Pour It Up

Last updated

"Pour It Up"
Pour It Up artwork.png
Single by Rihanna
from the album Unapologetic
ReleasedJanuary 8, 2013
Recorded2012
Genre
Length2:41
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mike Will Made It
  • JBo
Rihanna singles chronology
"Stay"
(2012)		"Pour It Up"
(2013)		"Right Now"
(2013)
Music video
"Pour It Up" on YouTube

"Pour It Up" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). It was serviced to urban radio stations in the United States on January 8, 2013, as the second US single, and third overall single from the album. It was later also sent to contemporary hit radio radios in the country. "Pour It Up" written by Rock City and producers Mike Will Made It and JBo. It is a club, trap, and R&B song with a minimal hip hop beat. Rihanna brags about her wealth on the song which serves as both a strip club anthem and a declaration of independence.

Contents

"Pour It Up" received a mixed response from critics, some of whom cited it as a highlight on Unapologetic, whilst others felt it was out of place. Upon its release as a single in the US, "Pour It Up" debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, on which it ultimately peaked at number 19. It also became Rihanna's second number one single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and reached number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Rihanna performed the song on her fifth and sixth headlining tour, the Diamonds World Tour and Anti World Tour. The song's official remix was released on March 20, 2013, and features additional rap verses from Young Jeezy, T.I., Rick Ross and Juicy J. Rihanna took pole-dancing lessons from Nicole Williams before the shooting of the music video. [1]

Background and release

"Pour It Up" was written by Rihanna herself with assistance from Michael Williams, Justin Garner and Theron Thomas and Timothy Thomas (Planet VI). [2] It was produced by Williams under his stage name Mike Will Made It, while being co-produced by JBo of Eardrummer Ent. [2] Williams stated in an interview with MTV News that he had produced multiple records for Rihanna for Unapologetic. He submitted three tracks in total, with "Pour It Up" making the track list. [3] "Pour It Up" was released to urban radio in the United States on January 8, 2013, as the second single in the country following Unapologetic's lead single, "Diamonds". [4] Over three months later, following the success of the song on the format, it was sent to contemporary hit radio on April 9. [5]

Composition

"Pour It Up" is a club, trap and R&B song, [6] [7] [8] with a minimal hip hop beat. [9] Lyrically, it finds Rihanna turning a strip-club anthem into a declaration of independence, [10] pulling out her dollar bills at the strip club, getting drunk, and bragging loudly. [9] A part of the song hears Rihanna bragging about how she is rich and can pay for a $100 valet service and a night at the strip club. [11] "All I see is signs, all I see is dollar signs", she declares. [9] "Throw it up / throw it up / watch it all fall out / Pour it up / Pour it up / That's how we ball out", she chants over a "hypnotic" beat and "handclaps". [12] Rihanna's vocals span from the low note of F♯3 to the high note of A4. [13]

Critical reception

"Pour It Up" received mixed reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of AllMusic called it "convincing", writing that "she's at her best when she's flaunting". [14] Kellman also noted that "Pour It Up" is "a characteristically chilly and booming Mike Will collaboration", also praising "Rihanna's trash talk", writing that "it's something else". [14] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times commented that, "it sounds like a track the ambient-goth outfit Salem might make for a strip club." [15] Alex Macpherson of Fact wrote that on 'Pour It Up', "Rihanna goes through mere scornful contempt and terrifies with her blank, relentless focus." [16] Caryn Ganz of Spin called it "moody and murky". [17] Andrew Hampp of Billboard named it "an irresistible, Mike WiLL-produced banger for the ladies." [12]

Jessica Hopper of Pitchfork Media was also mixed, writing that on 'Pour It Up,' "she sounds alternately robotic and narcotized." [11] Dan Martin of NME criticized the song for "killing the mood", calling it an "In Da Club guff". [18] Philip Matusavage of MusicOMH was negative, commenting that the "sense of emotional trauma displays itself in a different way on the album", calling it "obnoxious", [19] while Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times named it "a nausea-inducing track". [20] Sarah H. Grant of Consequence of Sound reflected that, "the effervescence of her breakthrough Good Girl Gone Bad is lost to some hopeless place", citing "Pour It Up" as an example. [21]

