Rihanna continued to blend pop, dance, and R&B influences on her next albums, Rated R (2009), Loud (2010), Talk That Talk (2011), and Unapologetic (2012)—the latter of which topped the Billboard 200. The albums spawned the Billboard Hot 100-number one singles "Rude Boy", "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M", "We Found Love", and "Diamonds". Her eighth album, Anti (2016), showcased new creative control following her departure from Def Jam in favor of Jay-Z's label, Roc Nation. Becoming her second US number one album, it was supported by the chart-topping single "Work".
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados.[7][8] She is the daughter of accountant Monica (née Braithwaite) and warehouse supervisor Ronald Fenty.[9][10] Her mother is Afro-Guyanese, while her father is a Barbadian of African, Irish, English, and Scottish descent.[9][11][12][13] Rihanna has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and two half-sisters and a half-brother from her father's side, each born to different mothers from his previous relationships.[14][15] She grew up in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father in a stall on the street. Rihanna has said that her childhood was deeply affected by her father's alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction, which contributed to her parents' strained marriage. She has said in interviews that her father used to abuse her mother physically, and that she would try to get in between them to break up fights.[16]
As a child, Rihanna had many CT scans for the excruciating headaches that she suffered, recalling that "doctors even thought it was a tumor, because it was that intense."[14] By the time she was 14, her parents had divorced, and her health began to improve.[10][17] She grew up listening to reggae music.[14][18] She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere School, where she studied alongside future international cricketers Chris Jordan and Carlos Brathwaite.[19][14] At age 11, Rihanna was a cadet in Barbados's Cadet Corps; the later Barbadian singer-songwriter Shontelle was her drill sergeant.[20][21] She initially wanted to graduate from high school, but she chose to pursue a musical career instead.[22]
Music career
2003–2006: Beginnings and early releases
In 2003, Rihanna formed a musical trio with two of her classmates in Barbados.[14] Without a name or any material, the girl group auditioned with American record producer Evan Rogers, who commented, "The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist."[14] Rihanna later performed renditions of Destiny's Child's "Emotion" and Mariah Carey's "Hero".[23] Impressed, Rogers scheduled a second meeting with Rihanna's mother present and then invited Rihanna to his hometown in the United States to record some demo tapes that could be sent to record labels.[23] Recordings were intermittent, taking about a year because she was only able to record during school holidays. "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time" were two tracks recorded for the demo tape, which were eventually included on her debut album Music of the Sun.[24] That same year, Rihanna was signed to Rogers's and Carl Sturken's production company, Syndicated Rhythm Productions.[23]
Rihanna's demo was shipped out to Def Jam Recordings, where Jay Brown, an A&R executive at the record label, was one of the first to hear the demo. Brown played the demo tape for rapper Jay-Z, who had recently been appointed as president and CEO of Def Jam.[25] When Jay-Z first heard the track "Pon de Replay", he felt the song was too big for her.[26] Despite being skeptical, he invited Rihanna to audition for the label. In early 2005, Rihanna auditioned for Def Jam in New York City, where Jay-Z introduced her to music mogul Antonio "L.A." Reid.[23][27] At the audition, she sang Whitney Houston's cover of "For the Love of You", as well as the demo tracks "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time".[23] Jay-Z was absolutely certain about signing her after she performed her future single "Pon de Replay".[26] His boss, L.A. Reid, was also impressed with her audition, telling Jay-Z not to let Rihanna leave the building until the contract was signed.[28] Reid left it to Jay-Z and his team to close the deal which resulted in a six-album record deal with Def Jam. She waited in Jay-Z's office until 3:00 in the morning to get lawyers to draft up a contract because he wanted to prevent her from signing with another label.[26]
Rihanna canceled other meetings with record labels and relocated from Barbados to the United States to live with Rogers and his wife.[29]
After signing with Def Jam, Jay-Z and his team did the A&R for Rihanna's debut album and spent the next three months recording and completing her debut album.[28] She worked with different producers to complete her debut studio album, primarily Rogers and his production partner Carl Sturken.[30] With several songs to pick as a lead single, "Pon de Replay" was chosen because it seemed like the best song suited for a summer release.[31] In May 2005, her debut single, "Pon de Replay", was released under her mononym "Rihanna". It charted successfully worldwide, peaking in the top five in fifteen countries, including at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart.[32] The song became a club hit in the United States, peaking at No. 1 on the BillboardDance Club Songs.[33]
