Learn English – the origin/history of “you do you” (or “do you”)

cultural-phrasesetymologyexpressionsidioms

A recent New York Times Magazine piece focused on the expression "you do you" (and its variant "do you"), meaning something like a strong affirmation to "be yourself."

The article associates the phrase with a narcissistic "millennial" culture, implying that it has become popular very recently. Regarding its etymology, the author only asserts: "'Do you' certainly sallies forth from black vernacular, even if the nature of its mundane parts makes its origin Google-­proof," which sounds like an appropriate challenge for this forum.

Some comments on this article have posited that the phrase and usage is older, at least dating to the 1990s. Any thoughts on etymology or history would be welcome.

Best Answer

The full phrase this originated from is "do you and I'll do me". Another variation is "do you - cuz I'mma do me". The oldest reference to the phrase that I could find is from the song Do You by Funkmaster Flex (featuring DMX), from the album Volume IV, released on December 5, 2000.

This could be a variation of the phrase "do your thing", which has been in use for at least a century.