Bad Gal Business: A History of Island-Flavored Bashment Bangers From Rihanna

Words by Jesse Serwer

Rihanna has had an interesting career trajectory, as far as her connection to the Caribbean. Released at the tail end of the early-2000s dancehall explosion, her debut album Music of the Sun (2005) positioned her as a sunny island pop star: She versioned Dawn Penn with Vybz Kartel, hired Max Glazer as her DJ, and generally repped her Bajan roots to the fullest. But as Robin Fenty grew from A Girl Like Me to a Good Girl Gone Bad, she left the sun for the darkside, becoming a full-fledged rockstar with a combination of European style club hits, monster ballads and a dutty, boss-bitch makeover. The last two years have seen the “Sexiest Woman Alive” bogle-ing her way back towards the Caribbean, though, with tunes like “Rude Boy” and “Man Down,” her Bajan accent creeping back in to her interviews. Released last week, her latest, Talk that Talk, doesn’t have any pure bashment heaters but her (literal and figurative) Bajan accent is there throughout, if you know where to look. To celebrate just how much we appreciate Rihanna in full island gyal mode, we’ve compiled a list of her tunes most likely to draw forwards in the dancehall.

10. “Music of the Sun” (2005)

The title track on Rihanna’s first album was a tribute not just to the islands but tropical vibes in general, leaning equally on a Dem Bow-like riddim and Latin classical guitar.

9. “Watch N Learn” (2011)

“Watch N Learn” is one of numerous oral sex-themed songs on Talk that Talk, but G.O.O.D. Music producer Hit-Boy sets it apart with an impeccably catchy island pop beat that puts it in contention for best song on the album.

8. “You Da One” (2011)

Dr. Luke’s beat for Rihanna’s most recent single isn’t exactly a pure reggae riddim but it’s loose island chords give Rihanna ample room to stretch every “time” out into a “ta-ah-ah-ime,” ensuring this will be the Talk that Talk single likely to draw the most forwards come bashment time.

7.”Break It Off” feat. Sean Paul (2006)

Rihanna’s sophomore album A Girl Like Me rode the roots reggae revival with a trio of one-drop tunes (“Dem Haters,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Selfish Girl”) but her Don Corleon-produced dancehall single with Sean Paul was the one that caught on with Caribbean and international audiences alike.

6. You Don’t Love Me (No No No)” feat. Vybz Kartel (2005)

Supa Dups of Miami’s Black Chiney Sound co-produced (along with album masterminds Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken) this version of Dawn Penn’s “You Don’t Love Me” from Music of the Sun, with a then-rising but not yet-superstar-level Vybz Kartel.

5. “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want” (2005)

For this standout track from Music of the Sun, producers Poke and Tone of Trackmasters gave Rihanna a beat that was a perfect blend between hip-hop and reggae. While the boom-bap drums (and fleeting KRS-One vocal sample) harkened back to Golden Era rap—a fact seized upon in a hook that borrows its phrasing from Boogie Down Productions’ “The Bridge is Over” (“Deedeedeedoddidoddideedeedoddidayyyy”)— the dub guitar echoes and organ flourishes gave it the feel of Sly & Robbie-era Grace Jones. The corresponding video played up Rihanna as an almost innocent island-girl next door—about as far of a cry from the whip-wielding dominatrix of today as one can get.

4. “What’s My Name (Federation Sound Remix)” feat. Vybz Kartel (2010)

The original “What’s My Name” already came with plenty of undercover Caribbean flavor but with two verses from a then-scorching Vybz Kartel and some dancehall kicks in the mix, Federation Sound’s remix made things more explicit—literally.

3. “Pon De Replay” (2005)

The song that introduced Rihanna to the world set the tone for her career with its mixture of dance pop and dancehall. Fortunately, it leaned more in the latter direction, from the title to the Lil X-directed video, with its Kardinal Offishall and Cipha Sounds cameo and dancehall choreography. Should DJs want to get the club warmer, there’s always the official Elephant Man remix.

2. “Man Down” (2010)

Rihanna came under fire for painting Jamaica in a negative light with her violent video for “Man Down,” but the song— produced by Haitian-American beatmaker Shama “Sham” Joseph—itself was one of the high points for Caribbean music in the last year, and a welcome, female addition to the gunman tune tradition.

1. Rihanna, “Rude Boy” (2009)

The inherent Caribbean-ness of Rihanna’s I-wear-the-pants-in-bed anthem “Rude Boy” might not have immediately registered with the masses but its video, a visual tribute to ’90s dancehall culture, made things abundantly clear. Despite all of the sexual imagery of Rihanna we’re treated to near-daily basis, the lasting mental picture we have of her is still her in those red, gold and green pum-pum shorts and knee-high, leopard-print boots. Giddy up.

Sizzla feat. Rihanna, “Give Me A Try”
Cham feat. Rihanna, “Boom Boom” (2005)

On a few occasions Rihanna has lent her voice to songs by other artists from the Caribbean, with some success. In 2005, she played the willing, perky recipient to Cham’s come-ons, on “Boom Boom” from the Ghetto Story album. At some point, she also lent her voice to a remix of Sizzla’s 2003 classic “Give Me A Try.” Though any alteration of the revered original—one of Sizzla’s best-loved tunes—was bound to draw jeers from purists, Rihanna does a fine job, admirably attempting to match Sizzla’s falsetto.