"Check It Out" | ||||
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Single by will.i.am and Nicki Minaj | ||||
from the album Pink Friday | ||||
Released | September 3, 2010 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | Electropop | |||
Length | 4:11 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | will.i.am | |||
will.i.am singles chronology | ||||
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Nicki Minaj singles chronology | ||||
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"Check It Out" is a song performed by American rapper will.i.am and American rapper Nicki Minaj. 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 #78 and #48 on the Canadian Hot 100. It appears on Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday, 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. The song peaked at #24 on Billboard Hot 100, as of December 2013, the song has sold 780,000 digital downloads.
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.” An unofficial mix of the song ended up leaking onto the internet August 27, 2010, two weeks before its official release.
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." She continued on saying that "I was sitting there, and it was like five minutes later, he finished the beat!" 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. 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.”