Meaning of “Rude Boy” by Rihanna

“Rude Boy” is primarily about Rihanna dominating an intimate relationship as opposed to the norm of the man being in control.

She begins by giving the man a chance to lead the action, using terms like “captain” and “rider” to illustrate how she wants him to make her feel. They both want to be satisfied and don’t mind doing whatever it takes to get there. Rihanna takes her turn to tell her partner that she could make them feel better if she takes control in the bedroom. She assures him to let go, relax and let her take over since she knows what she’s doing. She expresses that she likes what her guy does to her, but it appears she wants to get more.

What has Rihanna said about this song?

Rihanna, speaking to Q Magazine, said the song describes the type of bad street boys (who combine swag with danger) that girls sometimes want to be with.

Facts about “Rude Boy”

• The song was released on February 19, 2010. It is the third track on Rihanna’s fourth album, Rated R.
• A bunch of music producers teamed up together to produce “Rude Boy”. They include Rob Swire, Travis George, and Norwegian record producing team, Stargate.
•  “Rude Boy” was written by Rihanna with assistance from a bunch of other songwriters, including Tor Erik Hermansen.
• The song was ranked number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, in its fourth week, making it the singer’s sixth number one single in the United States.
• In addition, “Rude Boy” was number one in Australia and was among the top five songs in several countries, including the United Kingdom, where it reached number 2.
• It remained on the Australian Singles Chart for nineteen weeks. This feat led to it being honored with a  double platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Full List of Writers of “Rude Boy”

Rihanna collaborated with the following songwriters to pen this hit song:

• Tor Erik Hermansen
• Rob Swire
• Ester Dean
• Mikkel Stoleer Eriksen
• Makeba Riddick