What's My Name?

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The collaboration with Drake came about after Rihanna met him backstage at an event and asked him to record a verse on her song. Tor Erik Hermansen of Stargate recalled, "She's calling me up saying, 'Where are the files?' That's one thing you don't hear often from artists on her level." The collaboration was originally intended to be a remix, while a solo version would have been on *Loud*, but it made the final cut. Rihanna told MTV News, "Drake is the hottest rapper out right now and we've always been trying to work together." According to her, when he heard the song he liked it and wrote his verse after three days. Rihanna described the song as "very youthful, playful and very melodic," and said that's why Drake was the perfect choice, "cause he's a young rapper who has incredible melodies." The song was recorded at Roc the Mic Studios in New York City and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Drake's vocals were recorded by Noah "40" Shebib at The Hit Factory Studios in Miami.

In Their Own Story

The song's development began in November 2009, when Drake praised Rihanna's then-upcoming album *Rated R* and revealed they had collaborated on a track that didn't make the final cut. Traci Hale, one of the writers, explained she got into the project thanks to a phone call from Ester Dean, and that her work was mostly lyrical while Dean and Stargate did most of the music. When asked about the inspiration, Hale stated, "Oh love, love, love! And it's sexy – it started as a real sexy track and then you put something sexy over it." The song was released to rhythmic contemporary radio in the US on October 25, 2010, and to contemporary hit radio the following day. A CD single featuring the song and a remix was released on January 21, 2011, in Germany. The song debuted at number 67 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number two. It debuted at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in its third week jumped to number one after being released digitally, becoming Rihanna's eighth number-one single and Drake's first. Notably, it reached number one before the lead single "Only Girl (In the World)" topped the chart.

Reader's Guide

To appreciate "What's My Name?", start with its production: it's a mid-tempo electro-R&B song produced by Stargate, returning Rihanna to the "Island-pop" of her early career with a backing track of "heavy reggae" and ska beats with synthesised organs. Bill Lamb from About.com noted an internal buildup of "dreamy drum machine rhythms" before Rihanna's vocals start, describing the backing track as "simple" and "atmospheric." Lyrically, it incorporates themes of "sex and romance," with Jocelyn Vena from MTV describing the vocal delivery and lyrics as "sassy." Critics noted specific moments: Stacy Anderson from *Spin* and Nick Levine from *Digital Spy* picked up on sexual innuendos, including Drake's line, "The square root of 69 is 8 something, right / 'Cuz I been trying to work it out." Megan Vick from *Billboard* noted that "Rihanna's lush vocal turn denotes a startling leap in maturity from previous singles." The accompanying music video, directed by Philip Andelman, plays a romantic encounter between Rihanna and Drake in a grocery store along with romantic scenes and Rihanna walking through Manhattan's Lower East Side. The song was promoted with live performances including *Saturday Night Live* in the US and the series 7 finale of *The X Factor* in the UK in December 2010.

Did You Know?

• The song was originally intended to be a remix, with a solo version planned for the album, but Drake's verse made the final cut.
• Rihanna met Drake backstage at an event and asked him to record a verse; he wrote his verse after three days of hearing the song.
• "What's My Name?" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 before the album's lead single "Only Girl (In the World)" did.
• The song was nominated at the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
• The music video, directed by Philip Andelman, features a romantic encounter between Rihanna and Drake in a grocery store.