Cultural critic Camille Paglia praised the song in an August 2013 interview: "in the past year, the only things that sparked my enthusiasm and gave me hope for an artistic revival were in pop music... [one being] Rihanna’s eerie “Pour It Up,” which uses a strip club as a hallucinatory metaphor for an identity crisis about sex and materialism." [22]

Commercial performance

Upon the release of Unapologetic, "Pour It Up" debuted at number 191 on the French Singles Chart. Over three months later, the song re-entered the chart at 199 for the date issued March 23, 2013, climbed to a new peak of number 102 the following week. [23] It debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the issue dated January 19, 2013, since reaching a Top 20 peak of number 19. [24] For the issue dated March 2, 2013, "Pour It Up" reached number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, becoming Rihanna's second number one on the chart from 30 entries. [25] [26] It has remained atop the chart for five consecutive weeks. [27] It has subsequently charted at number six on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [28] As of May 2013, the song had sold more than one million copies in the United States. [29] In its ninth week on the chart, "Pour It Up" entered the UK R&B Chart at number 40 for the issue dated March 30, 2013. [30] It climbed to number 22 the following week. [31]

Music video

The official music video for "Pour It Up" was filmed in May 2013. [32] In September 2013, the director Vincent Haycock, tweeted that he was no longer involved with the project due to "creative differences", Rihanna later replied to him by stating: "Just take your name off the check while u at it! Whatever your issue is leave my fans out of it". That same month, Rihanna posted new behind the scenes pictures from the shoot and stated that the video would be released in October 2013. [33] The video was released on her official YouTube channel October 2, 2013, but became unlisted 30 minutes after release. [34] It was later uploaded on Rihanna's official VEVO account. The visual features Rihanna starring as a stripper writhing around and grinding on a giant golden throne, scantily clad in a diamond bra and a denim thong while strippers slide down poles positioned, amid a giant pool of water behind her. It also features the singer chucking a load of money around.

Rolling Stone said the video which is not of "high art certainly matches the lavish strip-club exploits referenced in the song." [35] HitFix gave the video a D grade, "it' s a dimly lit video equivalent of a Playboy photo spread that is meant to serve the very same purpose for the boys and men who view it. And we're all supposed to scrape and bow and talk about how 'artfully' it's shot and pretend that it’s so very empowering for her to show off her body this way." [36]

Live performances

"Pour It Up" was included in the set list as part of Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour. [37] On February 25, 2014, Rihanna performed the song during Drake's sold-out concert at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France, as part of his Would You like a Tour? tour. [38] She also performed the song at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. [39] "Pour It Up" was also included in the set list of Rihanna's performance at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show.

Credits and personnel

Recording
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unapologetic, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records. [40]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [57] 2× Platinum120,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [58] Gold45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [59] Platinum30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [60] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [61] 3× Platinum3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesJanuary 8, 2013 Urban radio Def Jam Recordings [4]
United KingdomApril 3, 2013 Contemporary hit radio [62]
United StatesApril 9, 2013 [5]
United KingdomApril 18, 2013Urban radio [63]

Remixes and covers

On January 24, 2013, a freestyle cover of "Pour It Up" was released by rapper Trina. [64] On February 4, 2013, American rapper Lil' Kim covered "Pour it Up" featuring her boyfriend "Mr. Papers". [65] On March 6, 2013, rappers French Montana and Chinx Drugz released a cover of the single. [66] Redlight and Seb Chew also remixed the song in the form of a bootleg titled "Pour It Zero's". [67] Nigerian Hiphop/Pop duo Young Paperboyz also released their remix of "Pour It Up". [68] Italian rapper Jesto featuring Briga and Killa Cali remixed the song making the Italian version called Fatti l'uno x l'altra. [69]