Music of the Sun was released in August 2005. It debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over 500,000 units.[34] The album sold over 2 million copies worldwide. A second single, "If It's Lovin' that You Want", was not as successful as its predecessor, but reached the top 10 in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.[35] Aside from her work in music, Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in the successful straight-to-DVD film Bring It On: All or Nothing, released in August 2006.[36]
A month after the release of her debut album, Rihanna began working on her second studio album.[37]A Girl like Me was released in April 2006.[38]Rolling Stone felt that "the burning rock guitar" and haunted strings of some of the album's tracks made "A Girl like Me [...] likable."[39] The album was a commercial success, charting in the top 10 in 13 countries. The album reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 5 in the United Kingdom and the United States, where it sold 115,000 copies in its first week.[34][40] The album became Rihanna's first to be certified Platinum by the RIAA, after selling over 1,000,000 units.[41] Its lead single, "SOS", was an international success, charting in the top five in 11 countries. The song reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in Australia, her first to reach this chart position.[42] "Unfaithful", the album's second single, reached the top 10 in 18 countries, including No. 1 in Canada and Switzerland.[43] Two more singles were released from the album: "We Ride" and "Break It Off".[44][45]
2007–2008: Breakthrough with Good Girl Gone Bad
In early 2007, Rihanna appeared on the single "Roll It" with Jamaican band J-Status and fellow Barbadian singer-songwriter Shontelle. The song appeared on J-Status' debut album The Beginning, released in several European countries only. Around that time, Rihanna had already begun work on her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad.[46] With the help of producers Timbaland, Tricky Stewart and Sean Garrett she embraced a new musical direction through uptempo dance tracks.[47][48] Released in May 2007, the album charted at No. 2 in Australia and the US and topped the charts in multiple countries, including Brazil, Canada, Ireland and the UK.[49] The album received the most positive critical reviews of her first three albums.[50]
On June 9, 2008, Rihanna released Good Girl Gone Bad Live, her first livelong-form video. The DVD and Blu-ray release featured Rihanna's concert at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom, held on December 6, 2007, as part of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour. The release also contained a special documentary that presented Rihanna discussing her experiences during the tour. By late 2008, Rihanna still remained on the charts with the release of the fifth single from Good Girl Gone Bad, "Rehab", and was named "Diva of the Year" by Entertainment Weekly for her "newfound staying power".[57]Good Girl Gone Bad has sold over 2.8 million units in the United States alone, receiving a two-times-Platinum certification from the RIAA. It is Rihanna's bestselling album in the country to date.[34][58] The album has sold 9 million units worldwide.[59][60]
On February 8, 2009, Rihanna's scheduled performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards was canceled.[68] Reports surfaced that then-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, had physically assaulted her. He was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats.[69] On March 5, 2009, Brown was charged with assault and making criminal threats.[70] A leaked photograph from the police department obtained by TMZ.com revealed that Rihanna had sustained visible injuries.[71] A few months after the incident, Rihanna was featured on the single "Run This Town" by Jay-Z, which also featured Kanye West and was released as the second single from Jay-Z's eleventh studio album The Blueprint 3.[72]
In early 2009, Rihanna began working on her fourth studio album, Rated R.[73]Rated R was released in November 2009. The album had Rolling Stone magazine stating that Rihanna "transformed her sound and made one of the best pop records of the year".[74][75]Rated R featured a darker and more foreboding tone than Rihanna's previous albums.[76]Rated R debuted at No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[77][78][79] The album was supported by six singles, including "Rude Boy", which was the biggest worldwide success from the album, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and reaching top 10 positions in 22 other countries.[80][81]
In January 2010, Rihanna released her charity cover version of "Redemption Song" for the Hope for Haiti Now campaign. She also recorded the song "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" together with Jay-Z, Bono and The Edge for the same campaign to alleviate the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
