Earlier this week, we learned the extremely bizarre news that Madonna's new album Rebel Heart would feature a cameo appearance from boxer Mike Tyson. Now, the former heavyweight champ has spoken out to explain his role on the album.
As previously revealed, Tyson will appear on the track "Iconic," which also features Chance the Rapper. Speaking with Rolling Stone, Tyson revealed that he will be delivering a spoken word part.
"Madonna calls you and tells you to come somewhere, you go," Tyson said. "I didn't know what the hell I was going there for. I'm just there having a good time and hanging out with Madonna. She has her producer there and I go into the studio and I didn't know if she wanted me to talk or rap. I just go in there and start talking. I'm talking about my life and things that I have endured. I'm saying some really crazy stuff. It was really intense."
He only did one take and ad-libbed his part. Bizarrely, Tyson said he was inspired by onetime Italian dictator Benito Mussolini — particularly his arrogance and charisma.
"I know people may say 'this guy's a fascist' and all this stuff, but man, you can take positivity from watching him," the boxer said. "No wonder why Hitler was attracted to him. This guy's a hypnotic figure. There's so much pride behind what he's saying. I'm not even Italian and I feel the pride he's projecting. He had that street swag; he was doing this stuff with his hands and moving his head before it was even hip-hop."
Tyson talked about watching footage of Mussolini on television and said, "He is so mesmerizing. I look at myself in that way."
His role here is apparently similar to his contrition to Canibus' 1998 single "Second Round K.O." See that video below.
The Baddest Man on the Planet even suggested that he might be interesting in doing more musical crossovers. "Most guys that come in there drink a bunch of liquor or smoke 100 blunts. I just went in and boom, one take. Everyone thought it was cool," he said.
Rebel Heart will be out on March 10 on Boy Toy, Inc./Live Nation Worldwide/Interscope Records.
As previously revealed, Tyson will appear on the track "Iconic," which also features Chance the Rapper. Speaking with Rolling Stone, Tyson revealed that he will be delivering a spoken word part.
"Madonna calls you and tells you to come somewhere, you go," Tyson said. "I didn't know what the hell I was going there for. I'm just there having a good time and hanging out with Madonna. She has her producer there and I go into the studio and I didn't know if she wanted me to talk or rap. I just go in there and start talking. I'm talking about my life and things that I have endured. I'm saying some really crazy stuff. It was really intense."
He only did one take and ad-libbed his part. Bizarrely, Tyson said he was inspired by onetime Italian dictator Benito Mussolini — particularly his arrogance and charisma.
"I know people may say 'this guy's a fascist' and all this stuff, but man, you can take positivity from watching him," the boxer said. "No wonder why Hitler was attracted to him. This guy's a hypnotic figure. There's so much pride behind what he's saying. I'm not even Italian and I feel the pride he's projecting. He had that street swag; he was doing this stuff with his hands and moving his head before it was even hip-hop."
Tyson talked about watching footage of Mussolini on television and said, "He is so mesmerizing. I look at myself in that way."
His role here is apparently similar to his contrition to Canibus' 1998 single "Second Round K.O." See that video below.
The Baddest Man on the Planet even suggested that he might be interesting in doing more musical crossovers. "Most guys that come in there drink a bunch of liquor or smoke 100 blunts. I just went in and boom, one take. Everyone thought it was cool," he said.
Rebel Heart will be out on March 10 on Boy Toy, Inc./Live Nation Worldwide/Interscope Records.
