Check It Out (will.i.am and Nicki Minaj song)
"Check It Out" | ||||
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Single by will.i.am and Nicki Minaj | ||||
from the album Pink Friday | ||||
Released | September 3, 2010 (2010-09-03) | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre |
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Length |
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Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | will.i.am | |||
will.i.am singles chronology | ||||
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Nicki Minaj singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Check It Out" on YouTube | ||||
"Check It Out" is a song performed by American rapper will.i.am and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj.[3] The hip hop and electropop song, written by will.i.am and Minaj, samples the 1979 hit single "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. After release, it debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at No. 78 and on the Canadian Hot 100 at No. 48. It appears on Minaj's first album, Pink Friday,[4] though it was not released to promote the album. The special remix released in the UK features the British recording artist Cheryl Cole.[5] The song peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. By December 2013, it has sold 780,000 digital downloads.
Background
The song samples "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. Minaj said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that she was working with producer will.i.am on her latest album, not hinting at whether it was a production or a featured help, saying, "Just something for my album that I'm really excited about."[6] An unofficial mix of the song was leaked on the Internet on August 27, 2010, two weeks before its official release.[7]
In an interview with MTV News, Minaj commented on her collaboration with the will.i.am, saying, "I worked with tons of producers on my album, shout out to all of them. Will’s the only producer that produced me. He really sat there and got this weird sound, and I was like, 'What?' It was so simple. He was sitting there and he made the beat on the spot."[8] She continued, "I was sitting there, and it was like five minutes later, he finished the beat!"[9] The Buggles, the British band behind the original, performed the updated record "Check It Out" at shows at Supperclub in London and at The British Music Experience at The O2 Arena.[10] The lead singer, Trevor Horn, commented on his song being sampled by the duo by saying, "We’re very happy because it means we made a little bit of money for it."[11]
Composition and critical reception
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Cheryl_Cole%2C_Hastings.jpg/150px-Cheryl_Cole%2C_Hastings.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg.png)
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"Check It Out" features the nearly constant repetition of the piano and vocal hook from The Buggles' 1979 classic 'Video Killed the Radio Star,' which is famous for being the first video ever played on MTV in 1981. Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio Blog states that the "Incessant 'Oh-a oh's' pretty much bore a hole in your head, the duo verbally flip the bird to their haters while on their way into the hottest dance club in town." Wilkening gave the song's lyrics a negative review stating "If you're looking for deep lyrical insights, jeez, are you at the wrong party."[12] Becky Bain of Idolator gave the song a positive review writing, "We almost want to cry foul for taking an extremely beloved 80s song (okay, the song was released in 1979 but the video debuted in 1981) and appropriating it for a modern-day hip-hop song, just because that’s become so commonplace it's an uncreative, predictable way to get attention for your song. But… but… but… we can't hate. We love this. We have no taste. It's just too much fun—we can easily see this getting massive radio play like her other let's-sample-another-popular-song-from-another-decade hit and make people's ears bleed, "Your Love". What say you?"[1] Entertainment Weekly put the single as its No. 2 of "The Must List" writing, "The Black Eyed Peas front-man and hip-hop's reigning femme fatale make ingenious use of those famous coos from the 1979 Buggles hit "Video Killed the Radio Star" to create an irresistible party-starter."[13]
The special remix also features the British singer Cheryl Cole, but both versions of the song were released in the UK for digital download on October 31, 2010, and CD on November 1, 2010. The music video for the UK special mix was released on November 11, 2010. It is mostly the same as the original with added clips that include Cole.[14]
Music video
The music video for the single was shot over the weekend of September 26 in a studio in Los Angeles, directed by Rich Lee. In an interview with MTV News, Will.i.am said, "You can expect to see a bunch of flyness as far as the outfits. When I say flyness, I'm talking about Nicki's outfits. She's looking super-duper fly and whatnot." The video is a tribute to Japanese anime. Minaj also commented on the video shoot and its theme, saying, "We're doing almost like an ode to Japanese culture and Japanese anime. I'm obviously a big fan and I've joined forces with like the only boy that I know that's also able to capture that culture."[8] A behind the scenes video was released along with the interview.[15] This is, however, in contrast to both the spoken introduction to the video and the words popping up during the video; the words are written in hangul, the Korean alphabet, and the introduction is spoken in Korean.
