Check It Out (will.i.am and Nicki Minaj song)

For other uses, see Check It Out (disambiguation).
"Check It Out"
Single by will.i.am and Nicki Minaj
from the album Pink Friday
Released September 3, 2010 (2010-09-03)
Format
Recorded 2010
Genre Electropop[1]
Length 4:11
Label Interscope
Writer(s)
Producer(s) will.i.am
will.i.am singles chronology
"I'm in the House"
(2010)		 "Check It Out"
(2010)		 "Free"
(2011)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Letting Go (Dutty Love)"
(2010)		 "Check It Out"
(2010)		 "Right Thru Me"
(2010)

"Check It Out" is a song performed by American rapper will.i.am and Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj.[2] The 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 number 78 and number 48 on the Canadian Hot 100. It appears on Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday,[3] though it was not released in promotion of the album. The special remix released in the UK also features will.i.am's close friend, English recording artist Cheryl Cole.[4]

Background

The song samples "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. Minaj stated in a past 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, stating; "Just something for my album that I’m really excited about.”[5][6] An unofficial mix of the song ended up leaking onto the internet August 27, 2010, two weeks before its official release.[7]

In an interview with MTV News Nicki commented on her collaboration with the producer will.i.am stating; "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 on saying that "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 London’s Supperclub and The British Music Experience at the O2.[10] Lead singer Trevor Horn commented on his song being sampled by the duo by stating “We’re very happy because it means we made a little bit of money for it.”[11]

Composition and critical reception
"Check It Out"
A sample of "Check It Out", where will.i.am raps his first verse.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"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.[12] The song received mixed reviews from critics. 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."[12] Wilkening gave the songs 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 stating, "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?"[13] Entertainment Weekly put the single as their #2 of "The Must List" stating, "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."[14]

Cheryl Cole was featured on the song's Special mix.

The special remix also features 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 11 November 2010, It is mostly the same as the original with added clips that include Cole.[15][16]

Music video

A music video for the single was shot over the weekend of September 26 in a studio in Los Angeles director Rich Lee.[8] In an interview with MTV News Will.i.am stated "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."[8] The video is a tribute to Japanese anime. Nicki also commented on the video shoot and its theme, stating "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.[17] This is however in contrast to both the spoken introduction of the video and the words popping up during the video; the words are written in hangul, the Korean alphabet, and the intro is spoken in Korean. The music video for the single was released October 25, 2010.[18]

Synopsis

Minaj and will.i.am dress in futuristic Korean culture attire in the video.

Because the video features the Korean language rather than Japanese, her "tribute to Japanese anime" and her claim to be an "obvious big fan" is made questionable. The Korean language 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 gentleman (who is Korean) introduces the pair to an audience of women similarly dressed in black and sporting boxy sunglasses. As the song begins playing from a boom box, Minaj — wearing a creatively shaped teal, cream and mauve hat, blond wig and tan outfit — raps to the camera that she's a "savage/ Haters you can kill yourself." When the chorus arrives, so do two will.i.ams 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 the camera featuring Nicki, and there's 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 flack for performing during the VMAs in what many described as black face, appears in what one could call "white face." He becomes 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 VMA's Pre-show, where the duo performed "Check It Out" as well as Minaj appearing alone to perform her single "Your Love".[19][20] Rap-Up magazine said the performance had eccentric dancing and pink escapades.[20] However a 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."[21] He later 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."[22]

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".[23] Sean Michaels of The Guardian said "It was a look more Max Headroom than Al Jolson, but never underestimate the Internet's capacity for righteous indignation",[24] while fans "comparing his makeup to the racist 19th century blackface minstrel shows."[23] "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."[23] Minaj agreed with Will.i.am's decision and attire in an interview with Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex stating "You can’t expect him to make common folk happy."[25]

The duo also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 4, 2010.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28]

Personnel

Source:[29]

Track listing

  1. "Check It Out" - 4:11
  1. "Check It Out" (Radio Mix) - 3:58
  1. "Check It Out" (Main) – 4:11
  2. "Check It Out" (Special Mix) (with Cheryl Cole) – 4:11
  1. "Check It Out" (Benny Benassi Remix) – 5:55
  2. "Check It Out" (Shameboy Remix) – 5:11

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2010–11) Peak
positions
Australia (ARIA)[30] 21
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[31] 4
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[32] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[33] 14
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[34] 52
Denmark (IFPI Dance)[35] 40
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[36] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[37] 14
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[38] 5
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[39] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[40] 27
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[41] 12
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[42] 26
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[43] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[44] 24
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[45] 48
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[46] 100
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 21

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Silver 200,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Type
Canada[49][50][51] September 3, 2010 Digital download
September 8, 2010 Digital download, Main radio mix
November 22, 2010 Digital download, The Remixes
United States[52][53][54][55][56][57] 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[58] September 10, 2010 Digital download, Radio mix
Germany[59]
United Kingdom[60][61] October 31, 2010 Digital download
November 1, 2010 CD single

