Rihanna’s music video for “Man Down” has hit one billion views on YouTube! The song is from her fifth studio album, *Loud*, released in 2010. Rihanna teamed up with production duo Rock City, who aimed to give a female perspective to Bob Marley’s classic “I Shot the Sheriff.”
Directed by Anthony Mandler and filmed in Jamaica, the video shows Rihanna shooting a man at a Caribbean-style Grand Central Station. It then flashes back to the day before, where an implied sexual assault takes place. Mandler described the video as dramatic, shocking, and emotional, saying it needed a strong narrative. The lyrics express regret over the shooting: “’Cause I didn’t mean to hurt him / Coulda been somebody’s son.”
*Loud* followed Rihanna’s 2009 album *Rated R* and featured three number-one hits: the dance track “Only Girl (In The World),” the Drake collaboration “What’s My Name,” and “S&M.” “Only Girl (In The World)” won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2011, and *Loud* received three more Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.
This year marks 20 years since Rihanna released her debut album, *Music Of The Sun*. To celebrate, the R20 campaign launched, making it easier for fans to enjoy her hits. A new website offers vinyl options from her eight albums and new merchandise like the “R20 Rhenna Doll.” Plus, her entire catalog is now available on TikTok, Instagram, and other short-form platforms. Check out Rihanna’s music on vinyl or CD today!