"Man Down" and "California King Bed" were released as singles in May 2011 with moderate success.[96][97] "Cheers (Drink to That)", which interpolates Avril Lavigne's 2002 single "I'm with You", was released as the seventh and final single from the album.[98] To promote the album, Rihanna embarked on her Loud Tour in June 2011, which sold out 10 nights at The O2 Arena in West London, the most sold-out shows for a female artist in the venue's history.[99][100] The tour was the seventh highest-grossing tour worldwide of 2011.[101] In September 2020 she put her St John's Wood, North London house for sale with a price of £32 million.[102]
2011–2013: Talk That Talk and Unapologetic
Rihanna's sixth album, Talk That Talk, was released in November 2011.[103] The album debuted at No. 3 in the U.S. and number No. 1 in the UK[104] The album's lead single, "We Found Love", topped charts in twenty-seven countries and peaked in the top 10 in 30 countries and broke many chart records worldwide.[105] The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 non-consecutive weeks, becoming Rihanna's longest-running No. 1 single on the chart and the longest-running No. 1 single of 2011 in the US.[106][107] "You Da One" and the album's title track, featuring Jay-Z, were released as the second and third singles, to moderate success. "Where Have You Been", the fifth single, successfully charted worldwide, reaching No. 5 in the US and No. 6 in the UK.[108][109] "Cockiness (Love It)" was released as the album's sixth and final single in a remixed form featuring rapper ASAP Rocky.[110]
In early 2012, two collaborations featuring Rihanna were released: Coldplay's "Princess of China", from their album Mylo Xyloto, and Drake's "Take Care", from his album of the same name.[111][112] In February 2012, Rihanna won her third Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2012 Grammy Awards for her Kanye West collaboration "All of the Lights" and was voted the Best International Female Solo Artist at the 2012 BRIT Awards for the second consecutive year.[113][114] March 2012 saw the simultaneous releases of two collaborations between Rihanna and Chris Brown: remixes of her song "Birthday Cake" and his "Turn Up the Music". The recordings received mainly negative responses due to the pair's history of domestic violence.[115] In September 2012, "We Found Love" won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, making Rihanna the first woman to receive the accolade more than once.[116]
Rihanna's seventh studio album, Unapologetic, was released in November 2012.[117] In the United States, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking Rihanna's first No. 1 album in the country.[118] The lead single from the album, "Diamonds", reached No. 1 in more than 20 countries worldwide, including on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it became Rihanna's 12 No. 1 on the chart.[119] The album's second single, "Stay", featuring Mikky Ekko, reached the top five in over twenty countries, including No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.[120] As promotion prior to the album's release, Rihanna embarked on the 777 Tour, a mini tour of seven shows in seven countries in seven days.[121] On May 6, 2013, Fox aired a documentary about the tour, with a documentary DVD being released the following day as Rihanna's third live long-form video release.[122]
2014–2017: Standalone releases, Home soundtrack and Anti
In 2014, Rihanna appeared on Shakira's single, "Can't Remember to Forget You".[128] Following the release of Unapologetic and its accompanying tour, Rihanna aimed to take a hiatus from recording music, stating: "I wanted to have a year to just do whatever I want artistically, creatively."[129] In May 2014, Rihanna left Def Jam Recordings to sign fully with Roc Nation, the record label that had managed her career since October 2010.[130]
In late 2015, Rihanna signed a $25 million contract with Samsung that would see her promoting Samsung's Galaxy line of products whilst Samsung would sponsor the release of her eighth studio album and its supporting tour.[136] The Anti World Tour was announced in November 2015 and began in March 2016, with Travis Scott supporting in North America and Big Sean supporting at selected European dates.[137][non-primary source needed]The Weeknd had also initially planned to support at certain European sites, but he backed out citing "unforeseen changes in upcoming projects".[138] On January 28, 2016, Rihanna released her eighth studio album, Anti, exclusively through streaming serviceTidal.[139] The album peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, becoming Rihanna's second No. 1 and eighth top 10 album on the chart.[140] The album was supported by the release of four singles, including the lead single "Work", featuring Drake, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Further Platinum-certified singles "Needed Me" and "Love on the Brain" both peaked inside the top 10 of the US Hot 100.[141][142]
2018–present: Hiatus, upcoming ninth studio album and Super Bowl LVII halftime show
