Charles Wright and his Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band might have had the most unnecessarily long band name ever. But Lawd have mercy, their 1971 record “Express Yourself” has a funk so stank, I want to wipe it down with a wet nap.
Back in 1988, NWA rhymed over the top to make the Golden Age classic of the same name. For a group known for pioneering the Gangsta genre, it was a pretty lighthearted song, and a huge hit.
And now some DJ named Statik Selektah (can’t these people ever use a damned “C”?) rounded up Talib Kweli, Consequence and MC of the moment Termanology to flip up NWA’s version again. And good God, it’s a hot one.
Is “Express Yourself” the most perfect break ever?
Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Express Yourself
7″, 1971
Never gets old.
NWA
Express Yourself
Straight Outta Compton, 1988
They’re expressing with their full capabilities, and now they’re living in correctional facilities.
Statik Selektah feat. Termanology, Talib Kweli and Consequence
Express Yourself 08
CD Single, 2007
An homage to the NWA version, with a modern indie rapper feel.
5 comments ↓
Hmmmm, can’t see I like that remake,but the original is a classic as is The NWA use of it and song and did you know (I bet you did), Charles Wright was Eazy-E’s Grandfather?
and remember Dre “never smoked weed or sess coz it’s known to give a brother brain damage”, that must be why he signed Eminem and 50 Cent then
I mean to say Hmmmmm, can’t say I like that remake, covers of classic are often corny.
hey jaz - i forgot about the eazy/charles wright connection!
haha, yes, dre got mad brain damage as soon as snoop got a hold of him. why else would he sign that mumbler nickel?!?
i have to withhold judgment on eminem out of respect for my home town. in fact, one of my best friends used to be a stripper at a joint on 8 mile. that’s how legit i am. haha!
Yeah, these half-assed covers of classics are starting to wear on me just a bit.
off topic…I don’t mind Em’s first two albums and Paul Rosenberg is a cool dude…thats all I got to say
[...] >bounce/oz ? Express Yourself: The World?s Most Slammin Break - All three iterations of Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd st. Rhythm Band’s “Express Yourself” in one post–from the original to N.W.A. to the newly released Statik Selektah cut (featuring Talib Kweli). Poke around this site–there’s some good stuff on there. [...]
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