"Rude Boy" has been well-received by the critics and achieved commercial success by topping charts in the United States and Australia, as well as reaching the top ten in United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. In the United States, "Rude Boy" is Rihanna's best-selling and highest-charting single from Rated R to date. The music video of the song is based around Jamaican dancehall theme.