  1. ↑ "Rihanna's Pole Dancing Photos Tease Her 'Pour It Up' Video". The Huffington Post. October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Unapologetic (CD liner notes). Rihanna. Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records. 2012. B0017811-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ↑ Markman, Rob (December 3, 2012). "Rihanna Came To Mike Will For 'That Turn-Up'". MTV Music . Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ Barretto, Clyde Edwin (December 6, 2012). "Rihanna: 'Pour It Up'". Prefix. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  7. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (March 26, 2015). "Rihanna Is a Trap Queen on 'B—h Better Have My Money': Song Review". Billboard . Retrieved March 27, 2015. Is 'Bitch Better Have My Money' a rightful successor to those songs? Not quite -- the uptempo new single, presumably previewing Rihanna's eighth studio album, is more akin to a brash trap track like 'Pour It Up,'
  8. ↑ "25 R&B songs that will turn a lady into a freak". AMB Mag. February 25, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 Stern, Brad (December 19, 2012). "Rihanna 'Unapologetic': Track-By-Track Review". MTV Buzzworthy . Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ Dolan, Jon (November 20, 2012). "Unapologetic". Rolling Stone . New York. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  11. 1 2 Hopper, Jessica (November 26, 2012). "Rihanna: Unapologetic". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  12. 1 2 Hamp, Andrew (November 17, 2012). "Rihanna, 'Unapologetic': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard . Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Rihanna – Pour It Up Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. March 12, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "Unapologetic – Rihanna : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation . Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  15. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (November 21, 2012). "Rihanna, Icy Hot and Steely-Strong". The New York Times . p. C1. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  16. ↑ Macpherson, Alex (November 23, 2012). "Unapologetic - FACT Magazine". Fact . Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  17. ↑ Ganz, Caryn (November 28, 2012). "Rihanna, 'Unapologetic' (Def Jam)". Spin . New York. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  18. ↑ Martin, Dan (November 24, 2012). "Rihanna - 'Unapologetic'". NME . London. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  19. ↑ Matusavage, Philip (November 19, 2012). "Rihanna - Unapologetic | musicOMH". MusicOMH . Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  20. ↑ Roberts, Randall (November 16, 2012). "Review: Rihanna's 'Unapologetic' shines light on past drama". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  21. ↑ H. Grant, Sarah (November 26, 2012). "Album Review: Rihanna – Unapologetic". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Camille Paglia: "It remains baffling how anyone would think that Hillary Clinton is our party's best chance"". Salon. August 21, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Rihanna – Pour It Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  24. 1 2 "Rihanna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  25. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard . Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Chart Juice: Drake Earns 30th Top 10 Single On R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard . Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Chart Highlights: Blake Shelton's 'Cool' Crowns Country Airplay". Billboard . Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Week Ending May 5, 2013. Songs: Macklemore Pulls A Gaga". Yahoo! Music . Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Rihanna Channels Marilyn Monroe In Stripper-Themed Video". MTV. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Rihanna Reveals 'Pour It Up' Video Pics". Rap-Up.com. September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  34. ↑ Video on YouTube
  35. ↑ Reed, Ryan (October 2, 2013). "Rihanna Twerks Dangerously in 'Pour It Up'". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  36. ↑ Newman, Melinda (October 3, 2013). "Does Rihanna's 'Pour It Up' NSFW strip club video go too far?: Watch". HitFix . Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Rihanna Releases 'Pour It Up' Diamonds Tour Rehearsal Video". KMXH 93.3 FM. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Rihanna and Drake Grind on Stage During Rapper's Paris Concert—Watch Now! | E! Online UK". E!. February 25, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  39. ↑ "MTV VMA 2016: Watch Rihanna Perform Four Career-Spanning Medleys". Pitchfork . August 29, 2016.
  40. ↑ Unapologetic (inlay cover). Rihanna. Def Jam Recordings, SRP. 2012. p. 19.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ↑ "Rihanna – Pour It Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  42. ↑ "Rihanna – Pour It Up" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  43. ↑ "Rihanna – Pour It Up" (in French). Ultratip.
