"What's My Name?" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving Rihanna her third number-one single in 2010, as well as her eighth overall on the chart. The song also topped the charts in Hungary and the United Kingdom and reached the top five in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Slovakia. The song received a nomination at the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
An accompanying music video, directed by Philip Andelman, plays a romantic encounter between Rihanna and Drake in a grocery store along with romantic scenes between the pair and Rihanna walking through Manhattan's Lower East Side. "What's My Name?" was promoted with live performances, including Saturday Night Live in the United States and the series 7 finale of The X Factor in the United Kingdom.
In November 2009, in an interview with MTV News, Canadian rapper Drake praised Rihanna's then-upcoming fourth studio album "Rated R". During the same interview, he revealed that they have collaborated on a track that didn't make the final cut on the album, "the record we have is great. It's a special record, so for it not to make it, I know something had to click. It's all good. I think the project's gonna be great no matter what." Talking for the same publication, Tor Erik Hermansen of Norwegian production duo Stargate recalled that during an event Rihanna met with Drake backstage and asked him to record a verse on her song, "She's calling me up saying, 'Where are the files?' That's one thing you don't hear often from artists on her level." "What's My Name?" was written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Hermansen, Ester Dean, Traci Hale and Drake, while the production was done by Stargate. In an interview for HitQuarters, Hale explained that she got into the project thanks to a phone call she received from Dean. She also elaborated that her work on the song was mostly lyrical, while Dean and Stargate did most of the music. When asked what's the inspiration behind the song she 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 collaboration was originally intended to be a remix of the song, while the solo version would have been included on Rihanna's fifth studio album "Loud". However, in the end it made the final cut on the album. Regarding Drake's inclusion on the song, 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 has further described the song as very youthful, playful and very melodic track; according to her that's why Drake was the perfect choice to be on it, "cause he's a young rapper who has incredible melodies". "What's My Name?" was released as the second single from Loud; it was sent to contemporary hit and rhythmic radio in the United States on October 26, 2010. The single was made available for digital download on November 12 via the iTunes Store. A CD single featuring the song and a remix of it was released on January 21, 2011, in Germany.
"What's My Name?" debuted at number 67 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the chart week of October 30, 2010 and steadily rose to a peak of number two. The song debuted at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 after being sent to mainstream radio, and in the third week it jumped to number one, after being released digitally, becoming Rihanna's eighth number-one single on the chart and Drake's first. "What's My Name?" managed to reach number one on the chart, before the lead single "Only Girl (In the World)", which topped the chart after two weeks. In the same week, it reached the top spot on US Hot Digital Songs with first week sales of 235,000. Rihanna became the first artist in Billboard Hot 100 history to have their first single go to number one after their second single ("Whats My Name?" followed by "Only Girl (In the World)"). Also, Rihanna became the first artist to score a trio of Hot 100 leaders in a year since 2008, when she achieved the same feat with "Take a Bow", "Disturbia" and featured vocals on T.I.'s "Live Your Life." By its seventh week of digital release, the single crossed the one million mark. The song has sold 3,095,000 downloads in the United States alone, and has been certified 6× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
In the United Kingdom, following the release of Loud, "What's My Name?" debuted at number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart on November 27, 2010. The next week, on December 5, the song reached a new peak of number eight, and during the same week, Rihanna had two other top 10 singles with "Only Girl (In the World)" at number seven and "Who's That Chick?" (by David Guetta featuring Rihanna) at number nine. With that, Rihanna became the fourth artist in UK chart history to make this achievement. On December 19, 2010, the song reached a new peak of number two, where it remained for three weeks before reaching number one on January 9, 2011, becoming Rihanna's fifth number one in the UK and Drake's first. As a result, Rihanna became the first female artist in UK chart history to have a number-one single in five consecutive years and only the second artist overall to do so; the first was Elvis Presley, who posted number-one singles from 1959 to 1963. It was also the second time in her career that Rihanna simultaneously topped the singles and albums charts in the UK, the first time being in May 2007 when "Umbrella" and "Good Girl Gone Bad" topped the UK Singles Chart and UK Albums Chart, respectively. Rihanna would score another chart double later that year, this time, with "We Found Love" and Talk That Talk. "What's My Name?" was also Drake's first UK number one and remains his highest-charting single to date. As of January 2016, the song has sold 847,800 copies in the UK.
What's My Name?
Rihanna feat. Drake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
What's my name, what's my name?
Yeah, I heard you good with them soft lips
The square root of 69 is 8 some, right
'Cause I've been tryna work it out, ow
Good weed, white wine
I come alive in the night time
Okay, away we go
Only thing we have on is the radio
Oh, let it play, say you gotta leave
But I know you wanna stay
You're just waiting on the traffic jam to finish, girl
The things we could do in twenty minutes girl
Say my name, say my name
Wear it out, it's getting hot, crack a window, air it out
I can get you through a mighty long day
Soon as you go the text that I write is gonna say
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
What's my name, what's my name?
Not everybody knows how to work my body
Knows how to make me want it
Boy, you stay up on it
You got that something that keeps me so off balance
Baby, you're a challenge, let's explore your talent
Hey boy, I really wanna see if you can go downtown with a girl like me
Hey boy, I really wanna be with you 'cause you just my type
Oh na na na na
I need a boy to take it over
Looking for a guy to put you work up, oh, oh
Hey boy, I really wanna see if you can go downtown with a girl like me
Hey boy, I really wanna be with you 'cause you just my type
Oh na na na na
I need a boy to take it over
Looking for a guy to put you work up, oh, oh
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
What's my name, what's my name?