The music video was released on October 25, 2010.[16]
Synopsis
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/77/Check_it_out_Minaj.jpg/220px-Check_it_out_Minaj.jpg)
Because the video uses the Korean language rather than Japanese, her "tribute to Japanese anime" and her claim to be an "obvious big fan" is made questionable. Korean was possibly used because it takes fewer characters to write and would take less space on the screen. The video starts on a simple soundstage. A man (who is Korean) introduces the pair to an audience of women similarly dressed in black and wearing squared sunglasses. As the song begins playing from a boombox, Minaj – wearing a creatively shaped teal, cream and mauve hat, blonde wig and beige outfit – raps to the camera that she is a "savage/ Haters you can kill yourself". When the chorus arrives, so do the clones of will.i.am dressed in white jackets. Cape is wearing striped shirts and black pants. Then two dancers, clad in futuristic clothing and goggles, begin grooving and suddenly multiply into five more clones all executing the same moves. The scene flips back to Minaj's camera, and there is now only one will.i.am and two Nicksters. When the beat slows down for the song's bridge, Minaj is in a new outfit, a pink and white bodysuit with a black wig. Then will.i.am, who received flak for performing during the MTV Video Music Awards in what many described as black face, appears in what one could call "white face". He resembles a black-and-white cartoon, whose face is white but hair is black, as he rhymes, "Step up to my level need to grow a little taller." The video ends with Minaj and Will striking poses.
Live performances
Minaj and will.i.am appeared together at the 2010 VMAs pre-show, where they performed "Check It Out" as well as Minaj appearing solo to perform her single "Your Love".[17][18] Rap-Up magazine said the performance had eccentric dancing and pink escapades.[18] However, Chris Ryan from MTV Buzzworthy was less impressed with the duo appearing as The Jetsons. He said, "The WTF? ... Look, we LOVE Nicki Minaj. We would fake-marry her if Drake hadn't already fake-married her. And one thing we really, really love about Nicki Minaj is the wild and crazy looks she breaks out. But given the flack he's taken in the last few days over his, um, unique choice in attire, she might have wanted to pregame with Will.i.am a little harder, regarding his stage fashion."[19] He went on to say that Minaj's performance lived up to expectations. "And of course, Nicki more than delivered. Harajuku Barbie really brought the house down with "Check It Out", You have to see it to believe it."[20]
However, will.i.am attracted negative media criticism for his choice of outfit, consisting of "an all black leather outfit with matching all black make-up".[21] Sean Michaels of The Guardian wrote, "It was a look more Max Headroom than Al Jolson, but never underestimate the Internet's capacity for righteous indignation,"[22] while fans "comparing his makeup to the racist 19th century blackface minstrel shows".[21] "1st. just because I where [sic] all black including head mask as expression and emphasize my outfit, it shouldn’t be looked at as racial…, let go of the past. there are far more important things 2 bark about. (Jobs, health, education) not a black man wearing all black everything. Are you guys serious? my outfit set “black people back 100 yrs" choose your twits wisely. no education sets people back, no jobs, bad health."[21] Minaj agreed with will.i.am's decision and attire in an interview with Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex, saying, "You can't expect him to make common folk happy."[23]
The duo also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 4, 2010.[24] The performance recalled some of the elements of their VMA performance, including the two female back-up dancers and Minaj's hype man S.B. wearing a Pink Friday T-shirt.[25] Both later performed the single on the Live with Regis & Kelly show on October 11, 2010. Minaj performed in a blonde wig, kaleidoscopic Marc Bouwer couture dress, and Christian Louboutin ankle boots.[26]
Personnel
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- Source:[27]
Track listing
- Canada, US digital download
- "Check It Out" – 4:11
- International digital download
- "Check It Out" (Radio Mix) – 3:58
- UK digital and CD single
- "Check It Out" (Main) – 4:11
- "Check It Out" (Special Mix) (with Cheryl Cole) – 4:11
- Canada, US digital The Remixes single
- "Check It Out" (Benny Benassi Remix) – 5:55
- "Check It Out" (Shameboy Remix) – 5:11
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Certifications
|
Release history
Country | Date | Type |
---|---|---|
Canada[51][52][53] | September 3, 2010 | Digital download |
September 8, 2010 | Digital download, Main radio mix | |
November 22, 2010 | Digital download, The Remixes | |
United States[54][55][56][57][58][59] | September 3, 2010 | Digital download |
September 8, 2010 | Digital download, Main radio mix | |
September 14, 2010 | Mainstream airplay | |
October 19, 2010 | Urban airplay | |
November 22, 2010 | Digital download, The Remixes | |
Australia[60] | September 10, 2010 | Digital download, Radio mix |
Germany[61] | ||
United Kingdom[62][63] | October 31, 2010 | Digital download |
November 1, 2010 | CD single |
References
