Rihanna Consideration Meaning and Review

A Bold Opening Statement

Rihanna’s “Consideration,” featuring SZA, opens Anti with a resounding declaration of artistic autonomy. From its first moments, the track’s lo-fi bassline and jittery dancehall rhythms make it clear this is not the glossy pop Rihanna once mastered. Instead, this is her stepping into something far rawer, more intimate, and unmistakably hers. The production is minimal yet hard-hitting, setting the mood for the rest of the album as a statement of independence both sonically and thematically. As Rihanna sings, “I got to do things my own way, darlin’,” she invites listeners into a space of creative reinvention where she finally takes the reins.

Fighting for Artistic Respect

Lyrically, “Consideration” wrestles with the desire for recognition beyond chart-topping hits. Rihanna is not just rejecting outside control; she is demanding to be seen as an artist, not merely a performer. It is an important pivot for someone who had, until then, largely operated within the confines of hitmaker teams and major-label formulas. The line “Will you ever respect me?” lands with particular weight. It is not just a question to a lover, but to an industry that may have benefitted from her voice more than it nurtured her vision. Featuring SZA’s airy vocals in the post-chorus, the song reinforces a sense of unrest and longing, emotional residue from trying to create under pressure.

SZA’s Lost Centerpiece

Behind the scenes, “Consideration” carries its own complex origin story. Originally written by SZA for her own project, the long-awaited Ctrl, the track was reluctantly handed over to Rihanna after a writing camp session. SZA later revealed in interviews that giving up the song delayed her album by a year, as it had been envisioned as its centerpiece. That bittersweet compromise ultimately worked in Anti’s favor. The song encapsulates everything Rihanna wanted this album to represent: risk, rebellion, and realness. Yet it also shows the collaborative magic that can arise when two visionary artists intersect.

Rihanna's Personal Connection

Rihanna’s connection to “Consideration” runs deep. In a 2016 Vogue interview, she expressed how the song encapsulated the entire essence of Anti — from its beat and tone to its message and attitude. She described it as “demanding,” and that urgency permeates every second. Co-producer Carl Lang also emphasized the song’s spontaneous creation with SZA and Tyron Donaldson, speaking to the natural chemistry behind the track. What makes the song so powerful is that it does not beg for attention; it commands it, all while exploring vulnerability and frustration through beautifully layered vocals and a stripped-down yet assertive groove.

A Mission Statement in Sound

“Consideration” is Rihanna's mission statement. It marks the moment she shifted from pop puppet to auteur, setting the stage for one of the most critically acclaimed and sonically adventurous records of her career. With SZA by her side, Rihanna crafts a protest song against constraint, not through volume or aggression but through conviction. It is a moment of clarity, of self-assertion, and of artistic liberation. As the refrain “I can’t get no peace of mind” fades into static, it becomes clear that Anti begins not with resolution, but with revolution.

Listen to Rihanna Consideration

Rihanna Consideration Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of Consideration featuring SZA by Rihanna is a powerful exploration of artistic independence, personal struggle, and the emotional toll of fame. The song captures Rihanna’s assertion of creative freedom as she demands the space to grow and express herself on her own terms, while SZA’s contributions highlight the vulnerability and unrest that come with being in the public eye. Together, they address the pressures imposed by the music industry and the lack of peace that often accompanies success, making Consideration both a defiant anthem and a poignant reflection on identity and control.

Introduction and Neverland Imagery

Rihanna opens the song by comparing herself to a figure from Neverland, the mythical place where children do not grow up. This reference symbolizes creative innocence and a desire to remain timeless and free from the pressures of aging or industry expectations. By stating "Time can never stop me" she rejects the notion that deadlines, aging, or public scrutiny can dictate her artistic journey. The line "I know you tried to" suggests that someone, likely her record label or the music industry, has attempted to control or limit her but she remains undeterred.

White Horse Symbolism and Industry Frustration

The imagery of "ridin in on a pale white horse" casts Rihanna as a liberator or hero figure. White horses traditionally symbolize grace, heroism, and salvation. Here she implies that she brings empowerment or inspiration, "handin out highs to less fortunate," potentially referencing other artists or individuals struggling within the industry. The demand to "run it back" and the frustration of "'Cause I can't hear you" communicate a need for clarity and honesty, reflecting her exasperation with the confusing and often opaque nature of the music business.

