Following the unveiling of three buzz singles, Rihanna’s ‘ANTI‘ was undoubtedly saved by the Reggae-kissed cut that is ‘Work.’
Today, its creator PARTYNEXTDOOR has revealed that things may have gone very differently for the project…as it was almost released by Rih‘s rival Alicia Keys!
Full story below…
Rihanna’s label didn’t care for Caribbean music at the time so I almost kept the song and considered it giving it to Alicia Keys. Rihanna fought for it.
It wouldn’t be the first time a hit single came close to missing out on being pushed out Rihanna’s chart-approved machine.
In 2007, she was released the number ‘Umbrella’ after it was rejected by Mary J. Blige and a ‘Blackout‘-focused Britney Spears and unconfirmed reports suggest that 2006’s ‘SOS’ was originally offered to and rejected by Christina Milian before it was delivered to Rih’s discography.
Want more from DOOR’s conversation with ‘New York’?
Check out what he had to say about working with ‘Work’s featured act Drake.
I openly share music with Drake, especially when it’s time for him to have a project…I have an older brother I can text anytime, someone who’s super invested because my name is tied into his. It’s just creatives cooking. If he sees something in a song of mine that he feels he can spin around and make better, who am I to say I’m going to selfishly keep it? As a fan of music, that’s wrong.
Peep ‘Work’s lyrics below…
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He say me have to
Work, work, work, work, work, work!
He see me do me
Dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt!
So me put in
Work, work, work, work, work, work
When you all gon’?
Learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me no care if him
Hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, hurting
Dry!… Me a desert him
No time to have you lurking
Him ah go act like he don’t like it
You know I dealt with you the nicest
Nobody touch me, you the righteous
Nobody text me in a crisis
I believed all of your dreams, adoration
You took my heart and my keys and my patience
You took my heart on my sleeve for decoration
You mistaken my love I brought for you for foundation
All that I wanted from you was to give me
Something that I never had
Something that you’ve never seen
Something that you’ve never been!
Mmmmm!
But I wake up and act like nothing’s wrong
Just get ready fi…
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He say me have to
Work, work, work, work, work, work!
He see me do me
Dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt!
So me put in
Work, work, work, work, work, work
Ner ner ner ner ner ner!
When you all gon’ learn, learn, learn, learn, learn!
Before the tables turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn!
Beg you something please
Baby don’t you leave
Don’t leave me stuck here in the streets, uh huh
If I get another chance to
I will never, no never neglect you
I mean who am I to hold your past against you?
I just hope that it gets to you
I hope that you see this through
I hope that you see this true
What can I say?
Please recognize I’m tryin’, babe!
I have to
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He say me have to
Work, work, work, work, work, work!
He see me do me
Dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt!
So me put in
Work, work, work, work, work, work
When you all gon’
Learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me no care if him
Hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, hurting
Yeah, okay
You need to get done, done, done, done at work, come over
We just need to slow the motion
Don’t give that away to no one
Long distance, I need you
When I see potential I just gotta see it through
If you had a twin, I would still choose you
I don’t wanna rush into it, if it’s too soon
But I know you need to get done, done, done, done
If you come over
Sorry if I’m way less friendly
I got niggas tryna end me, oh
I spilled all my emotions tonight, I’m sorry
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
How many more shots until you’re rollin’?
We just need a face to face
You could pick the time and the place
You spent some time away
Now you need to forward and give me all the…
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He say me have to
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He see me do me
Dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt!
So me put in
Work, work, work, work, work, work
When you all gon’
Learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me no care if him
Hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, hurting
Mmmmm, mmmmm
Mmmmm, mmmmm
Work, work, work, work, work, work
Mmmmm, mmmmm
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I’d rather Alicia keep it for herself then I’m sure I’d actually be able to listen to it and love it without wanting to puncture my ear drums!
Alicia offkeys’ voice would have punctured your eardrums had she got her hands on this track. The thought of her strained vocals on work sends a shiver down my spine
Wasn’t “We Found love” meant for someone else too? I think Leona Lewis….