  44. ↑ "Rihanna Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  45. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2013 in the date selector.
  46. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 41, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
  47. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Rihanna: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Rihanna Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  50. ↑ "Rihanna Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Rihanna Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Billboard Top 40" (PDF). Billboard . Archived (PDF) from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Digital Song Sales – Week of February 25, 2023" . Billboard . Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Rihanna – Pour It Up" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  58. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Rihanna – Pour It Up". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  59. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Rihanna – Pour It Up". Radioscope. Retrieved December 17, 2024.Type Pour It Up in the "Search:" field.
  60. ↑ "British single certifications – Rihanna – Pour It Up". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  61. ↑ "American single certifications – Rihanna – Pour It Up". Recording Industry Association of America.
  62. ↑ "BBC Radio 1 Playlist – 3 April 2013". BBC Radio 1 . BBC. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  63. ↑ "BBC Radio 1Xtra Playlist – 18 April 2013". BBC Radio 1Xtra . BBC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  64. ↑ "New Music: Trina – 'Pour It Up (Freestyle)'". Rap-Up . January 24, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  65. ↑ "New Music: Lil' Kim f/ Mr. Papers – 'Pour It Up (Remix)'". Rap-Up. February 4, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  66. ↑ "French Montana ft. Chinx Drugz - "Pour It Up (Remix)" [LISTEN/DOWNLOAD]". Hip Hop Wired. March 21, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  67. ↑ "REDLIGHT & SEB CHEW . > POUR IT ZERO's by Redlight UK". SoundButt. April 4, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  68. ↑ "MP3 DOWNLOAD: Young Paperboyz – Pour It Up [Remix] Feat Rihanna". Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  69. ↑ Fatti l'uno x l'altra, "Pour it up" italian remix
  70. ↑ "Rihanna Recruiting Star Studded Lineup For 'Pour It Up' Remix Including Both Young Jeezy and Rick Ross?". The Versed. March 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  71. ↑ "New Music: Rihanna f/ Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J, & T.I. – 'Pour It Up (Remix)'". Rap-Up. March 20, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  72. 1 2 "Rihanna Featuring Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J, And T.I., 'Pour It Up (Remix)' (NSFW)". MTV. March 20, 2013. Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  73. ↑ "Rihanna 'Pour It Up' Remix Reunites Beefing Rick Ross & Young Jeezy". Fuse. March 20, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  74. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store . Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  75. 1 2 "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  76. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  77. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  78. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  79. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  80. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  81. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  82. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  83. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  84. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  85. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  86. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  87. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  88. ↑ "Pour It Up (Remix) [feat. Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J & T.I.] - Single AUSTRALIA". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
"Pour It Up (Remix)"
Rihanna Pour It Up Remix Cover.jpg
Single by Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Juicy J, and T.I.
A-side "Right Now"
ReleasedMarch 20, 2013
Recorded2012
Genre
Length5:08
Label
  • Def Jam
  • SRP
Songwriter(s)
  • Jay Jenkins
  • Fenty
  • Williams Roberts
  • Jordan Houston
  • Clifford Harris
  • Williams
  • Thomas
  • Thomas
  • Garner
Producer(s)
  • Mike Will Made It
  • JBo
Rihanna singles chronology
"Pour It Up"
(2013)		"Pour It Up (Remix)"
(2013)		"Right Now"
(2013)
Young Jeezy singles chronology
"R.I.P."
(2013)		"Pour It Up (Remix)"
(2013)		"Act Right"
(2013)
Rihanna songs
Music of the Sun
A Girl like Me
Good Girl Gone Bad
Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
Rated R
Loud
Talk That Talk
Unapologetic
Home soundtrack
Anti
Collaborations
Other songs
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.