Lizard ‘Masked Singer’: Sisqo Exit Interview

Michael Becker / FOX. ©2024 FOX Media LLC.

Spoiler alert: This story incorporates the identification of the contestant eradicated on Wednesday evening’s (April 3) episode of The Masked Singer.

The Lizard’s lifespan has been lower brief after getting eradicated from The Masked Singer on the competitors present’s “Shower Anthems” episode Wednesday evening (April 3).

From the start of season 11, which kicked off final month, judges Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong and Rita Ora precisely guessed the smooth-singing Lacertilia’s actual identify a number of occasions — with Ora specifically revealing she was fairly excited at the potential for the early 2000s R&B icon being the one underneath the masks. When host Nick Cannon lastly eliminated his scaly inexperienced head, Lizard’s true identification was revealed to be somebody who embodies a a lot bigger (and fire-breathing) reptile: Sisqó, the “Thong Song” singer who’s embraced the nickname “The Dragon” ever since his solo albums Unleash the Dragon and Return of the Dragon charted within the Billboard 200 prime 10 in 1999 and 2001, respectively.

Though the Dru Hill alum’s power was excessive and his riffs plentiful up till the top of his time on the nameless contest, he admittedly solely made it so far as he did by the pores and skin of his two layers of tooth. He wound up within the backside twice in a row main as much as his remaining episode, delivering smackdown performances of Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out” and the Scooby Doo cartoon theme track earlier than he was despatched home.

His one remorse? Not with the ability to evaluate heights with Kevin Hart, who appeared within the Masked season premiere to play a prank on Cannon. “Both of us are short,” Sisqó tells Billboard in a post-elimination interview, laughing. “We was sitting down, so we never got a chance to see who’s taller … I think I got maybe an inch [over him].”

“Being with The Masked Singer was just an awesome experience,” he provides. “I learned a lot, and I’ve been in the entertainment industry now for about 25 years. You kinda get stuck in your ways and you don’t think you can learn anything else, and I was wrong.”

Below, Billboard catches up with Sisqó about making heads or tails of his bodily difficult costume, not figuring out the phrases to Billy Joel’s songs and extra.

Where did the concept for a lizard costume come from? 

They figured, if I used to be “The Dragon,” individuals most likely would’ve guessed routinely – though I feel they did guess routinely. I’ve been to Robin’s home earlier than, and Robin and Rita Ora, they’re musicians. They knew my voice instantly.

From what I understood, as a result of my spouse is Elizabeth — Liz, Lizard. Also, Busta Rhymes, he was a dragon earlier than.

What was it prefer to carry out within the costume?

When I first put that masks on, man, I feel I almost hyperventilated slightly bit. The wardrobe individuals needed to put a mini-fan as much as the mouth of the costume, simply so I might get oxygen in there. Meanwhile, I’m in there pouring sweat, it’s troublesome to breathe, I can’t actually see.  

Whenever we might [rehearse] within the costume, I needed to in order that I might determine how I might be as cellular as attainable. It had this big tail, so when any individual would name me, “Lizard!” [Mimes whipping around his tail]. BAM, I’d take out the entire craft companies.

How did you push by way of the bodily constraints of the costume? 

It was an actual sink or swim second. I didn’t need to be the one who gave up on the final minute. I simply needed to principally face my concern in that second.  

Each present I bought slightly higher. It almost appeared just like the lizard was alive, bruh. He had a complete persona of his personal, and determining learn how to merge the lizard and The Dragon was the true problem. 

Some of the judges accurately guessed your identification from the very starting. How’d you react to that? 

From day one! I used to be slightly flattered, however on the identical time, it was like, “Aw, man, I don’t think I’m going to be able to win this because they already know who I am.”  

You had been within the backside two three weeks in a row. What had been these smackdown battles like? 

I knew not even one phrase of Billy Joel’s “Moving Out.” I didn’t know the melody, I didn’t know the phrases to the track. After that, the phrases had been going, I couldn’t see the prompter, so I simply threw warning to the wind and began riffing, singing alongside with out singing precise phrases. That was the nail within the coffin, ‘trigger they knew precisely who I used to be then. 

I’m not used to dropping issues. I used to be so conceited. [Laughs.] I heard everyone else sing in rehearsal. I used to be underneath the impression that this was solely a singing contest, so I used to be like, ‘Well if it’s a singing contest, I’m about to sing these individuals underneath the …” 

What had been your favourite clues Masked Singer used to trace at your identification within the teaser movies? 

What I actually loved was how they put issues collectively from my life. Like, once they had been speaking about my son, I used to be like, placing an egg to mattress and kissing it goodnight. Then there was a feminine lizard, who I suppose was alleged to signify my spouse. 

They stated one thing about Billboard … however they made it appear to be it was an precise billboard as a substitute of the Billboard charts. That was humorous, as a result of I hosted the Billboard Awards, I imagine it was 2001. 

Did you inform your loved ones you had been happening the present? 

My household are massive followers of the present. Ken Jeong, it appears as soon as a season, he asks [a contestant] in the event that they’re me.  

Because my household is so tight-knit, they knew I used to be doing a TV present. But I didn’t inform anyone that I used to be the Lizard. These youngsters are sensible. After some time they only began going by way of the DVR and choosing exhibits and asking, “Is this the show?” 

[I told them] look, I’m not gonna say something. What I’ll say is in case you see me and Mommy sitting collectively watching TV, then simply are available in there and watch it with us.

What’s subsequent for you? 

Be looking for brand new music from The Dragon. It’s really half two in a three-part sequence I’m doing. The first album is named Genesis. The second one which I’m engaged on proper now is named Exodus and the subsequent one might be Revelations. Look out for a snippet actually quickly.