Phresh Out the Runway

"Phresh Out the Runway" (also known as "Fresh Off the Runway"[1]) is a song recorded by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna for her seventh studio album Unapologetic (2012). It was co-written by Rihanna with French disc-jockey David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort and Terius Nash. It is the first time that Rihanna and Guetta had collaborated since "Who's That Chick?", released in November 2010. "Phresh Out the Runway" is a hip hop and rave song that contains heavy synthesizers and bass. Lyrically, Rihanna explains how if any of her crew does not respect her, they should no longer remain with her.

"Phresh Out the Runway"
Song by Rihanna
from the album Unapologetic
Recorded
Genre
Length3:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • David Guetta
  • Giorgio Tuinfort
  • Terius Nash

"Phresh Out the Runway" received positive reviews from music critics; most of them praised the composition, production and how Rihanna interpreted the song. However, the lyrics were subjected to criticism. Rihanna performed the track at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 7, 2012, along with the album's lead single, "Diamonds". "Phresh Out the Runway" was included on the set list of the 777 Tour promotional tour and the Diamonds World Tour. Upon the release of Unapologetic, the song debuted at number 35 on the UK R&B Chart and 177 on the UK Singles Chart. It also debuted on the US R&B Songs chart at number 21.

Background and production
French disk-jockey David Guetta produced the song together with Giorgio Tuinfort and Terius Nash.

Rihanna began "working on the new sound" for her seventh studio album in March 2012, even though she had not yet begun recording.[2] On September 12, 2012, Def Jam France announced via Twitter that Rihanna would release a new single the upcoming week while her seventh studio album was scheduled to be released in November 2012. However, the tweet was shortly deleted and replaced with another clarifying that "more information will be made available tomorrow, Thursday, September 13".[3] Via her official Twitter account, Rihanna posted series of "teasing" tweets announcing her seventh studio album.[4]

On November 6, 2012, Rihanna revealed that there would be "another secret collab" on the album. She hinted at the identity: "Guess who is featured on the #7th song on #Unapologetic, Hint: his birthday is tomorrow November #7th."[5] In a followed tweet, she explicitly revealed that the secret artist is the French disk-jockey David Guetta and announced that he produced "Phresh Out the Runway" along with "Right Now" for her seventh studio album Unapologetic.[5] Rihanna and Guetta have previously collaborated on "Who's That Chick?" (2010), which is included in the re-release of his second studio album One Love (2009), entitled One More Love (2010).[6]

"Phresh Out the Runway" was co-written by Rihanna herself, Terius Nash and Giorgio Tuinfort.[7] Production of the song was helmed by Guetta, Tuinfort as well as Nash under his production name Terius Nash.[7] Josh Campbell engineered the song, with assistance from Joel Peters at SARM Studios in London.[7] Rihanna's vocals were recorded by Marcos Tovar and Kuk Harrell at R Studios in Los Angeles, California; Harrell also handled production of Rihanna's vocals.[7] All instrumentation and programming was carried out by Guetta, Tuinfort and Nash.[7] The song was finally mixed by Jaycen Joshua at SARM Studios and Metropolis Studios in London.[7]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"Phresh Out the Runway" is a hip hop and rave song,[8][9] with a duration of three minutes and forty-two seconds.[10] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times noted that the song's composition is a "chaotic dense spray of boasts over a muscular, scraping beat".[11] Brad Stern of MTV Buzzworthy labeled the song as "noisy, trap-tastic twerker" that is reminiscent of Rihanna's 2012 single "Birthday Cake" and according to him, contains blazin' beats, brags aplenty, nasty unapologetic attitude.[12] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian noted that "Phresh Out the Runway" is an aggregation off "distorted" synthesisers derived from Joey Beltram's 1990 record "Mentasm" "until it sounds weird and disorientating".[13] The Boston Globe's James Reed labeled "Phresh Out the Runway" as a club banger containing a heavy bass "that rumbles more in your chest instead of rattling your feet."[14] Alex Macpherson of Fact wrote that on the song "Rihanna sprays declamations like machine gun fire over what could pass for a lost early ’90s Prodigy rave anthem."[15] The lyrical content of "Phresh Out the Runway" revolves around Rihanna explaining how if any of her crew does not respect her, then she should no longer remain with her, singing: "How could you be so hood, but you're so fuckin' pop?/ How could you be so fun and sound like you're selling rocks?".[16] On the song, Rihanna sounds "indignant" and "impressed" with being herself and proclaims: "Walk up in this bitch like I own the ho".[11]