In October 2017, Shakka revealed that he was working with Rihanna on her "absolutely insane" album.[153] In December 2018, Rihanna confirmed that the album would be released in 2019,[154] and later announced that it is a reggae project.[155] In August 2019, fans noticed that Rihanna and co-songwriters Collin Edwards, Monique Lawrence, and Alexander Ogunmokun registered a song titled "Private Loving" with the music publishing organization BMI.[156][n 2] In September 2019, it was announced that she had signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[158] In December 2019, Rihanna alluded to her album being complete and indefinitely withholding the release date in an Instagram post.[159] In her 2023 British Vogue interview, when asked about her ninth studio album, she said: "When you come off of an album like Anti ... there's this pressure that I put on myself. That if it's not better than that then it is not even worth it", noting that "it's not the right way to look at music" and "if I keep waiting until this feels right and perfect and better, maybe it's going to keep taking forever and maybe it'll never come out and no, I'm not down to that."[160]
During this period, Rihanna appeared on Canadian singer PartyNextDoor's song "Believe It", which was released on March 27, 2020.[161] On October 28, 2022, she released the lead single from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, "Lift Me Up", her first solo musical release since Anti.[162] The song earned her nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song.[163] On February 12, 2023, she headlined the Super Bowl LVIIhalftime show,[164] which marked her first live performance in over five years, and the end of her previously self-imposed boycott of the event, which she instigated in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. The show had a mostly positive reception.[165] It was initially reported that the performance gained a total of 118.7 million viewers across television and digital platforms,[166] however the figure was later revised by Nielsen Media Research, who adjusted the number to 121.017 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime show in history, surpassing Katy Perry's performance at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show.[167]
Artistry
Music and voice
Rihanna is a mezzo-soprano, with a range spanning from B2 to C♯6.[168][169][170] While recording tracks for her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), Rihanna took vocal lessons from Ne-Yo. She said of the experience, "I've never had vocal training, so when I'm in the studio, he'll tell me how to breathe and stuff... He'll call out these big fancy words: 'OK, I want you to do staccato.' And I'm like, 'OK, I don't know what that is.'"[48] Her vocal performance on Loud (2010) received positive reviews from music critics. James Skinner from BBC praised Rihanna's vocals on the song "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" and wrote that her voice is powerful and that "it is Rihanna's vocal – at once commanding, soulful and vulnerable – that anchors the song, and Loud itself".[171] Andy Gill from The Independent feels that "California King Bed" features her best vocal performance.[172] In a review of Unapologetic, Billboard magazine wrote, "Diamonds finds Rihanna doing one of her throatiest, most impassioned vocals to date, on this inspirational pop ballad."[173] Jon Caramanica of the New York Times stated, "over the years, as her game face froze in place, her voice cured into a weapon of emotional chill and strategic indifference. It's decidedly unfriendly, made to give orders".[174] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Rihanna at number 68 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[175]
"[My music is] just imagination, being creative; that's what my music is composed with. Being creative and thinking of situations, whether situations I went through or situations I've observed people going through. I can't tell you where I'll see myself in five years, but I can tell you I will work my best to be the most successful artist that I can be in five years. [I want to be] Remembered as Rihanna. Remembered as being an artist from the Caribbean who came here and made it internationally. Just remembered as me, 'cause I'm true to my music, and I just want people to realize that and appreciate me for that"
—Rihanna during her first interview with MTV News[176]
Growing up in Barbados, she mainly listened to reggae, hip hop and soca music.[177] When she first came to the US, she was exposed to different types of music with "rock being one of them, and I fell in love with it. [Now] I love rock music."[177] During her debut, she recorded songs that were inspired by her Caribbean roots and described her early sound as "a fusion of reggae, hip-hop and R&B, with a little something different thrown in".[27][178] Her early dancehall roots can be found on her debut album, Music of the Sun, and its follow-up, A Girl like Me.[179] Her debut album demonstrates the influence of Rihanna's musical heritage of the Caribbean. Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times complimented its combination of dancehall and reggae, who said, "Dancehall reggae sometimes seems like a furiously insular form of music, but ... Rihanna is only the latest singer to discover how versatile the genre's spring-loaded electronic rhythms can be".[180] Her debut single, "Pon de Replay" features a dancehall-pop mixture that infuses a reggae style, while "If It's Lovin' that You Want" talks about a girl seducing a guy to be her boyfriend.[35] Aiming for artistic growth, A Girl like Me expresses personal experiences that typical 18-year-old girls go through with ballads that were described as elegant and mature.[181] After her second album, she slowly dismissed her dancehall and reggae roots.
