Numb (Rihanna song)


"Numb" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her seventh studio album Unapologetic. It features guest vocals by American rapper Eminem, making it the pair's third collaboration since the two official versions of "Love the Way You Lie". Following the album's release, "Numb" charted on multiple charts worldwide including in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"Numb" lasts for a duration of. The song's instrumentation consists of an Egyptian flute riff and "a crashing bombastic beat." "Numb" contains a sample of Kanye West's song "Can't Tell Me Nothing", written by West and Aldrin Davis. The lyric "Let the champagne smash/ Let that man get cash" from "Can't Tell Me Nothing" is the sample used in "Numb". The song's lyrical content is "controversial" as it is about feeling "numb after taking drugs." and a "homage to getting high." Rihanna performs the lines
"Ecstasy in the air
I don't care
Can't tell me nothing
I'm impaired
The worst for wear"
in the first verse. Eminem "spits" his verse, performing the lines
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, come here dear
Trying to get closer to you
I'm motioning you to pull over boo
I'm the siren that you hear
I'm the butt police, and I'm looking at your rear, rear, rear."

Chart performance

Upon the release of Unapologetic, "Numb" charted in several territories due to strong digital downloads. On November 25, 2012, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 92, and the UK R&B Chart at number 13. It also debuted at number 99 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. In the United States, the song debuted at number 42 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also debuted at number 14 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs chart, and at number 16 on the US R&B Songs chart.

Credits and personnel

;Recording
;Sample
;Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unapologetic, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.

Charts

Chart Peak
position