Critical reception

"Phresh Out the Runway" received positive reviews from most music critics. Dan Martin for NME commented, "French overlord of the genre, David Guetta, is present, and his contributions on tracks like the opener 'Phresh Out the Runway' are largely box-ticking exercises to illustrate Rihanna's commitment to making loads of money, but they're at least subtle."[17] Chris Youine for 4Music concluded that there is not doubt that the song is a "bold, brash and unapologetic opener of the album".[18] Nathan S. for DJ Booth wrote that the song "finds Rihanna on the verge of just straight out rhyming"; according to him her rhyming is pretty well.[19] Esquire's Miles Raymer commented that Rihanna is party girl and because of that every of her albums has one song with you can get crazy; according to Raymer in this case is "Phresh Out the Runway" which if it is played in proper volume it can be "handbanging".[20]

Greg Kot for Chicago Tribune concluded that the song together with "Jump" and "Pour It Up" celebrates "live-for-the-moment hedonism".[21] Smokey Fontaine for The Huffington Post called it a "loud" and "as-curse filled" for it can capture the album's title and reminds the parents that Rihanna's music is not yet for their kids.[22] Bernard Perusse for The Montreal Gazette criticized the song and called it a "robotic whomp and f-bomb shtick", that rapidly creates "a melody-free, pedestrian turf".[23] Pitchfork Media's Jessica Hopper wrote that "'Phresh Out the Runway' is capitalist braggadocio (nonsense grade) so static it borders on unmusical."[24] Sarah H. Grant of Consequence of Sound called both "Right Now" and "Phresh Out the Runway" "texturally layered", but "lyrically barren".[25]

Live performances and usage in media
Rihanna performing "Phresh Out the Runway" during the Diamonds World Tour in 2013

Rihanna performed "Phresh Out the Runway" for the first time at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show alongside "Diamonds", on November 7, 2012. She wore a pink sheer lingerie set for the performance, for the "Angels in Bloom" segment of the show. The show aired on December 4, 2012 on CBS, and Rihanna garnered enormous praise for her performance.[26]

During the seven days prior to the release of the album, Rihanna embarked on the 777 Tour, a seven-date promotional tour where she performed seven concerts in seven cities in seven countries across North America and Europe.[27] "Phresh Out the Runway" was included on the set list at the first concert in Mexico City,[28] at the second concert in Toronto.[29] Rihanna performed the song again at the third concert in Stockholm.[30] Jack Rosenthal for Rolling Stone commented that performing the song appeared to be an "uphill climb" for Rihanna during the first two dates in Mexico City and Toronto, but felt that she looked more comfortable performing on the third date in Stockholm, writing "she sings it looking over her shoulder, a breezy afterthought."[30] She also included the song in her setlist for her Diamonds World Tour.[31]

"Phresh Out the Runway" was featured at the end of the season three eighth episode of the American police procedural drama TV series, Hawaii Five-0.[32]

Credits and personnel
Recording
  • Recorded at SARM Studios, Notting Hill, London, UK; R Studios, Los Angeles, California; Metropolis Studios, London, UK.
  • Mixed at Larrabee Recording Studios, Burbank, California.
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unapologetic, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.[7]

Charts

Upon the release of Unapologetic, "Phresh Out the Runway" debuted on the UK R&B Chart at number 35 on November 25, 2012.[33] It debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 177.[34] The song debuted at number 21 on the US R&B Songs chart for the issue dated December 22, 2012,[35] and peaked at number 46 on the R&B/Hip-hop Digital Songs chart on December 3, 2010.[36]

