This June 2010 glossy, electro-stomping reworking the original track finds future Roc Nation client M.I.A. linking with rap mogul Jay-Z for both a rumination on love in the digital age and how our past makes us who we are.
[Verse 1: M.I.A.]
Time after time, you been copping mine
Like, "Can I have a good time at yours tonight?"
'Cause every time we try to get close
There is always something that I'm thinking about
[Pre-Chorus: M.I.A.]
(You want me)
XXXO, XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO, XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO, XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO
[Chorus: M.I.A.]
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
[Verse 2: M.I.A.]
A knock at the door, and then we hit the floor
And all I know is you leave me wanting more
I don't let it show, but I think you know
'Cause you tweeting me like Tweety Bird on your iPhone
[Pre-Chorus]
(You want me)
XXXO, XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO, XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO, XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO
(You want me)
XXXO
[Chorus: M.I.A.]
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
XXXO
Y'all just so metrosexual
This is not my politically correct flow
This is more like letting that TEC blow
This is more like a left when they say right
When the world do you wrong but you play right
This is more like pushing that white rock
When the world try to put you in a tight box
Coming down in the drop with the system crank
'Cause you don't give a fuck what the system think
Y'all comin up M.I.—M.I.—M.I.A
Semi-spray when you in my way
I'mma be who I'm gonna be
I'm just a boy from the hood
What you want from me?
Ugh
[Interlude]
XXXO
X-X-X-X-X-X-O
[Chorus: M.I.A.]
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
You want me be somebody who I'm really not
[Outro: M.I.A.]
You want me be
You want me
You want me be
You want me
M.I.A. released XXXO (Main Mix) on Fri Jun 11 2010.
The simple truth is, like many of his guest appearances, Jay heard “XXXO” and decided to drop a spontaneous verse. As M.I.A. explained to MTV News:
I was really surprised he liked ‘XXXO,’ actually. And I was really surprised he liked the version that’s on the album, and not Blaqstarr’s version, whi...
This remix of “XXXO” marked the third time the two had collaborated. The first occurrence was Hov’s remix of her single “Boyz” in 2008; and the second was the Grammy Award-winning “Swagga Like Us” in 2009.