 According to Daniels , Rock City knew Sham but they had not heard the West Indian / Caribbean @-@ themed music that he had composed during the camp . Sham played the music to them , to which the brothers responded " Let 's give Rihanna a one @-@ drop ! Like , a response to ' I shot the sheriff ' ! " Together , Sham and Rock City wrote the lyrics to " Man Down " in twelve minutes . In an MTV News interview , Rock City said they intended to write a song that would embody Bob Marley 's " I Shot the Sheriff " ( 1973 ) from a female perspective and to " tap [ Rihanna 's ] island origins in a way that sounded authentic " . Singer Shontelle said that Rihanna called her during the Last Girl on Earth tour and asked her to be involved with the song . She confirmed that Rihanna was present when she was writing her part in the recording studio . Shontelle elucidated that following one of Rihanna 's concerts , the singer exited the stage and immediately returned to the tour bus to work in the studio . Daniels said that once the writing camp had concluded , Rihanna listened to all of the songs which had been composed for her and chose her favorites . In September 2010 , several months after Sham attended the writing camp , Rihanna called him and said that she wanted to record " Man Down " for inclusion on Loud . 
 According to Daniels , Rock City knew Sham but they <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> not heard the West Indian / Caribbean @-@ themed music that he <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> composed during the camp . Sham played the music to them , to which the brothers responded " Let 's give Rihanna a one @-@ drop ! Like , a response to ' I shot the sheriff ' ! " Together , Sham and Rock City wrote the lyrics to " Man Down " in twelve minutes . In an MTV News interview , Rock City said they intended to write a song <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>would embody Bob Marley <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>" I<a href='been_done' title='5'><mark></mark></a> Shot the Sheriff " ( 1973 ) from a female perspective and to " tap [ Rihanna <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>] island origins in a way <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>that</mark></a>sounded authentic " . Singer Shontelle said that Rihanna called her during the Last Girl on Earth tour and asked her to be involved with the song . She confirmed that Rihanna was present when she was writing her part in the recording studio . Shontelle elucidated that following one of Rihanna <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>concerts , the singer exited the stage and immediately returned to the tour bus to work in the studio . Daniels said that once the writing camp <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> concluded , Rihanna listened to all of the songs which <a href='been_done' title='10'><mark>had</mark></a> been composed for her and chose her favorites . In September 2010 , several months after Sham<a href='been_done' title='11'><mark></mark></a> attended the writing camp , Rihanna called him and said that she wanted to record " Man Down " for inclusion on Loud . 
According to Daniels , Rock City knew Sham but they done not heard the West Indian / Caribbean @-@ themed music that he done composed durin da camp . Sham played tdamusic to them , to which the brothers responded " Let 's give Rihanna a one @-@ drop ! Like , a response to ' I shot the sheriff ' ! " Together , Sham and Rock City wrote the lyrics to " Man Down " in twelve mins . In an MTV News interview , Rock City said they intended to write a song would embody Bob Marley  " I done Shot the Sheriff " ( 1973 ) from a female perspective and to " tap [ Rihanna  ] island origins in a way sounded authentic " . Singer Shontelle said dat Rihanna called her during thdaast Girl on Earth tour and asked her to be involved with the song . She confirmed tdatRihanna was present when she was writing her part in the recording studio . Shontelle elucidated that following one of Rihanna  concerts , the singer exited the stage and immediately returned to thedaur bus to work in the dadio . Daniels said that once the wdaing camp done concluded , Rihanna listened to all of the songs which done been composed for her and chose her favorites . In September 2010 , several months after Sham been attended the writing camp , Rihanna called em and said thdathe wanted to record " Man Down " for inclusion on Loud .