Run This Town

"Run This Town" is a powerful anthem of dominance, ambition, and the establishment of a new dynasty. At its core, the song is a declaration of intent from Jay-Z, marking the launch and philosophy of his then-new entertainment company, Roc Nation. Jay-Z himself described the song as planting the Roc Nation flag in the ground, a battle cry that solidifies his alignment with two other massive forces in music: Rihanna and Kanye West. The repeated phrase "We are, yeah, I said it, we are" serves as a bold, unapologetic assertion of their collective power and presence in the music industry.

The lyrical themes are centered around power, success, and rebellion against the old guard. Jay-Z's verses are filled with imagery of a unified, powerful front, from the call to "pledge your allegiance" to the "all black everything" motif, which symbolizes a new, serious, and powerful uniform for his movement. He contrasts his crew's success and wealth with the jealousy and inadequacy of their rivals. Kanye West's verse complements this by detailing the dizzying heights of fame and the spoils of victory, while also acknowledging the inherent risks and pressures of their "fast life."

Rihanna's haunting hook, "Who's gon' run this town tonight?", acts as both a challenge and a statement. It sets an almost apocalyptic, high-stakes tone, suggesting a monumental shift in power is occurring. The song's narrative isn't just about personal wealth or fame; it's about legacy and establishing a dominant force that will shape the culture. It is a triumphant and defiant statement that they are no longer just participating in the game—they are now the ones making the rules.

The narrative of the song opens with an atmospheric premonition, a palpable tension in the air signaling an imminent, game-changing event. The air crackles with energy, and the sounds of anticipation are everywhere. This is described as a thrilling, almost dangerous addiction to a high-stakes power dynamic. The opening poses a challenge, asking for any opposition to reveal itself now, because the only thing that matters is establishing who holds ultimate control tonight. This defiant question hangs in the air, immediately followed by the declaration: “We gon’ run this town.”

The first verse establishes a new order. It’s a call to arms for “Roc Nation,” demanding loyalty and allegiance. The uniform of this new regime is “all black everything”—a symbolic dress code signifying seriousness, power, and unity, from credit cards to cars. The women in this circle are depicted as equally formidable, described as “blackbirds ridin’ with they Dillingers,” a metaphor for beautiful but dangerous partners. The narrator, Jay-Z, asserts that this is a family affair, a tight-knit circle of power, before shifting focus back to the business of acquiring wealth and settling debts. The verse mentions a high-stakes gamble, losing and reclaiming money, underscoring the constant risk and reward at this level of the game. It concludes by stating they’re done circling the competition and are now ready for a direct confrontation, having leveled the playing field.

The chorus, carried by Rihanna, frames life as an unfair game, which justifies breaking the rules. It’s a declaration of individuality and resilience, of walking with pride despite adversity. Victory is portrayed as being just within reach, a final encouragement not to surrender when the goal is so close. The central question returns, reiterating the song’s primary focus: the conquest for control of the metaphorical “town.”

The second verse continues the assertion of dominance. Jay-Z positions himself as a modern-day Caesar and a leader to be followed, aligning himself with hip-hop royalty like Eric B. & Rakim and declaring himself a “microphone fiend” and the return of “the God.” He boasts of his elite status and luxurious lifestyle, referencing high-fashion brands like Maison Martin Margiela and dismissing his jealous competitors. His crew is successful and wealthy, contrasting sharply with rivals who have no real stake in the game. The imagery of a bankroll looking like “Millionaires' Row” solidifies their financial supremacy.

Kanye West’s verse offers a different perspective on the same theme of overwhelming success. He reflects on the surreal transition from being an unknown “Joe Blow” to being the center of everyone’s attention. He details the spoils of this success, like buying luxury cars for his family and the annoyances that come with fame, such as being photographed in private moments. He paints a picture of a fast-paced, high-risk lifestyle, a “crash course” that he navigates for the rewards, dismissing the idea of working so hard for a modest outcome like driving a RAV4. He acknowledges the superficiality that fame attracts but suggests he is above it. He speaks of his influence, of being able to change someone’s mood, and his desire to innovate, using the metaphor of “shoes without shoestrings.” The verse culminates in a toast to their success, a celebration of having made it out of tough situations (“the precinct”), and an invitation for others to imagine what their level of power feels like, before definitively stating, “we run this town.”

