Me Myself and I (De La Soul song)
Encyclopedia
"Me Myself and I" is a single by De La Soul
, released in 1989.
It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop
with humor and social commentary. The group's frustration concerning their forced-upon hippie
label is addressed in the typically dry humor which became the De La Soul trademark. It was the group's only number one on the U.S. R&B
chart. The song also topped the U.S. Club Play
chart.
The song's number 1 position in The Netherlands was spurred by the VPRO
television station, who made a documentary about De La Soul after meeting them when they were still unknown. The record label Indisc acquired the local rights from Tommy Boy Records
, and immediately seized the opportunity to release the song as a single.
This song is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
It is also used in the video games NBA Street V3
and NCAA Football 06
.
It ranked number 46 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
The song was used in the opening scene for the season 5 finale of the HBO original series Entourage
.
At the end of the video, mirror images of the three De La Soul members appear from the back of the class, each sporting a T-shirt that reads "Mirror Mirror". Each "Mirror Mirror" image gives their respective counterpart a school pass allowing them to get out of Professor Defbeat's class. Together, the trio leave their desks, throw their slips in Professor Defbeat's face, and leave the classroom.
The video also contains brief cameos from A Tribe Called Quest
's Q-Tip
and Ali Shaheed Muhammad
, along with a brief cameo from Randee of the Redwoods, a comedic hippie
character made famous in promotional spots created by MTV
in the late 1980s. He is seen during the part of the video where Posdnous says "You say Plug One and Two are hippies/No we're not, that's pure Plug bull". Randee is portrayed by actor/comedian Jim Turner
.
"Ain't Hip to Be Labeled a Hippie"
"What's More"
"Brain-Washed Follower"
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, released in 1989.
It established the group's characteristic style of combining hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
with humor and social commentary. The group's frustration concerning their forced-upon hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
label is addressed in the typically dry humor which became the De La Soul trademark. It was the group's only number one on the U.S. R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. The song also topped the U.S. Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart.
The song's number 1 position in The Netherlands was spurred by the VPRO
VPRO
The VPRO was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current...
television station, who made a documentary about De La Soul after meeting them when they were still unknown. The record label Indisc acquired the local rights from Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
, and immediately seized the opportunity to release the song as a single.
This song is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
It is also used in the video games NBA Street V3
NBA Street V3
NBA Street V3 is the third game in the NBA Street series. It is the sequel of NBA Street Vol. 2. It was released for PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox, along with a PlayStation Portable port of V3 called NBA Street Showdown....
and NCAA Football 06
NCAA Football 06
NCAA Football '06, known colloquially as College Football 2006 is a collegiate American football video game which was released on July 11, 2005. The product features former Michigan Wolverines standout and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard on the cover...
.
It ranked number 46 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
The song was used in the opening scene for the season 5 finale of the HBO original series Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
.
Music video
A music video was filmed for the song beginning with De La Soul in a guidance counselor's office, lamenting that they have to take a class taught by Professor Defbeat, followed by a short message by Prince Paul, who states, "if you take three glasses of water and put food coloring in them, you have many different colors, but it's still the same old water." The video then presents Trugoy, Posdnuos and Maseo entering a high school class taught by Professor Defbeat, who teaches his students the image-driven, mainstream style of hip-hop. Throughout the video, Posdnous, Maceo, and Trugoy are teased by their fellow students and punished by Professor Defbeat for sporting a unique style instead of conforming to the more popular hip hop image. These students are dressed in the stereotypical rap gear: gold medallions, sunglasses, leather jackets, expensive sneakers, jogging suits, baseball caps worn backwards, etc.At the end of the video, mirror images of the three De La Soul members appear from the back of the class, each sporting a T-shirt that reads "Mirror Mirror". Each "Mirror Mirror" image gives their respective counterpart a school pass allowing them to get out of Professor Defbeat's class. Together, the trio leave their desks, throw their slips in Professor Defbeat's face, and leave the classroom.
The video also contains brief cameos from A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
's Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
and Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ali Shaheed Muhammad is an American hip hop DJ, rapper, producer who enjoyed a great deal of fame as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. With Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, the group released five studio albums from 1990 to 1998....