- ^ a b "Nicki Minaj And Will.i.am "Check It Out" In New 80s-Sampling Track". Idolator. August 27, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday (Album Review)". Muumuse. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ^ Rodriguez, Jayson; Marino, Kelly (September 27, 2010). "will.i.am And Nicki Minaj's 'Check It Out' Video An 'Ode To Anime'". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ James Barr. (October 12, 2010) The James Barr Show Galaxy FM.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Collaborates with will.i.am on Emotional Album". Rap-Up. July 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- Pastorek, Whitney (July 23, 2010). "Nicki Minaj drops new hints about her debut album (will.i.am!), needs someone to make her an Annie Lennox mixtape". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2010. - ^ "New Music: Nicki Minaj f/ will.i.am – 'Check It Out'". Rap-Up. August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "NICKI MINAJ & WILL.I.AM GO BACK TO THE FUTURE IN 'CHECK IT OUT' VIDEO". Rap-Up. October 26, 2010. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "will.i.am And Nicki Minaj Get Futuristic On 'Check It Out' Video Set". MTV. September 28, 2010. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ Jonathan Cobb (October 27, 2011). "Check it out – The Buggles Live 2011 British Music Experience". Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ "VIDEO: THE BUGGLES COVER NICKI MINAJ & WILL.I.AM'S 'CHECK IT OUT'". Rap-Up. October 1, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ Matthew Wilkening (September 2, 2010). "Nicki Minaj & will.i.am, 'Check It Out' – New Song". AOL Radio Blog. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ Entertainment Weekly, #1122, October 1, 2010, page 15.
- ^ "Cheryl Cole Official Website". Cheryl. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "will.i.am And Nicki Minaj Get Futuristic On 'Check It Out' Video Set". MTV News. September 28, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Video: will.i.am x Nicki Minaj – 'Check It Out'". Rap-Up. October 25, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj, Will.i.am Perform Their Duet At VMAs". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "Video: Nicki Minaj Performs at VMA Pre-Show". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ^ "2010 MTV VMAs Live Performances: The Bold, The Beautiful And The WTF?!". MTV Buzzworthy Blog. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Check It Out! Watch Nicki Minaj And Will.i.am Perform At The 2010 MTV VMAs!". MTV Buzzworthy Blog. September 13, 2010. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c Wete, Brad (September 13, 2010). "will.i.am attacked online for 'blackface' makeup at VMAs pre-show, hits Twitter to defend himself". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ Sean Michaels (September 15, 2010). "Will.I.Am defends 'blackface' performance at MTV VMAs". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Gives Bieber Fever, Defends will.i.am's Black Face". Rap-Up. September 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj and will.i.am to Perform on 'Letterman'". Rap-Up. October 2, 2010. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Video: Nicki Minaj and will.i.am Perform on 'Letterman'". Rap-Up. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Video: Nicki Minaj and will.i.am Rock 'Regis and Kelly'". Rap-Up. October 11, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ Pink Friday (Media notes). Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records. 2010.
- ^ "will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ "will.i.am Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 06. týden 2011 in the date selector. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
- ^ "Danish Dance Chart" (PDF). M&I Service & IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Nicki Minaj. [dead link]
- ^ "will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Check It Out!". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Japan Hot 100: Week of March 05, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. March 7, 2011. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – will.i.am & Nicki Minaj" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201101 into search.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "will.i.am Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "will.i.am Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "will.i.am Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "will.i.am Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Japan Hot 100 – Year-End 2011" Archived July 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "British single certifications – will.i.am and Nicki Minaj – Check It Out". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ "Check It Out – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 3, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out (Main Radio Mix) – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on January 16, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out! (The Remixes) – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 3, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "RELEASES CHECK IT OUT". NICKI MINAJ. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out (Main Radio Mix) – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "CHR/Top 40". R&R Going for Adds. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Home > Urban/UAC > Future Releases". AllAccess.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Check It Out! (The Remixes) – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out (Radio Mix) – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out (Radio Mix) – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out – Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. October 29, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ "Check It Out[Single]". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
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