Rihanna takes music video eye candy to the next level with the colorful visuals for her new single, “Rude Boy,” from her “Rated R” album. Directed by Melina Matsoukas — who also helmed the sandblasted video for previous single “Hard” — the Salt-N-Pepa-meets-M.I.A., ’80s pop art-inspired clip finds Rihanna frolicking through an abstract jungle-scape, banging on a drumkit and generally shaking her thang, island style.
All the while, the single-and-clearly-loving-it pop star rocks an impressive series of itty-bitty outfits, head-to-toe bodysuits and chunky gold jewelry. The Keith Haring-esque backdrops and shots of Rihanna sitting on a lion that sports a hand-drawn crown (a nod to the late, great artist Jean-Michel Basquiat) are particularly inspired moments.
Oh yes: the song knocks, too.