Chart (2012) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[37] 185
UK R&B Chart (OCC)[33] 35
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[34] 177
US R&B Songs (Billboard)[35] 21
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[36] 46
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References
  1. Kellman, Andy (2012). "Unapologetic - Rihanna". AllMusic. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  2. "Rihanna on Katy Perry Collaboration: 'It's Gonna Happen'". Rap-Up. Devine Lazerine. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. Lansky, Sam (September 12, 2012). "Rihanna's New Album Due Out In November, Sources Say". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  4. "Rihanna Teases New Album Details As She Launches Website Dedicated To Seventh Record". Capital FM. September 24, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  5. "Rihanna Confirms David Guetta Collaborations On New Album 'Unapologetic'". Capital FM. November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  6. "Music – One More Love by David Guetta". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  7. Unapologetic (inlay cover). Rihanna. Def Jam Recordings, SRP. 2012. p. 16.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. Hampp, Andrew (November 17, 2012). "Rihanna, 'Unapologetic': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  9. Henderson, Eric (November 19, 2012). "Rihanna- Unapologetic". Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  10. "iTunes – Music – Unapologetic by Rihanna". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  11. Caramanica, Jon (November 21, 2012). "Rihanna, Icy Hot and Steely-Strong". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. C1. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  12. Stern, Brad (November 19, 2012). "Rihanna 'Unapologetic': Track-By-Track Review... In GIFs!". MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  13. Petridis, Alexis (November 15, 2012). "Rihanna: Unapologetic – review". The Guardian. London. section G2, p. 21. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  14. Reed, James (November 20, 2012). "Rihanna takes aim at critics on 'Unapologetic'". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  15. Macpherson, Alex (November 23, 2012). "Unapologetic". Fact. London. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  16. Henderson, Eric (November 19, 2012). "Rihanna: Unapologetic". Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  17. Martin, Dan (November 24, 2012). "Rihanna – 'Unapologetic'". NME. London: IPC Media (Time Inc.). Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  18. Youine, Chris (November 21, 2012). "News: Review: Rihanna – Unapologetic". 4Music. Box Television. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  19. S, Nathan. "Rihanna – Unapologetic". DJ Booth. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  20. Raymer, Miles (November 20, 2012). "The 9 Better Songs on Rihanna's Unapologetic". Esquire. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  21. Kot, Greg (November 19, 2012). "Album review: Rihanna, 'Unapologetic'". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  22. Fontaine, Smokey (November 20, 2012). "Rihanna's Unapologetic Triumph". The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  23. Perusse, Bernard (November 20, 2012). "Review: Rihanna's Unapologetic is a tuneless, brainless attention grab". The Montreal Gazette. Postmedia Network. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  24. Hopper, Jessica (November 26, 2012). "Rihanna: Unapologetic, Album Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  25. H. Grant, Sarah (November 26, 2012). "Album Review: Rihanna – Unapologetic". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  26. "Victoria Secret Fashion Show 2012 – NYC: Rihanna Performs While Models in Lingerie Flaunt their Curvy Figures (Photos)". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. November 8, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  27. "Rihanna announces '777' Tour". Universal Music Canada. October 31, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  28. Ramirez, Erika (November 15, 2012). "Rihanna's 777 Tour Diary: Day One, Mexico". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  29. Collins, Leah (November 16, 2012). "Rihanna clearly Unapologetic about 777 Tour stop in Toronto". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver: Kevin D. Bent. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  30. Rosenthal, Jack (November 17, 2012). "Rihanna's '777' Tour, Day 3: Tending Bar in Stockholm". Rolling Stone. New York: Jann Wenner. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  31. Harrington, Jim (April 6, 2013). "Setlist: Rihanna in San Jose". Mercury News. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  32. Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park (November 26, 2012). Hawaii Five-0 (Television production). United States: CBS.
  33. "2012 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive – 1st December 2012". Official Charts Company. November 25, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  34. "Chart: CLUK Update 1.12.2012 (wk47) – Chart log UK: New Entries Update". Official Charts Company. Zobbel. December 1, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  35. "US R&B – Week of December 22, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 22, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  36. "Rihanna Chart History - R&B/Hip-hop Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  37. "Lescharts.com – Rihanna – Phresh Out the Runway" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 16, 2015.

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