs, and take a stand
The artist acknowledges that some artists are against drug use

But after the show, they go looking for the 'Dopeman'
The singer believes that some artists who claim to be against drugs still seek them out after their performances

Or they ban my group from the radio
The artist references their experience of being banned from airplay

Hear N.W.A. and say, 'Hell no!'
The singer believes their group's controversial image has caused them to be rejected by some audiences

But you know it ain't all about wealth
The singer emphasizes that being successful is not just about making money

As long as you make a note to (Express yourself!)
The singer believes that expressing oneself is more important than achieving financial success

(Express yourself!) from the heart
The artist encourages the listener to express themselves genuinely

Cause if you want to start to move up the chart
The artist believes genuine expression is key to success

Then expression is a big part of it
The singer highlights the importance of expressing oneself in achieving success

You ain't efficient when you flow, you ain't swift
The singer believes a lack of efficiency and speed in one's delivery hinders their success

Movin like a tortoise, full of rigor mortis
The artist uses metaphor to describe someone who moves slowly and rigidly

There's a little bit more to show
The artist believes they have more to express

I got rhymes in my mind, embedded like an embryo
The artist has many ideas for lyrics that are ingrained in their mind

Or a lesson, all of 'em expression
The singer believes all of their lyrics are meant to convey a message

And if you start fessing, I got a Smith and Wessun for ya
The artist warns against lying in their lyrics and suggests they will retaliate violently if fooled

I might ignore your record because it has no bottom
The singer may disregard someone's music if they believe it lacks substance

I get loose in the summer winter spring and autumn
The singer can express themselves in any season

It's Dre on the mic, getting physical
The singer identifies themselves as Dr. Dre and emphasizes their physical presence on the microphone

Doin' the job, N.W.A is the lynch mob!
The artist references their group N.W.A and their aggressive image

Yes I'ma climb, but you know you need this
The artist acknowledges their own ambition and emphasizes the importance of their work

And the knowledge is growing just like a fetus
The singer is continually learning, like an unborn baby growing in the womb

Or a tumor, but here is the rumor
The singer uses metaphor to suggest their knowledge is spreading quickly

Dre is in the neighborhood and he's up to no good
The artist references their own reputation as a troublemaker

When I start expressing myself, Yella, slam it
The artist encourages their DJ Yella to start the music when they begin expressing themselves

Cause if I stay funky like this I'm doing damage
The artist believes their style of expression is powerful and can have an impact

Or I'ma be too hyped, and need a straight jacket
The singer warns that they may become too energetic and need to be restrained

I got knowledge, and other suckers lack it
The artist believes they possess valuable knowledge that others do not

So, when you see Dre, a DJ on the mic
The singer reminds the listener of their identity

Ask what it's like, it's like we're getting hyped tonight
The singer describes the experience of expressing themselves and performing live

Cause if I strike, it ain't for your good health
The singer may use their words as a weapon to harm others

But I won't strike if you just (Express yourself!)
The artist encourages others to express themselves peacefully instead of resorting to violence