Katana VentraIP

Phresh Out the Runway

"Phresh Out the Runway" 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"

2012

3:42

  • 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.

Composition and lyrical interpretation[edit]

"Phresh Out the Runway" is a hip hop and rave song,[7][8] with a duration of three minutes and forty-two seconds.[9] 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".[10] 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.[11] 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".[12] 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."[13] 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."[14] 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?".[15] On the song, Rihanna sounds "indignant" and "impressed" with being herself and proclaims: "Walk up in this bitch like I own the ho".[10]

Critical reception[edit]

"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."[16] Chris Youine for 4Music concluded that there is not doubt that the song is a "bold, brash and unapologetic opener of the album".[17] 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.[18] 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".[19]


Greg Kot for Chicago Tribune concluded that the song together with "Jump" and "Pour It Up" celebrates "live-for-the-moment hedonism".[20] 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.[21] 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".[22] Pitchfork's Jessica Hopper wrote that "'Phresh Out the Runway' is capitalist braggadocio (nonsense grade) so static it borders on unmusical."[23] Sarah H. Grant of Consequence of Sound called both "Right Now" and "Phresh Out the Runway" "texturally layered", but "lyrically barren".[24]

Recorded at SARM Studios, Notting Hill, London, UK; R Studios, Los Angeles, California; Metropolis Studios, London, UK.

Mixed at Larrabee Recording Studios, Burbank, California.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unapologetic, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.[6]

on YouTube

Rihanna performing "Phresh Out the Runway" on the 777 Tour