, along with a brief cameo from Randee of the Redwoods, a comedic hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
character made famous in promotional spots created by MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the late 1980s. He is seen during the part of the video where Posdnous says "You say Plug One and Two are hippies/No we're not, that's pure Plug bull". Randee is portrayed by actor/comedian Jim Turner
Jim Turner (comedian)
Jim Turner is an American actor and comedian, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His father, George Turner, was in the Air Force and moved his family around often during Jim's youth to places including Quebec, Arizona, and Iowa. Turner married Lynn Freer in 1992 and they have a son, Otto...
.
3-sided 12" single
The U.S. 12" single of "Me Myself and I" was released as a "3-sided single". Side 1 of the record plays like a normal record. Side 2 was mastered with "parallel grooves". Instead of one continuous groove, there are actually two different grooves on the record. Each time the listener plays the record, it may play something different than before. One groove would play two mixes of "Me Myself and I", while the other groove would play "Brain Washed Follower".| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| United States 12" single | ||
| A1. | "Me Myself and I (Radio version)" | 3:45 |
| A2. | "Ain't Hip to Be Labeled a Hippie" | 1:54 |
| A3. | "Me Myself and I (Instrumental)" | 3:35 |
| A4. | "What's More" from the soundtrack Hell on 1st Avenue | 2:10 |
| B1. | "Me Myself and I (Oblapos Mode)" | 3:38 |
| B2. | "Me Myself and I (Oblapos Instrumental)" | 3:24 |
| C1. | "Brain Washed Follower" | 3:01 |
| European CD single | ||
| 1. | "Me Myself and I (Radio version)" | 3:25 |
| 2. | "Me Myself and I (Richie Rich Remix)" | 7:25 |
| 3. | "Ain't Hip to Be Labeled a Hippie" | 1:54 |
| 4. | "What's More" from the soundtrack Hell on 1st Avenue | 2:10 |
| 5. | "Brain Washed Follower" | 3:01 |
List of samples
"Me Myself and I"- "(Not Just) Knee Deep(Not Just) Knee Deep" Knee Deep" is a funk song running 15 minutes, 21 seconds on side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.-Song information:...
" by FunkadelicFunkadelicFunkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
(1979) - "Rapper Dapper Snapper" by Edwin BirdsongEdwin BirdsongEdwin Birdsong is a keyboard/organ player who was known in the 70's and 80's for his experimental funk/disco music. He never achieved chart success, but developed a strong fan base, and has also been sampled by other artists many times, most famously by Daft Punk who sampled "Cola Bottle Baby" in...
(1980) - "Funky Worm" by the Ohio PlayersOhio PlayersThe Ohio Players were an American funk and R&B band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their double #1 hit songs "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster".- Biography :...
(1973) - "The Show" by Doug E. FreshDoug E. FreshDouglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
(1985) - "Gonna Make You Mine" by Loose EndsLoose Ends (band)Loose Ends was a successful British R&B band that had several urban contemporary hits. The trio was formed in London in 1980, initially comprising vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player, writer and founder Steve Nichol...
(1986)
"Ain't Hip to Be Labeled a Hippie"
- "Hard Times" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah BandDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah BandDr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was a big band and swing influenced disco band, formed in the Bronx, New York. They are best known for their #1 US dance hit, "Cherchez La Femme"/C'est si bon, from their self-titled debut album....
(1976)
"What's More"
- "You Baby" by The TurtlesThe TurtlesThe Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
(1966)
"Brain-Washed Follower"
- "Funky PresidentFunky President"Funky President " is a funk song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1974, it charted #4 R&B. It also appeared on the album Reality. According to Brown the "funky president" of the song's title was meant to refer to U.S...
" by James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
(1974) - "You Made A Believer (Out of Me)" by Ruby AndrewsRuby AndrewsRuby Andrews is a Chicago-based American soul singer.Her best known songs include "Casonova " , "You Made A Believer " , and "Everybody Saw You" .-Biography:...
(1971) - "Booty Butt" by Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
(1971) - "So This Is Our Goodbye" by The MomentsThe MomentsThe Moments may refer to:*The Moments, an American R&B vocal group later known as Ray, Goodman & Brown*The Moments , an English group of the early 1960s who featured Steve Marriott...
(1972)
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
34 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 1 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| German Singles Chart | 16 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 21 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
22 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 22 |