From The Vault: Rihanna – ‘What’s My Name (ft. Drake)’

Today’s From The Vault pick comes courtesy of Pop princess, Rihanna.

As the world (im)patiently waits for her musical return, we take it back to her more active days: this week’s selection is ‘What’s My Name?’

Rolled out as the second single from Rih’s fifth studio album ‘Loud,’ the track was released in 2010. Helmed by a musical dream team, comprising of production duo Stargate and wordsmith Ester Dean, it was the first of many collaborations between the Bajan belle and Canadian titan – and rumored love interest – Drake.

As has been the case with most of RiRi’s releases in the early 2010’s, this was a huge hit. Uniquely, it reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 before the parent album’s lead single ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ did a few weeks later. It was also a chart topper in the UK and managed to peak inside the Top 5 in Canada and Norway.

***********

The music video for the cut was directed by Philip Andelman and Raam Kapoor. Though select interior shots were filmed in Mumbai, the bulk of the action takes place on the Lower East Side of New York City.

In all its pedestrian glory, it follows the singer as she makes her way to a bonfire party, with a small detour at the local convenient store where Drizzy awaits. Sporting the era’s signature red hair-do, she glowed as she strut down the streets of Manhattan with style and elegance.

***********

Funny what a 10 year difference can make. Back then, the consensus what Rihanna was releasing too much music too soon. Now the world at large is singing a whole other tune.

We’re pretty sure a successful comeback is on the cards for Ms. Fenty. Still, we seriously hope that by the time she is ready to unleash her next musical offering, it will be something cool, fresh and edgy like the material on her last project ‘ANTI’ but also instant and catchy a la ‘What’s My Name?’ and other songs in that lane.

Rih, we’re ready.