Rihanna's musical career has been an experiment with new musical ideas and stated that she wants "to make music that could be heard in parts of the world that I'd never been to".[182] With its provocative subject matter and lyrics, she began incorporating a wide range of genres including, pop, R&B, reggae, dubstep, hip hop and EDM.[183] During a review for Good Girl Gone Bad, Slant Magazine to write that Rihanna "finally figured out that she's a dance artist and the majority of the album is comprised of uptempo dance-pop [songs like]" "Push Up on Me" and "Don't Stop the Music".[184] It represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous albums and is described as a turning point in her career.[185][186] While the first half of the record shares many 1980s pop influences with songs like "Don't Stop the Music" and "Shut Up and Drive", the second half retreats into standard R&B.[14][187]
Recorded after the assault by her then-boyfriend, Chris Brown, Rated R had a much darker tone and was filled with various emotions she experienced throughout 2009.[188] In her fifth album Loud, Rihanna reflects on the fun and energetic vibe she had while recording the album.[89] The album is a mixture of ballads, party anthems and empowering love songs.[189]Talk That Talk was similar to Rated R, as both contain hip hop, R&B, dancehall and dubstep genres.[190]Loud and Talk That Talk saw her explore sexuality in her work ("S&M" and "Birthday Cake") and return to her dancehall roots ("Man Down" and "Watch n' Learn").[191] She also branched out into house music with tracks like "We Found Love", "Only Girl (In the World)" and "Complicated".[192] Her songs are also inspired through record sampling from other artists.[193]
Influences
Rihanna has cited Madonna (pictured) as her idol and biggest influence
Rihanna has named Madonna as her idol and biggest influence. She said that she wanted to be the "black Madonna" and praised her ability to reinvent herself throughout her career.[194] She noted, "I think that Madonna was a great inspiration for me, especially on my earlier work. If I had to examine her evolution through time, I think she reinvented her clothing style and music with success every single time. And at the same time remained a real force in entertainment in the whole world."[194]
Another major influence on Rihanna's music and career has been Mariah Carey, whose song "Hero" she performed when Rihanna was still a teenager at her high school talent show.[195] She revealed that Carey's song "Vision of Love" "was the song that made [her] want to do music."[196][197]
In her youth, she would see Bob Marley on television because of his fame in the Caribbean.[198] She stated, "He's one of my favourite artists of all time – he really paved the way for every other artist out of the Caribbean".[199] She built a shrine in her home dedicated to the reggae legend and has covered Marley's "Is This Love" and Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Redemption Song" during her concert tours.[200][201]
During her childhood, she would go around singing Whitney Houston songs and "A Whole New World" into her hairbrush so much that her neighbors started calling her "Robyn Redbreast".[29] She also stated that one of the first songs she remembers falling in love with was Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" and that it "was really inspiring, and it made me develop a passion for music, so really, she's partly responsible for me being here in this industry."[202][203]
Rihanna has worked with music video director Anthony Mandler on more than a dozen music videos, the first being "Unfaithful" (2006).[216] "We've done 16 videos together; they're not all tough, [...] Yeah, I mean, I'm known for the 'Disturbia's and the 'Russian Roulette's and things like that, but 'Only Girl (In the World)' is certainly an ethereal kind of empowering, beauty-filled video," Mandler said.[216] Jocelyn Vena of MTV wrote, "Rihanna, like Madonna, also has a tendency to make truly thought-provoking music videos that fit the songs they represent. Smattered in between glitzier, more glamorous clips, Madge and Ri want us to think about bigger issues".[192] Jon Bream of the Star Tribune commented "[i]n the tradition of Madonna and Janet Jackson, Rihanna has become the video vixen of the '00s ... Rihanna has perfected the pout, the long-legged strut, and trend-setting hairdos that keep women and men alike checking her out on YouTube."[217] George Epaminondas of InStyle considers Rihanna's music videos to be "cinematic" due to her "blend of lush island rhythms and swinging pop and ... mischievous sensuality."[218]
Many of her music videos were shot as short films exploring issues such as love triangles, abuse and substance abuse romance, including "We Found Love" and "Man Down".[192] Her music video for "Umbrella" shows Rihanna's transition into adulthood and her newly adopted image.[219] The "dark, creepy" scenes of "Disturbia" have been compared to Michael Jackson's Thriller.[217][220] The video for "Russian Roulette" features Rihanna in a padded room playing a game of russian roulette with her partner. A scene of Rihanna being approached by a speeding car at night was compared to the altercation with Chris Brown.[221]
