Artist
Jay-Z Feat. Rihanna & Kanye West
Why we feature this artist Three voices make a declaration feel like a gathering Run This Town gives Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West a dark, emphatic setting in which to stake their claims. The 2009 recording belongs to The Blueprint 3, with each performer addin…
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- United States, Barbados
- Sound
- Hip-hop, pop
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The story of Jay-Z Feat. Rihanna & Kanye West
Why we feature this artist
Three voices make a declaration feel like a gathering
Run This Town gives Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West a dark, emphatic setting in which to stake their claims. The 2009 recording belongs to The Blueprint 3, with each performer adding a different kind of authority. Rihanna supplies the broad vocal signal, Jay-Z sets out his position with measured confidence and West brings a more restless turn of phrase.
The chorus establishes the scale
Rihanna's opening makes the record feel communal before the rap verses have explained much. Her tone is cool and controlled, carrying a melody large enough to suggest a crowd without sounding especially comforting. It establishes an atmosphere the other voices can inhabit rather than simply introducing the next section.
West and No I.D. share the production credit. The drums and repeating instrumental material give the track a marching sense of weight, while the arrangement leaves the voices clearly separated. The result feels substantial without a constant rush of new sounds arriving at once.
Different methods of holding the same room
Jay-Z's verses draw their force from pacing and apparent ease. West's later appearance is more changeable, with lines that seem to test the beat's edges. The sequence makes the collaboration feel like an exchange of perspectives, even though the central attitude remains a shared assertion of presence.
The official video premiere was presented by MTV in August 2009, with all three performers central to the announcement. The music already contains that sense of a public occasion. Its lasting identity comes from the voices remaining distinct inside the same tense production, each recognisable before the listener needs to be told who has entered.
Essential releases
Run This Town
The Blueprint 3 collaboration places Rihanna’s commanding refrain between contrasting rap performances from Jay-Z and West, over production by West and No I.D.