Baby, you got me, ain't nowhere that I'd be
Than with your arms around me
Back and forth you rock me
So I surrender to every word you whisper
Every door you enter, I will let you in
Hey boy, I really wanna see if you can go downtown with a girl like me
Hey boy, I really wanna be with you 'cause you just my type
Oh na na na na
I need a boy to take it over
Looking for a guy to put you work up, oh, oh
You're so amazing, you took the time to figure me out
That's why you take me, way past the point of turning me on
You about to break me, I swear you got me losing my mind
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
Oh na na, what's my name?
What's my name, what's my name?
Hey boy, I really wanna see if you can go downtown with a girl like me
Hey boy, I really wanna be with you 'cause you just my type
Oh na na na na
I need a boy to take it over
Looking for a guy to put you work up, oh, oh
Hey boy, I really wanna see if you can go downtown with a girl like me
Hey boy, I really wanna be with you 'cause you just my type
Oh na na na na
I need a boy to take it over
Looking for a guy to put you work up, oh, oh
The song "What's My Name?" by Rihanna feat. Drake is about a woman who is searching for love and passion in a physical relationship. Throughout the song, Rihanna and Drake flirt with each other, playfully asking each other "What's my name?" and expressing their desire to be together. The song is filled with sexual innuendos and suggestive language, creating a seductive atmosphere.
The lyrics start with Rihanna asking Drake, "What's my name?" repeatedly, hoping that he can remember it. She then compliments him, saying that she has heard he is good with "soft lips" and that she has been trying to "work it out" with him. Rihanna then describes how she comes alive at night with "good weed" and "white wine", creating a scene of seduction. As the song progresses, Rihanna and Drake talk about the things they could do in just twenty minutes, expressing their desires in a physical relationship.
As the song continues, Rihanna sings about how not everyone knows how to work her body and make her want it, but Drake does. She says that he has something that keeps her off balance and that he is a challenge to her, making her want to explore his talents. The song ends with Rihanna surrendering to Drake's words and actions, expressing her desire to be with him and saying that he is taking her past the point of turning her on.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh na na, what's my name?
Rihanna is asking her lover if he remembers her name because she enjoys hearing it from him.
Yeah, I heard you good with them soft lips
Rihanna is complimenting her lover on his kissing skills, which she has heard about from others.
The square root of 69 is 8 some, right
Drake is trying to impress Rihanna by showing off his knowledge of math, and also implying sexual innuendo.
Good weed, white wine
Rihanna is describing the items that set the mood for a steamy romantic encounter with her lover.
I come alive in the night time
Rihanna is telling her lover that she is at her best, both physically and emotionally, during evening hours.
Only thing we have on is the radio
Rihanna is describing the atmosphere of a romantic encounter with her lover, where they don't need any material items other than music to enjoy each other's company.
Say my name, say my name
Rihanna is asking her lover to say her name during their intimate moments, because it turns her on.
Wear it out, it's getting hot, crack a window, air it out
Rihanna is telling her lover that they need to let some air in because things are heating up physically between them.
I can get you through a mighty long day
Rihanna is telling her lover that she has the power to make him forget all his troubles, and lift his spirits even on a difficult day.
Soon as you go the text that I write is gonna say
Rihanna is suggesting that she will send her lover a message as soon as he leaves, indicating that she misses him already.
Not everybody knows how to work my body
Rihanna is stating that she is a complex person to understand in bed, and only a few select people have succeeded in pleasing her before.
Knows how to make me want it
Rihanna is saying that her lover has the ability to turn her on and make her crave physical intimacy with him.
Baby, you're a challenge, let's explore your talent
Rihanna is challenging her lover to push himself and explore his own sensual talents with her.
Back and forth you rock me
Rihanna is describing the rhythmic motion her lover is using to pleasure her physically.
So I surrender to every word you whisper
Rihanna is indicating that she is deeply in love with her lover, and is willing to fully submit to his will and desires.
You're so amazing, you took the time to figure me out
Rihanna is praising her lover for being able to understand her both emotionally and physically, which has led to a deeper connection between them.
That's why you take me, way past the point of turning me on
Rihanna is explaining that her lover has the ability to take her to an even higher level of pleasure than she initially anticipated.
You about to break me, I swear you got me losing my mind
Rihanna is indicating that her lover is so skilled at pleasing her that she feels like she may lose control and become overwhelmed.
Writer(s): Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Traci Colleen Hale, Tor Erik Hermansen, Aubrey Drake Graham, Esther Dean
Contributed by Ryan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LUCAS-ox7rb
Rihanna+Drake= Hit
Rihanna+Eminem= Hit
Rihanna+Calvin Harris= Hit
Rihanna+Nicky Minaj= Hit
Rihanna+Shakira= Hit
Rihanna+Kanye West= Hit
Rihanna+Jay-Z= Hit
Rihanna+Chris Brown= Hit
Rihanna+Ne-Yo= Hit
Rihanna+Justin Timberlake= Hit
Rihanna+Maroon 5= Hit
Rihanna+David Guetta= Hit
Rihanna+Britney Spears= Hit
Rihanna+Coldplay= Hit
Rihanna+Mikky Ekko= Hit
Rihanna+DJ Khalid= Hit
Rihanna+T.I= Hit
Rihanna+Kendrick Lamar= Hit
Rihanna is queen of the music
@chicken
no matter how many years have passed, this will remain one of my favorite songs of all time❤
@edgemccovey3842
No dad
@BevinThousand
Same
@JordanSmith-gn4hs
So True
@user-jm9to3fd9f
why are you everywhere
@akkixd
Ohh naa naa
@user-uq9gx5ij4g
2024 anyone?
@naveenjarover8172
Yeah definitely it's me first time
@AK.UK1
Yes
@omolusimercy6943
Yeah ✌🏽