In 2011, Rihanna released three controversial music videos about sadomasochism, rape and domestic violence.[222] "Man Down", which features Rihanna shooting a man in a train station, was criticized by the Parents Television Council.[223] "We Found Love", which shows Rihanna and her love interest in a drug-filled unhealthy relationship,[221] sparked criticism from the Rape Crisis Centre for its message.[224] Charne Graham of the Houston Press defended her, asking, "Why should Rihanna's music videos get everyone riled up when others' equally sexual and controversial videos are in rotation? [...] she just like[s] to make music videos that give us something to talk about."[222] Rihanna was the first woman to pass 2 billion cumulative views on the music video website Vevo.[225]
Denis Armstrong of Canadian Online Explorer commented on her performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest, saying "her show was a Disney-esque choreographed fantasy of non-stop hip-swiveling, sassy attitude and personal endearments and a string of funky, sugar-free hits."[226] Her performance of "Disturbia" at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards was ranked tenth best on the MTV Video Music Awards, according to a Billboard poll.[227] Her revealing leather costumes during her Good Girl Gone Bad Tour were highly criticized by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, who recommended that her concert tour should be banned.[228] Whilst commenting on her third album's accompanying tour, The Times compared Rihanna's stage wardrobe styling to that of Janet Jackson and called her "a vision of Ann Summers couture in thigh-high boots and a few scraps of black PVC."[229] In the October 2011 issue of British Vogue, Rihanna said her performance outfits and appearances are all an act; "[t]hat's not me. That's a part I play. You know, like it's a piece of art, with all these toys and textures to play with".[230]
Known for her style and image, the media have constantly followed the evolution of Rihanna's music and fashion sense.[231] In 2009, New York magazine described Rihanna's early look as that of "a cookie-cutter teen queen", noting she has the ability "to shift looks dramatically and with such ease".[232] Around the time of the release of her second studio album, A Girl like Me (2006), many critics felt that Rihanna's style, sound and musical material were too similar to those of Beyoncé.[233][234] In an interview with Look magazine, Rihanna spoke about comparisons to Beyoncé: "Beyoncé is a great artist and I feel honored to be mentioned in the same sentence, but we're different performers with different styles".[235] She revealed during Oprah's Next Chapter that Def Jam's pop-princess blueprint made her feel claustrophobic during her early years with the label.[236] According to Rihanna, "I felt like they were giving me a blueprint. [...] They had a brand, they had an idea of what they wanted me to be without figuring out who I was."[237] With the release of her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), Rihanna dismissed her innocent image for an edgier look with a new hairstyle, which was inspired by Charlize Theron's bob cut in the science fiction thriller Æon Flux (2005).[238] She followed the likes of recording artists Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera who also shed their innocent image for an edgier look and sound.[239]
Nico Amarca of Highsnobiety magazine wrote, "over the course of her now 10-year career, [Rihanna] has undergone one of the most significant aesthetic metamorphoses the world has ever seen".[240] Her image and fashion has changed several times with different hairstyles since the release of her third album.[241][242] She commented that as a child she "used to watch her [mother] get dressed" and that her love and admiration for fashion started with her mother.[243] When putting together her own wardrobe she stated, "It's become more about taking a risk ... I always look for the most interesting silhouette or something that's a little off."[244] Jess Cartner-Morley of The Guardian wrote that "Rihanna's wardrobe is the most talked-about, influential and dissected in pop right now" and that whatever she wears "is immediately reproduced on the high street, because it sells".[245] Country singer Miranda Lambert admires Rihanna's fashion and style stating, "I don't necessarily get inspired by the whole no-bra thing, but I love that you never know what she's going to wear. It always keeps you guessing, which makes her sassy and interesting."[246]
In an interview with Alexa Chung during Vogue Festival 2015, Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing praised Rihanna by stylistically comparing her to some of the biggest fashion icons in music history, such as Madonna, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Prince.[247] Commenting on the cultural expectation for pop stars to be role models, Rihanna said "[being a role model] became more of my job than I wanted it to be. But no, I just want to make music. That's it."[230] In a May 2013 interview with MTV, The Vagina Monologues writer and feminist Eve Ensler said, "I'm a huge Rihanna fan, I think she has a kind of agency over her sexuality and she's open about her sexuality, she has enormous grace and she's immensely talented."[248][249]
Described as one of the sexiest women of her generation,[250][251] she revealed that being a sex symbol is not a priority and that "it's definitely flattering, but also uncomfortable."[252] Her appearance has landed her on the cover of magazines such as Maxim, FHM, Rolling Stone,[253] and in December 2012, Rihanna became the first woman to be featured on the cover of GQ magazine's "Men of the Year" issue.[253]
Rihanna made her first appearance at the Met Gala in 2007.[254] She has made eight appearances in the years since; notably in 2015, for China: Through the Looking Glass, her Guo Pei-designed yellow dress garnered the most attention of the event, accruing a billion impressions on social media.[255] The dress, which had taken two years to make before Rihanna came across it,[256] became the subject of a documentary by Pietra Brettkelly, entitled Yellow Is Forbidden.[257]