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/02/nicki-minaj-will-i-am-check-it-out/
  2. ↑ "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  3. ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson; Marino, Kelly (2010-09-27). "will.i.am And Nicki Minaj's 'Check It Out' Video An 'Ode To Anime'". MTV News. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  4. ↑ James Barr. (2010-10-12). The James Barr Show. Galaxy FM (The Galaxy Network). Aired 2010-10-12
  5. ↑ "Nicki Minaj Collaborates with will.i.am on Emotional Album". Rap-Up.com. 2010-07-24. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  6. ↑ Pastorek, Whitney (2010-07-23). "Nicki Minaj drops new hints about her debut album (will.i.am!), needs someone to make her an Annie Lennox mixtape | EW.com". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  7. ↑ "New Music: Nicki Minaj f/ will.i.am – ‘Check It Out’". Rap-Up.com. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "NICKI MINAJ & WILL.I.AM GO BACK TO THE FUTURE IN ‘CHECK IT OUT’ VIDEO". Rap-Up.com. October 26, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  9. ↑ "will.i.am And Nicki Minaj Get Futuristic On 'Check It Out' Video Set". MTV. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGAU410UOA. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ "VIDEO: THE BUGGLES COVER NICKI MINAJ & WILL.I.AM’S ‘CHECK IT OUT’". Rap-Up.com. October 1, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  12. 1 2 3 Sep 2nd 2010 12:09PM by Matthew Wilkening (2010-09-02). "Nicki Minaj & will.i.am, 'Check It Out' - New Song". AOL Radio Blog. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  13. ↑ "Nicki Minaj And Will.i.am "Check It Out" In New 80s-Sampling Track | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on". Idolator.com. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  14. ↑ Entertainment Weekly #1122 October 1, 2010 Page 15
  15. ↑ "Cheryl Cole Official Website". Cheryl Cole. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  16. ↑ Johnson, Chris (Nov 12, 2010). "Check It Out! Cheryl Cole plays it cheesy for cameo in Will.i.am video featuring hot new American export Nicki Minaj". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  17. ↑ "will.i.am And Nicki Minaj Get Futuristic On 'Check It Out' Video Set". MTV. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  18. ↑ "Video: will.i.am x Nicki Minaj – ‘Check It Out’". Rap-Up.com. Oct 25, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  19. ↑ "Nicki Minaj, Will.i.am Perform Their Duet At VMAs - Billboard Underground". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  20. 1 2 "Video: Nicki Minaj Performs at VMA Pre-Show". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  21. ↑ "2010 MTV VMAs Live Performances: The Bold, The Beautiful And The WTF?! » MTV Buzzworthy Blog". Buzzworthy.mtv.com. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  22. ↑ "Check It Out! Watch Nicki Minaj And Will.i.am Perform At The 2010 MTV VMAs! » MTV Buzzworthy Blog". Buzzworthy.mtv.com. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  23. 1 2 3 Wete, Brad (2010-09-13). "will.i.am attacked online for 'blackface' makeup at VMAs pre-show, hits Twitter to defend himself | EW.com". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  24. ↑ Sean Michaels (September 15, 2010). "Will.I.Am defends 'blackface' performance at MTV VMAs | Music | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  25. ↑ "Nicki Minaj Gives Bieber Fever, Defends will.i.am’s Black Face". Rap-Up.com. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  26. ↑ "Nicki Minaj and will.i.am to Perform on 'Letterman'". Rap-Up.com. Oct 2, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  27. ↑ "Video: Nicki Minaj and will.i.am Perform on 'Letterman'". Rap-Up.com. Oct 4, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  28. ↑ "Video: Nicki Minaj and will.i.am Rock 'Regis and Kelly'". Rap-Up.com. Oct 11, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  29. ↑ Pink Friday (Media notes). Nicki Minaj. Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records. 2010.
  30. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Ultratop.be – will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Ultratop.be – will.i.am & Nicki Minaj – Check It Out!" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  33. ↑ "will.i.am – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for will.i.am. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  34. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201106 into search. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  35. ↑ "Danish Dance Chart". M&I Service & IFPI. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  36. ↑ "Nicki Minaj – Chart history" European Hot 100 for Nicki Minaj.
  37. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 43, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  38. ↑ "Japan Hot 100: Week of March 05, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  39. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  40. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – will.i.am & Nicki Minaj search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2010-11-13". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  42. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201101 into search.
  43. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2010-11-13" UK Singles Chart.
  44. ↑ "will.i.am – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for will.i.am.
  45. ↑ "will.i.am – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for will.i.am.
  46. ↑ "will.i.am – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for will.i.am.
  47. ↑ "will.i.am – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for will.i.am.
  48. ↑ "British single certifications – will.i.am and Nicki Minaj – Check It Out". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 31, 2013. Enter Check It Out in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  49. ↑ "Check It Out - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 3, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  50. ↑ "Check It Out (Main Radio Mix) - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 8, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  51. ↑ "Check It Out! (The Remixes) - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. November 22, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  52. ↑ "Check It Out - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 3, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  53. ↑ "RELEASES CHECK IT OUT". NICKI MINAJ. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  54. ↑ "Check It Out (Main Radio Mix) - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 8, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  55. ↑ "CHR/Top 40". R&R Going for Adds. September 14, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  56. ↑ "Home > Urban/UAC > Future Releases". AllAccess.com. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  57. ↑ "Check It Out! (The Remixes) - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. November 22, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  58. ↑ "Check It Out (Radio Mix) - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 10, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  59. ↑ "Check It Out (Radio Mix) - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. September 10, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  60. ↑ "Check It Out - Single will.i.am & Nicki Minaj". iTunes. October 29, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  61. ↑ "Check It Out[Single]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
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