Chorus and Assertion of Independence

The chorus strongly asserts her need for independence. "I got to do things my own way, darlin." This is a clear declaration of artistic autonomy. The following lines "Will you ever let me? Will you ever respect me? No" highlight her struggle to gain respect and freedom from external forces, whether that be industry executives, critics, or even the public. The repeated question "Why you ain't ever let me grow?" underscores a feeling of being stifled or forced to conform, denied the opportunity to evolve creatively on her own terms.

SZA's Post-Chorus and Emotional Vulnerability

SZA’s contribution in the post-chorus introduces a contrasting emotional tone. The repeated lines "When I look outside my window I can't get no peace of mind" evoke feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and unrest. This could reference the invasive nature of fame — stalking, doxxing, and constant public scrutiny — that robs celebrities of privacy and peace. The repetition emphasizes a persistent state of mental turmoil that goes beyond professional struggles into personal vulnerability.

Second Verse Critique of the Industry

In the second verse Rihanna offers a more pointed critique of the industry and others within it. "Let me cover your shit in glitter I could make it gold" speaks to her ability to turn mediocre material into commercial success, highlighting her star power and influence. The following lines "Heard you tryna sell your soul, baby Word on the street, you run it low lately" criticize artists who compromise their integrity for fame or those who are struggling to maintain relevance and wealth. She then returns to a deeply personal plea: "I needed you to please give my reflection a break From the face it's seein now." This metaphor reveals her desire to distance herself from the persona imposed by fame and the pain it causes. The "reflection" represents both her public image and internal self-perception which she finds exhausting and painful.

Chorus Reprise and Shared Experience

The chorus, now sung by SZA and Rihanna together, reinforces that this is a shared experience among women artists fighting for creative control and respect. The repetition of "Do things my own way" affirms their defiance against being controlled or boxed into expectations.

Final Post-Chorus and Closing Mantra

The post-chorus returns with the haunting refrain about lacking peace of mind, now intensified by both voices. This signals that the emotional unrest permeates every aspect of their lives, not just their careers. The song closes with a repeated mantra "Get no peace" emphasizing the ongoing, unresolved nature of their struggle. Despite reclaiming their voices and asserting independence peace remains elusive.

Overall Themes

The song explores themes of autonomy versus control, the mental exhaustion of fame, the desire for reinvention, and the critique of an exploitative industry. It is a powerful declaration of empowerment through defiance and the ongoing quest for creative freedom and personal peace.

Rihanna Consideration Lyrics 

[Verse 1: Rihanna]

I come flutterin' in from Neverland

Time can never stop me, no, no, no, no

I know you tried to

I come ridin' in on a pale white horse

Handin' out highs to less fortunate

I do advise you

Run it back, run it on back

When you're breakin' it down for me

'Cause I can't hear you

Two times, run it on back

Will it ever make sense to me?

[Chorus: Rihanna]

I got to do things my own way, darlin'

Will you ever let me?

Will you ever respect me? No

Do things my own way, darlin'

You should just let me

Why you ain't ever let me grow?

[Post-Chorus: SZA]

When I look outside my window

I can't get no peace of mind

When I look outside my window

I can't get no peace of mind, oh

[Verse 2: Rihanna, Both]

Let me cover your shit in glitter

I could make it gold, gold

Heard you tryna sell your soul, baby

Word on the street, you run it low lately

I needed you to please give my reflection a break

From the face it's seein' now

Ooh, darlin', would you mind givin' my reflection a break

From the pain it's feelin' now?

[Chorus: SZA, Both]

I got to do things my own way, darlin'

You should just let me

Will you ever respect me? No

Do things my own way, darlin'

You should just let me

Why you ain't ever let me grow?

[Post-Chorus: SZA, Both]

When I look outside my window

I can't get no peace of mind

When I look outside my window

I can't get no peace of mind, oh

[Outro: SZA, Rihanna]

Get no peace

Get no peace

Get, get, gettin' no peace, oh

Get no peace

Get, g-get no peace, oh