The video for “Rude Boy” is here, adding yet another piece of perfection to the sublimity that is the Rated R promo campaign.
Ditching the moody noir of Rated R for a moment, Riri takes us on a much needed trip to the tropics in her newly released video. It’s bright, brash, and everything I could have hoped for and more. The hip twerks! The lip action! THE RUDENESS.
I AM LITERALLY FREAKING OUT.
Sure, there are copious amounts of similarity to M.I.A.‘s signature style and Grace Jones‘ work with Keith Haring from the mid-eighties, but this doesn’t feel the least bit ‘stolen’ to me. In fact, everything about the “Rude Boy” video screams authentic: This is how this island girl gets down, and she is such a fuckin’ lady about it.
Beg to differ and call her a thief (a swagger jacker, if you will)? I don’t care. I love this woman, and all I want is more.