She co-chaired the 2018 Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination themed event, wearing Maison Margiela.[258]
As of 2021, Rihanna is the world's wealthiest female musician with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.[259] She was also listed among Forbes' Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2019.[260] In 2020, she debuted on the Sunday Times Rich List, claiming third place on the list of Britain's richest musicians.[261]
Legacy
Rihanna is regarded by the media as a pop and fashion icon, particularly since her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007).[262][263][264][265][266] Nick Levine of Digital Spy described Good Girl Gone Bad as "the closest thing to a Thriller that 2007/08 is likely to produce".[267] According to Rolling Stone, her single "Umbrella" and her eighth album Anti are regarded as among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, respectively.[268][269] Her single "Work" has been credited by a Billboard editor for bringing the dancehall genre to the forefront of mainstream American music.[270] Music critic Jayson Greene of Pitchfork described Rihanna as the most influential singer of the past decade, writing:
Rihanna Voice has become an industry-wide idea, a creative property like the Korg synth or LinnDrum [...] We crave the thrill that you can only get when a dozen or so good ideas manifest themselves in a single voice. For the past 10 years, that voice has more or less been Rihanna's. Now that she's gleefully shredding it apart, she'll probably generate a whole new comet trail of Rihannabes. Inevitably, none of them will carry the charge, the glassy cool and subterranean heat, of the real thing.[271]
Rihanna has become a dominating figure on social media and internet streaming, ranking at No. 1 on Forbes' 2012 list of Social Networking Superstars.[301]Time magazine included Rihanna on its 100 Most Influential People in the World issue in 2012 and 2018,[302] with Stella McCartney writing: "She's one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride. She works hard, very hard. She gives to her fans, friends and foundation not just herself but her energy and spirit."[303] Rihanna was ranked one of the best dressed women in 2018, by luxury fashion retailer Net-a-Porter.[304]
Rihanna has an honorary title of Ambassador for Culture and Youth in Barbados.[305] On February 22, 2008, former Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson launched the national "Rihanna Day" in their country. Although it is not a bank holiday, Barbadians celebrate it every year in honor of Rihanna.[306][307][308][309] In February 2017, Rihanna was named Harvard University's "Humanitarian of the Year" by the Harvard Foundation.[310] During Rihanna's third annual "Diamond Ball", former U.S. presidentBarack Obama, praised Rihanna's work and stated: "[She's] become a powerful force in the fight to give people dignity."[311] On September 20, 2018, Rihanna was appointed by the government of Barbados to be an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, with special duties of promoting "education, tourism and investment for the island."[312][313][314]
At the 2020 NAACP Image Awards, hosted by BET, Rihanna accepted the President's Award from Derrick Johnson. Johnson stated that "Rihanna has not only enjoyed a groundbreaking career as an artist and musician but has also distinguished herself as a stellar public servant. From her business achievements through Fenty to her tremendous record as an activist and philanthropist, Rihanna epitomizes the type of character, grace, and devotion to justice that we seek to highlight in our President's Award."[315]
Business career
Rihanna's first fragrance, Reb'l Fleur, was released in January 2011.[316] According to Rolling Stone, Reb'l Fleur was a financial success and was expected to gross US$80 million at retail by the end of 2011.[317]
Rihanna's second fragrance, Rebelle, was released in February 2012.[318] The promotional campaign for Rebelle, was shot by director, Anthony Mandler, who also shot the promotional campaign for Reb'l Fleur.[319]
In November 2012, Rihanna released her third fragrance, Nude.[320]
Rihanna's fourth women's fragrance, titled Rogue was released on September 14, 2013, followed by a male version entitled Rogue Men which was released in 2014.[321][322]
On March 30, 2015, it was announced that Rihanna is a co-owner, with various other music artists, in the music streaming service Tidal. The service specializes in lossless audio and high definition music videos. Jay-Z acquired the parent company of Tidal, Aspiro, in the first quarter of 2015.[323] Including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, sixteen artist stakeholders (such as Kanye West, Beyoncé, Madonna, Chris Martin, Nicki Minaj and more) co-own Tidal, with the majority owning a 3% equity stake.[324] "The challenge is to get everyone to respect music again, to recognize its value", stated Jay-Z on the release of Tidal.[325]
In 2016, it was revealed that Rihanna would be releasing her music through her own label Westbury Road Entertainment,[326] which was established in 2005.[327]
Westbury Road is the name of her Barbados residence. The music would be distributed through Universal Music Group.[328][329] Westbury Road Entertainment's artist roster includes Melissa Forde as the label's photographer,[330] and KazeLoon.
