The story behind is a tale of creative resilience that spans generations, most notably through the funk classic by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and its later transformation by the hip-hop group N.W.A . The Spark: A Live Performance (1970)

Nearly two decades later, N.W.A reimagined the track for their album Straight Outta Compton . This version, produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, used Wright's infectious funk sample to deliver a message about and the pressures of radio censorship.

: Interestingly, while the song critiques rappers who produce "radio-friendly" music for mass appeal, "Express Yourself" itself was ironically profanity-free and became a major radio success.