What's Happening?
Rihanna's hit song 'Work,' released in 2016 as the lead single from her album 'Anti,' incorporates a sample with a rich history spanning over three decades. The core melody of 'Work' originates from Alexander O’Neal’s 1985 ballad 'If You Were Here Tonight.'
This melody was later interpolated into the 1998 Jamaican dancehall 'Sail Away riddim,' produced by Richie Stephens and Mikey 2000. The 'Sail Away riddim' became a significant hit in dancehall, featuring tracks from artists like Beenie Man, Mr. Vegas, and Sean Paul. In 2015/2016, producer Boi-1da constructed the beat for 'Work,' drawing directly from the 'Sail Away riddim's' foundation. The song's lyrics were written by PARTYNEXTDOOR, with Drake adding a verse, and Rihanna recording her vocals in a mix of Bajan Creole and Jamaican Patois. The sample was properly cleared through Richie Stephens, who retained ownership of the publishing and master recording, leading to his credit as a co-writer.
Why It's Important?
The journey of the 'Work' sample highlights the interconnectedness and evolutionary nature of global music, particularly the influence of Caribbean sounds on mainstream pop. It demonstrates how a melodic idea can transcend genres and decades, finding new life and reaching wider audiences through sampling and interpolation. The success of 'Work,' which spent eight weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the best-selling digital singles of all time, underscores the commercial viability of incorporating diverse musical heritage. This process also showcases the importance of proper sample clearance, ensuring that original creators like Monte Moir and Richie Stephens receive due credit and royalties, thereby benefiting artists across different eras and musical traditions. It exemplifies how a 'riddim' in dancehall, designed for communal use and reinterpretation, can achieve global recognition.
What's Next?
The continued success and recognition of songs like 'Work' could encourage more artists and producers to explore and integrate diverse musical samples, particularly from genres with rich histories like dancehall and R&B. This trend might lead to further cross-cultural collaborations and the re-discovery of older musical works by new generations. For artists like Richie Stephens, the experience of 'Work' has already inspired him to revisit and produce more music in the 1990s dancehall style, blending it with contemporary sounds. This could result in a resurgence of interest in classic riddims and a new wave of music that bridges historical and modern Caribbean influences. The ongoing evolution of music production and intellectual property rights will likely continue to shape how samples are used, cleared, and credited in future hit songs.
Beyond the Headlines
The story of 'Work' delves into the deeper cultural and ethical dimensions of music creation, particularly regarding sampling. It illustrates how musical elements can become communal property within certain genres, like the 'riddim' in dancehall, which is inherently designed for multiple artists to build upon. This contrasts with more traditional Western notions of individual authorship. The song's use of Bajan Creole and Jamaican Patois by Rihanna is not merely a stylistic choice but a deliberate engagement with her Barbadian heritage and Caribbean musical traditions, adding authenticity and cultural depth. This practice challenges the homogenization often seen in global pop music, promoting linguistic and cultural diversity. Furthermore, the financial benefits reaped by the original creators through proper clearance highlight the ethical responsibility of modern artists and producers to acknowledge and compensate those whose work forms the foundation of new creations, fostering a more equitable music industry.
