"Higher" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The track was released as part of the album on 28 January 2016 and has a duration of two minutes. It was recorded in 2015 at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles and released through Westbury Road and Roc Nation.
Composition and production
The song was written by Ernest Wilson (known professionally as No I.D.), Bibi Bourelly, Robyn Fenty (Rihanna), Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff. Production was handled by No I.D., who also incorporated a sample from “Beside You” performed by The Soulful Strings. American producer Kuk Harrell oversaw vocal production, with vocal recording engineered by Marcos Tovar and mixed by Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Studios. The track is characterized as a brief, blues‑inflected ballad featuring piano, strings, and a raw vocal performance that conveys a late‑night, intoxicated emotional tone.
Critical reception
"Higher" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Reviewers highlighted Rihanna’s strained, high‑register vocal delivery and the song’s intimate, “drunk‑dial” lyrical perspective. Publications such as NME described it as a “straight‑up love song,” while Rolling Stone called it “bluesy.” Billboard noted the song’s “last‑call ballad” quality, and Pitchfork praised No I.D.’s production. Some critics, including The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis, found the vocal performance “almost unlistenable,” though they acknowledged the underlying musical arrangement.
Legacy and influence
The song has been cited as an influence on Lorde’s “Liability” from her 2017 album Melodrama, with Lorde reportedly moved to tears while listening to “Higher.” In 2020, “Higher” was sampled in “Flux Capacitor” by Jay Electronica featuring Jay‑Z. An acoustic cover by Maren Morris was released online in 2016.
Commercial performance
Although not released as a single, “Higher” charted modestly in a few territories, reaching number 185 on the French SNEP chart and number 8 on the Swedish Heatseeker chart. In the United States, the track was certified Platinum by the RIAA, denoting one million combined sales and streaming units.
Credits
- Songwriters: Ernest Wilson (No I.D.), Bibi Bourelly, Robyn Fenty, Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
- Producer: No I.D.
- Vocal production: Kuk Harrell
- Recording studio: Westlake Studios (Los Angeles)
- Length: 2:00
- Label: Westbury Road, Roc Nation
The song remains a notable deep‑cut from Anti, praised for its emotional immediacy and distinctive production within Rihanna’s discography.