"Run This Town" was released on August 9, 2009, as the second single from Jay-Z's eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3. The track was primarily produced by two of hip-hop's most acclaimed producers: Kanye West and No I.D. The songwriting credits are shared among the three performers—Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), Kanye West, and Robyn Fenty (Rihanna)—and the producers Ernest Wilson (No I.D.) and Jeff Bhasker, along with Athanasios Alatas. The song prominently samples the electric guitar from "Someday in Athens" by the 1970s Greek psychedelic rock band, The 4 Levels of Existence.

Interestingly, the song's journey began as a demo intended for Rihanna, recorded with producer No I.D. However, she ultimately passed on it. When Jay-Z heard the track with Rihanna's powerful hook already recorded, he immediately claimed it for his album. Kanye West also wanted the track for himself, leading to a friendly rivalry before Jay-Z secured it.

According to Jay-Z's longtime engineer, Young Guru, Kanye West's feature was a later addition. Jay-Z felt Kanye's style would fit the texture of the song perfectly. West reportedly came into the studio and completed his verse in just two takes. The song was recorded across multiple locations, including Avex Honolulu Studios in Hawaii and Roc The Mic Studios in New York City. It was chosen to be the second single over the Drake-assisted "Off That," a decision that proved to be hugely successful. Rihanna's appearance on the track was her first musical release following her highly publicized altercation with Chris Brown earlier that year, marking a powerful return to the spotlight.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Run This Town" are fundamental to its aggressive and commanding atmosphere. The song's rhythmic foundation is a powerful, stomping beat with a tempo that feels like a determined march, immediately establishing a militant tone. This percussive drive is relentless throughout the track, creating a sense of forward momentum and unstoppable force.

The rhyme schemes employed by Jay-Z and Kanye West are intricate and dynamic. Jay-Z often uses couplets (AABB) to deliver direct, impactful statements, such as "Get your fatigues on, all black everything / Black cards, black cars, all black everything." He also weaves in internal rhymes to increase the complexity and flow of his verses, as in "I'm a couple bands down and I'm tryin' to get back / I gave Doug a grip and lost a flip for five stacks." This creates a conversational yet precise cadence.

Kanye West's verse features a more varied and at times faster-paced flow. He plays with multi-syllable rhymes and shifts his rhythmic delivery to create a more unpredictable and energetic feel. For example, the rhyme chain in "She got a ass that'll swallow up a G-string / And up top, uh, two B-stings / And I'm beasting off the Riesling / And my nigga just made it out the precinct" demonstrates his ability to link multiple lines with a common sound, creating a cascading effect. The interplay between the steady, marching rhythm of the beat and the rappers' complex, often syncopated lyrical delivery creates a compelling tension that enhances the song's defiant energy.

"Run This Town" employs a range of musical and literary techniques to create its powerful, anthemic feel.

• Musical Production: The production, helmed by Kanye West and No I.D., is built around a heavy, militaristic drumbeat and a driving electric guitar sample from "Someday in Athens." This creates a relentless, marching rhythm that serves as the song's backbone. The use of layered synths and a lack of excessive effects keeps the focus on the raw, aggressive energy of the track. The song is composed in the key of C Minor, which often lends a serious or epic quality to music.
• Vocal Delivery: Each artist brings a distinct stylistic delivery. Rihanna's chorus is both haunting and powerful, delivering the hook with a commanding presence that sets the song's defiant tone. Jay-Z's flow is assertive and declarative, delivered with the confidence of a general leading his troops. Kanye West's verse is more flamboyant and dynamic, moving between boasts of a lavish lifestyle and reflections on the nature of fame, his delivery accelerating to convey a sense of manic energy.
• Hook as Anthem: The chorus, sung by Rihanna, is a masterclass in creating a memorable, anthemic hook. Its repetitive, questioning nature ("Who's gon' run this town tonight?") is a powerful rhetorical device that engages the listener and reinforces the song's central theme, making it easy to chant along to.
• Lyrical Allusions: The lyrics are dense with cultural and historical references. Jay-Z and Kanye allude to figures like Julius Caesar and hip-hop pioneers Eric B. & Rakim ("Microphone fiend"). They also name-drop luxury brands like Maison Martin Margiela and expensive cars, using them as signifiers of their elite status.
• Metaphor and Wordplay: The song is filled with clever wordplay, such as Kanye’s line, “I could spend my whole life goodwill hunting,” a pun on the film title and the shallow pursuit of casual relationships. The entire concept of “running the town” is an extended metaphor for dominating the music industry and pop culture.

