: Jamaican-Canadian artist PARTYNEXTDOOR wrote the initial lyrics as a breakup song before Drake and Rihanna fleshed it out with their own verses.
Released in January 2016 as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Anti , remains one of Rihanna's most culturally significant hits. The track features Canadian rapper Drake and is celebrated for its dancehall and reggae-pop influence, which paid homage to Rihanna's Barbadian roots. Production and Creative Origin Rihanna - Work (Explicit) ft. Drake
: Rihanna utilized Bajan Patois in the lyrics, which led to widespread discussion regarding the song’s "unintelligibility" to non-Caribbean audiences, though critics praised its authenticity. Production and Creative Origin : Rihanna utilized Bajan
: The repetitive "Work, work, work..." chorus follows a specific melody note pattern (D# and C#) over shifting chords, creating a hypnotic loop that anchored the track on radio play. The song was a global collaboration produced by
Music analysts note that the song's "sticky" quality comes from its rhythmic simplicity and specific harmonic choices.
The song was a global collaboration produced by , who developed the beat during a session at Drake's house in Los Angeles.