Check Yo Self

{{Infobox song

| name = Check Yo Self

| cover = Check Yo Self.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Ice Cube featuring Das EFX

| album = The Predator

| released = July 13, 1993

| recorded = 1992
1993 (remix)

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Gangsta rap|G-funk|West Coast hip hop}}

| length = 3:42

| label =

| writer = Ice Cube

| producer = {{hlist|DJ Muggs|Ice Cube (co.)}}

| chronology = Ice Cube

| prev_title = It Was a Good Day

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = Really Doe

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|bueFTrwHFEs|"Check Yo Self"}}}}

}}

"Check Yo Self" is the third and final single from American rapper Ice Cube's third solo album, The Predator (1992). It was released on July 13, 1993 by Lench Mob Records and Priority Records, and features New York City rapper Das EFX. It topped both the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts while also reaching number 20 on the Hot 100 chart.[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p48/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} Ice Cube - Billboard Singles]. Allmusic. The song retains two main versions, the original and a remix which utilizes the same beat as Grandmaster Flash's "The Message", titled "Check Yo Self (The Message Remix)". The original mix includes a sample from the intro of the Beastie Boys' track "The New Style", which uses the phrase "check it" throughout the chorus.

While the single version of the song (also titled Radio Remix "The Message") has been censored, the longer, uncensored version of The Message remix is featured on Ice Cube's Bootlegs & B-Sides album and was later released on his Greatest Hits album. The clean version of "Check Yo Self (The Message Remix)" appeared in the soundtrack of the movie Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. A new recording, based on the original version of the song, featuring Chuck D was featured in the 2010 film Due Date. In January 2010, Snoop Dogg released a cover version of the song. Guitarist Wayne Krantz included an instrumental version of the song (based on the "message remix" version) on his 2012 album Howie 61.

Music video

The music video for "Check Yo Self" uses the remix version. Similar to the video for his previous single "It Was a Good Day", most of the scenes follow and illustrate respective lyrics of the song. The video continues where "It Was a Good Day" left off, with Ice Cube's home being surrounded and invaded by the LAPD before he is handcuffed and taken under arrest, presumably for murder. Ice Cube is then brought to L.A. County jail where he spends the majority of the video experiencing the conflict described in the lyrics, such as disputes between cellmates and breaking up with his girlfriend. Cube also references his role in Boyz n the Hood "Oh boy, I make dough, but don't call me Doughboy, this ain't no fucking motion picture". After six months pass, Ice Cube is able to win over the female deputy watching him. She helps him break out by dressing him up in a uniform. The two make their way outside to a police cruiser and drive off into the night.

Track listing

"Check Yo' Self" (radio remix "The Message")
"Check Yo' Self" (remix instrumental)
"It Was a Good Day" (radio remix edit)
"It Was a Good Day" (remix instrumental)
"24 with an L"

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable"

!Chart (1993)

!Peak
position

Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=134}}

|align="center"| 80

Europe (European Dance Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-09-11.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=37|date=September 11, 1993|page=19|accessdate=November 5, 2021}}

|align="center"|19

{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Ice Cube|rowheader=}}

US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-08-14.pdf|title=Top 100 Pop Singles|magazine=Cash Box|volume=LVI|issue=49|date=August 14, 1993|page=10|access-date=April 22, 2024}}

|align="center"|13

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1993)

!Position

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993 |title=Billboard Top 100 - 1993 |accessdate=August 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993 |archivedate=November 10, 2006 }}

|align="center"|86

US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-12-25.pdf#page=89 |title=The Year in Music: R&B |magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications|date=December 25, 1993 |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |page=YE-29 |issn=0006-2510|volume=105|number=52}}

|align="center"|57

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Ice Cube|title=Check Yo Self|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=18293-1043-1|access-date=August 12, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Ice Cube|title=Check Yo Self|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1993|certyear=1993|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73 |title=Best-Selling Records of 1993 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications|date=January 15, 1994 |access-date=May 4, 2015 |page=73 |issn=0006-2510|volume=106|number=3}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}