"Run This Town" had a monumental cultural impact upon its release, cementing the status of Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West as a triumvirate of modern music royalty. The song was a massive commercial success, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Jay-Z's first-ever number-one single as a lead artist in the United Kingdom. Its success was solidified with two wins at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Furthermore, the song won a Primetime Emmy Award for its use in the intro to Super Bowl XLIV, demonstrating its crossover appeal and cultural ubiquity.

The music video, directed by Anthony Mandler, was highly influential. Filmed at Fort Totten Park in New York, its post-apocalyptic, revolutionary aesthetic—featuring a torch-bearing militia and defiant imagery—was widely discussed and emulated. It perfectly captured the song's theme of a rebellious takeover and became an iconic visual of the era.

Beyond its chart performance and awards, "Run This Town" served as the official anthem for Jay-Z's Roc Nation. It became a cultural shorthand for power, ambition, and unapologetic success, frequently used in sports, films, and television to signify moments of triumph and dominance. The collaboration itself was a major cultural event, bringing together three of the biggest and most influential artists of their generation on a single track, creating a landmark moment in 21st-century hip-hop and pop music.

"Run This Town" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its central themes of power and rebellion.

• "All Black Everything": This recurring motif is a powerful symbol of uniformity, seriousness, and allegiance to Roc Nation. It evokes images of both a stylish, elite fashion choice and a militant, unified army, suggesting that their movement is both sophisticated and formidable.
• Militant/Revolutionary Imagery: The song's marching beat, combined with the video's depiction of a post-apocalyptic rebellion with torches and masked followers, creates a strong revolutionary aesthetic. This symbolism suggests a forceful overthrow of the existing order in the music industry and culture at large. Jay-Z asks listeners to "Get your fatigues on," explicitly framing their takeover in military terms.
• "La Familia": By referring to his crew as "la Familia," Jay-Z employs a metaphor for a tight-knit, loyal organization bound by more than just business. It signifies an unbreakable bond and absolute loyalty, akin to a crime family, where allegiance is paramount.
• Caesar and Gods: Kanye West's line, "You can call me Caesar," is a direct historical metaphor for ultimate power and leadership, referencing the Roman dictator. Jay-Z takes it a step further with "it's the return of the God," a line that can be interpreted as a nod to the Five-Percent Nation's teachings (where the Black man is God) and a statement of his own perceived divine status in the rap world.
• Occult and Masonic References: Some analyses point to hidden occult symbolism. For instance, the line "Back to runnin' circles 'round niggas, now we squared up" has been interpreted as a reference to the Masonic concept of "squaring the circle," a symbol of achieving divinity or perfection. Jay-Z’s mention of giving "Doug a grip" could be a double entendre, referring to money and a Masonic handshake.

Several recurring phrases and motifs anchor "Run This Town" and drive its message of absolute dominance.

• "Who's gon' run this town tonight?": This is the song's central lyrical motif, delivered powerfully by Rihanna in the intro and chorus. It functions as a rhetorical question, a challenge to any potential rivals, and a declaration of their impending takeover. Its repetition transforms the song from a simple boast into an unforgettable anthem.
• "We are, yeah, I said it, we are": Jay-Z repeats this phrase at the beginning of both of his verses. It’s a bold, emphatic statement of existence and power. In the context of the album's launch of Roc Nation, it serves as a definitive announcement of his new collective's arrival and identity.
• "All black everything": This phrase becomes a mantra in Jay-Z's first verse, symbolizing a complete aesthetic and philosophical commitment. It represents power, unity, seriousness, and a new order. The repetition drills the image into the listener's mind, making it a key thematic element of their reign.
• "What's up?": This ad-lib, peppered throughout the track by the artists, acts as a recurring, confrontational taunt. It underscores their confidence and challenges anyone to step forward, reinforcing the defiant attitude of the song.