And I can’t imagine MJB singing umbrella lol.
At the end I’m glad Rih kept all of these hits !!
Happy Thursday everyone. Have a great POSITIVE DAY!!!
Nicole Scherzinger turned it down first. The song was intended for Leona, but it never got to her.
Burn was recorded by Leona who passed on it and it was given to Ellie
Poor Nicole….she shoulda kept it!!
It was better this way. “Work” is one of Rihanna’s worst songs, sure, it gave her what her fans love to brag about so much (#1’s) but it’s just terrible. Alicia released “In Common” which is excellent, a quality song with commercial appeal. Too bad quality is rejected by radio stations and music major consumers (kids) these days.
Quality is totally rejected I agree. Only a couple of exceptions here and there.
Rih knows a hit!
If Rih isn’t involved with her albums from start to finish and all she does is lay down the vocals, what makes you think she picks which songs she does? Her team picks the cheapest songs foe for her to do because they will be an instant hit.
Who says she isnt involved start to finish? Writing lyrics is just one aspect of putting an album together
Of course she ISN´T involved mate. Are you that naive? They give her the songs and the album is ready in a few weeks as it´s been stated many times. For example they quickly cancelled her album last year cause it wasn´t working and found some other songs and that was it. She does nothing. That´s why she´s such a big joke. If she wasn´t a good singer and had artistry, musicianship, songwriting skills or performing skills it good be ok. But she just does nothing.
Your hate is making you delusional, then why is it she had to fight for this song? Why is it that most of the dongs on anti were recorded or writtens a year before the album was released? How do u cancel an album and stil relesse it with the original tracks?
I feel like Alicia Keys would’ve passed on this song. It doesn’t blend with her new music.
And it would’ve flopped, no shade. No ones here for Alicia anymore.
Says the Ciara stan? ??
More people are here for Alicia than Ciara tbh…
Can you imagine hearing this song 20 years from now? Like how people listen to Tina, whitney, madonna, and the rest of the old biddies. It would sound so ridiculous.
People said the same thing about a lot of their music too back in the day, yet we all still singing along just like people will still be singing rihannas songs years from now
The Caribbean sound is evergreen, most of their crossover hits are still very much relevant. So I doubt “work” will be an exception.
“Work” was meant for Rihanna. I love Alicia but it would’ve sounded a mess if she sung it.
Alicia would have sounded a mess. She doesn’t have the correct accent to fit the lyrics and vibe. People are so disillusion and hate Rihanna so much they still believe Alicia would be better. Silly!
lol some of y’all swear up and down y’all know what music people will be listening to in the future
If Alicia took it (She wounldnt have) she probably wouldn’t have sung it like Rihanna… That song is trash btw
Some people, especially white people don’t get the song, it is a Caribbean song sang in Rihanna’s original Bajan dialect and accent.
‘
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the song, all some people need is a little bit of culture in their life.
Yup, people are so uncultured and unwilling to step outside their comfort zone
Not quite. The song is written in Jamaican Patois and Rihanna’s Bajan accent makes it hard for people in general (not just White ppl) to understand. It’s like a Portuguese person singing in Spanish.
By the way his demo of work is not really the exact same with Rihanna’s version.
Rihanna made changes that’s why she’s credited .
Yup, I heard the demo and im glad someone else sang it because PArtyNextDoor did not sound good in the track
There is no saying that Alicia was offered it she would’ve recorded it, and if she did it wouldn’t have worked. Could you imagine the dire video if she had released it? Put it in a love song is still in achieves.
I’m glad he didn’t give it to Alicia. This song is to simple for her. Her lyrics and music is usually meaningful. Nothing wrong with a simple song, it’s just not Alicia.
Girl bye for every deep Alicia Keys track Rihanna has about 5 more just check her discography and catalogue hun
Lmao I guess Rihanna has a ear for hit songs… I would’ve like to hear how Alicia Keys would have sang it though. ..
Nice