Within the first few shots, she’s shown off her duct-taped nipples, rolled around in mud, and may as well be in her birthday suit. No, this isn’t a new porno vid courtesy of camp Rihanna — this is “Hard”. With lead single “Russian Roulette”, pop princess Rihanna played the part of a prisoner, but here she turns the tables, embodying what it is to be a G.I. Jane.

The newly unveiled video for Rated R opens in full commando mode, Rihanna commands her squad of troops in synchronized dance, immediately splicing to footage of her marching through the desert, mines and shells going off all around her. The creative direction is edgy, her geometric dress and full black war paint looking like something out of Lady Gaga’s wardrobe (oh, how cliched).

Other troops look on as the singer enjoys the obstacle field a little too much, rubbing the mud into her bustier (yes, they still exist). Like much of her new material, “Hard” is sexually explicit, at one point finding the singer ‘sizing up’ the other sex, deciding that the ‘weapon’ is too small for her liking. If the video proves one thing, it’s that Rihanna is well aware of her assets, and she isn’t afraid to use them.

Much has been made of her fashion sense, and she manages to shoe-horn it onto the battlefield, strutting along with a camo-net dress-train. The clincher, though, finds Rihanna wearing a micky mouse helmet and bra made from bullets. Her pedestal? A a bubblegum pink tank, no less. It is simply out of this world.

The “where they at” section gives us bloggers a shout-out- “Where them bloggers at, where them bloggers at, where they at, where they at, where they at?”- and Rihanna even making typing motions to emphasise the point. Swoon.

Looking at this video, we could say “the girl has done it again”: Rihanna has produced another daring, visually striking video. Ultimately, however, we love it all the more because its about bravado lyrics, gratuitous explosions and skin shots. Bigger is better.