Run This Town

About this song

The track was released as a single and made its radio debut on July 24, 2009, timed to coincide with the planned release date of the album it appeared on. Rihanna's contribution was her first musical appearance after a domestic violence altercation with her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown earlier that year. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and won two Grammy Awards in 2010, for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song.

What it's about

The song has the three artists, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna, declaring that they run the town. Jay-Z has described it as a plain statement that the three of them are the ones in charge.

Fun facts

• Samples “Someday in Athens by The 4 Levels of Existence”.
• Sampled in 16 other songs, like “Run This Town by Lil Wayne”.
• Covered once, including “Run This Town by Miss May I”.
• Written by Athanasios Alatas, JAŸ-Z, Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West and Rihanna.
• Produced by Kanye West and No I.D..