This article includes spoilers regarding the celebrity unveiled on Wednesday night’s (March 12) episode of The Masked Singer.
Space Ranger burst onto the scene in last week’s Masked Singer, strutting out with his vibrant flair and clad in a shiny space suit topped with an illuminated cowboy hat adorned with planets. This outfit set the stage for an exhilarating performance where he leapt about, kneeled, and flashed finger guns with such charisma that judge Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg was certain he must be a well-known comedian.
If you were at all observant, the hints (along with his distinctive voice) made it abundantly clear: He’s from the future, residing on his own planet, and a childhood report card boasted an A+ in, ahem, “PE.” Also, he mentioned the need to demonstrate that he’s “worth the hype,” accentuating a belt that seemingly featured a clock face.
For his initial performance, tackling a track by his “bestie,” he energetically delivered Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” leaving judge Ken Jeong in a state of shock, while host Nick Cannon instantly recognized him as one of his “favorite people” on the planet.
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Both Robin Thicke and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg speculated it might be comedian/actor Tracy Morgan; however, the often-wrong Jeong—who claimed he had opened for Morgan—thought the space character was former boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., while Rita Ora proposed a performer like actor/comedian Marlon Wayans.
Wednesday night’s Ghostbusters-themed episode featured yet more overt clues, including one about his early job “schlepping furniture” in New York before he and his partner devised a wild concept for a career switch aided by a “beastly band of boys” who helped elevate their careers.
For his subsequent song, he took a different approach with the hopping Busboys’ Ghostbusters soundtrack number “Cleanin’ Up the Town,” which further highlighted his showmanship and vocal agility. This performance led Jeong to suspect he was DJ Jazzy Jeff, whereas Thicke reaffirmed his Morgan guess, while Ora and McCarthy-Wahlberg conclusively identified him as none other than Public Enemy hype man rapper Flavor Flav.
Before his exit, Billboard had a chat with Flav, who expressed his excitement about the unique opportunity to cover Swift, his surprise at the judges’ guesses, and his desire to extend his time on the show.
You mentioned that participating in the show was a goal you had for years. What caused the delay?
I can’t explain why it took so long since I’ve been eager to do this show for years! So when I got the invite to join, I thought, “Wow! Finally? Let’s go!” One thing about me is I thrive on surprising people, entertaining them, and keeping them guessing. This show gave me a platform to accomplish all of that.
While people recognize you as the hype man from PE, were you apprehensive about singing on national television, particularly a Taylor Swift song?
One thing about Flav—is that he’s never nervous. I enjoy being the focal point of attention. I aim to be the most positive and talked-about figure. I’m the original hype man, so I was excited to step out on that stage and pump up the world.
You call yourself the “King Swiftie,” and there hasn’t been a Taylor song on Masked Singer before. Did that add extra pressure?
Nah, I wasn’t anxious at all, and I was honored that Taylor Swift and her team cleared the song for me. Because Masked Singer had been trying to secure a Taylor Swift song for years and couldn’t until Flavor Flav, King Swiftie, came on board. [A spokesperson for the show confirmed this was the first Swift cover in the series.] They cleared it for King Swiftie. I’m proud and honored that Taylor Swift and her team allowed me to perform “Bad Blood.” I knew I would have fun with this song and do well. Honestly, I am my biggest fan, and I love watching myself on TV.
Did she approve it because she was aware you would be performing it?
They were aware that I was going to perform it, which is why it was cleared. They only cleared it for me! No one else! And honestly, I doubt they’ll clear another Taylor Swift song after this.
You have an iconic, unique appearance. So how did it feel to be in that outrageous costume? Did it help you feel at ease being covered up?
It was a lot of fun slipping in and out of that costume. When I first saw it, I thought, “Wow, how will I pull this off?” But I know I can make anything work and I really enjoyed it… although it was a tad hot and stuffy in there, and I felt a bit short on fresh air. But I kept telling myself, “Keep going. KIM—keep it moving, Flav, you got this!”
Honestly, I’ve been covering you for 30 years, so this was the simplest mystery to solve in the show’s history. From the way you walked in to the blatant clues and your unmistakable voice, it felt almost too simple.
What do we say when we pick up the phone? “Heloooooooo?” Come on, it was the most obvious giveaway! My voice is as recognizable as James Earl Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, or Morgan Freeman. I have the most sampled voice in music history, and it’s distinctly identifiable. So when you combine my voice with those straightforward clues… they couldn’t be easier! The initial clue being “PE.” Come on now, everyone knows Flavor Flav is Public Enemy! Everyone recognizes me for the hardware I wear around my neck [holds up a giant clock pendant]. It’s clocks! And the clock belt was another blatant clue that was shown twice! I’m like, “Really, everyone can see that’s Flav!” After my first episode, I was trending number 3 on Twitter, and viewers remarked, “That was the most straightforward giveaway ever!” They should have done better with me.
Be truthful: Did you aspire to win?
I didn’t join that show to win; I joined to enjoy myself. Did I think I would win? No. But I did want to stay longer than I did and last as long as possible. At least I can say I had a blast. Plus, I got to perform on stage with one of my favorite people, Nick Cannon. I’ve always admired Nick Cannon, and when he said, “I know who this is! This is one of my favorite people on the planet!” you can’t imagine how honored and proud I felt hearing those words. Because before Nick Cannon was Wildin’ Out, I was wildin’ out first, since 1986! The most surprising part was when the judges were speculating about me… where did they come up with Tracy Morgan? [Laughs] The strangest guess was Floyd Mayweather. What would Floyd Mayweather be doing in a costume?
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
