Say No Go
"Say No Go" is a single by De La Soul from their influential 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising. It reached number 18 in the UK charts. The tune is heavily based on sampling "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates.
"Say No Go" | ||||
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Single by De La Soul | ||||
from the album 3 Feet High and Rising | ||||
Released | 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Genre | Alternative hip hop Golden age hip hop | |||
Length | 4:21 | |||
Label | Tommy Boy | |||
Songwriter(s) | P. Huston, K. Mercer, D. Jolicoeur, V. Mason, P. Wynn and G. Clinton | |||
Producer(s) | Prince Paul, De La Soul | |||
De La Soul singles chronology | ||||
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Background
The song is a cautionary tale about the use of drugs, in particular "base" (otherwise known as crack cocaine); a topic they would tackle on their follow up album, De La Soul Is Dead, albeit from a different perspective, on the song "My Brother's a Basehead".
In the opening line, Posdnuos raps: "Now let's get right on down to the skit / A baby is brought into a world of pits / And if it could've talked that soon / In the delivery room / It would've asked the nurse for a hit".
"Say No Go" was also a popular dance song and the instrumental for the song has been used on TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Track listing
- "Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix)" - 6:15
- "Say No Go (New Keys Vocal)" - 4:51
- "Say No Go (Radio Mix)" - 4:21
- "The Mack Daddy on the Left" - 2:33
- Guest Appearance: Chi Ali
- "Say No Go (New Keys Instrumental)" - 5:01
- Samples
"Say No Go" includes samples from the following songs:
- Hall & Oates: "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"
- Sly Stone: "Crossword Puzzle"
- The Detroit Emeralds: "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)"
- Emotions: "Best of My Love"
- The Funky Four Plus One More: "That's The Joint"
Charts
Chart (1989) | Peak Position |
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Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 35 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 32 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 3 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 11 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 13 |
UK Singles Chart | 18 |