In November 2015, Rihanna and Benoit Demouy launched a beauty and stylist agency named Fr8me. The business based in Los Angeles was set up to assist artists in booking commercials, editorial shoots, ad campaigns, and red-carpet appearances. Rihanna stated, "Hair, makeup, and styling play an important role in creativity; I am very involved with that part of my process, so this agency was an organic thing for me to do." The roster includes Rihanna's makeup artist Mylah Morales, wardrobe stylist Jason Bolden, hairstylist Patricia Morales and Marcia Hamilton.[331] In addition to Fr8me, Rihanna opened a photo agency called "A Dog Ate My Homework", which represents photographers Erik Asla and Deborah Anderson.[331]
Fenty was a fashion brand by Rihanna under the luxury fashion group LVMH, which launched in May 2019. She was the first woman to create an original brand for LVMH and also the first woman of color to lead an LVMH brand. The house launched in a pop-up store on May 22, 2019, in Paris, before launching worldwide online on May 29 and included clothing, accessories, and footwear. It was the first line that LVMH had launched since 1987. The fashion brand was described as groundbreaking, and in a statement regarding the launch, Rihanna said that she had been given a "unique opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits."[332] Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in February 2021, Rihanna and LVMH decided to "put on hold" her Fenty fashion house and continue building on the SavagexFenty lingerie line.[333]
Rihanna exclusively uses her surname for business endeavors not related to her music career so as not to conflate the two.[334] In January 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father, Ronald Fenty, over the use of the Fenty name for commercial purposes. The lawsuit alleges Rihanna's cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, was damaged commercially by her father's company, Fenty Entertainment, through misrepresentation of his company being affiliated with her.[335] In September 2021 Rihanna dropped the lawsuit against her father.[336]
Rihanna in a promotional video for Fenty Beauty in 2018
In 2017, Rihanna launched her cosmetics company Fenty Beauty under LVMH's Kendo Brands. Rihanna owns 50 percent of Fenty Beauty, according to Forbes.[337] The partnership was worth $10 million and would see Rihanna release various beauty products.[338] The first installment of Fenty Beauty was released on September 8, 2017, in stores and online, available in over 150 countries.[339] It included an array of products including foundations, highlighters, bronzers, blush compacts, lip glosses and blotting sheets and was praised for its diverse range for all skin colors.[340]Time magazine named Fenty Beauty as one of "The 25 Best Inventions of 2017", highlighting the breadth of its range.[341] In what has been dubbed the "Fenty Effect", the brand revolutionized the way other cosmetic brands approached diversity in marketing and product formulation: "Suddenly beauty houses – niche, establishment and those in between – began extending their shade ranges to accommodate a wider variety of skin tones. Forty shades became the new standard."[342]
In 2018, Rihanna launched a lingerie brand named Savage X Fenty. The line was born from Rihanna's vision creating an inclusive brand. Products come in a variety of shades to match all skin tones and a range of sizes.[343] She showcased the brand at the New York Fashion Week in September 2018. The brand has been positively reviewed by the public for including plus size models in their promotion, though some fans argued there were not enough plus sizes.[344]
In July 2020, Rihanna launched a skin care brand called Fenty Skin.[347]
Fenty Hair
In June 2024, Rihanna launched a hair care brand called Fenty Hair. The products of the brand are intended to be suitable for all hair types, textures and routines.[348]
Other ventures
Rihanna at her Fenty x Puma fashion show in February 2016
Rihanna has ventured into other businesses and industries. In October 2005, Rihanna struck an endorsement deal with Secret Body Spray.[349] In 2010, Rihanna featured in the Optus commercial, in conjunction with Optus supporting Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth.[350] The same year Rihanna also featured in the Kodak commercial along with rapper Pitbull.[351] In October 2010, she released a photo book[352] featuring photos from the Last Girl on Earth tour and served as an accompaniment to her fourth studio album Rated R (2009). In 2011, Rihanna was the face of Nivea and Vita Coco.[353][354]
Her first television program, Styled to Rock, premiered in the UK in August 2012 on Sky Living. In the 10-week series, Rihanna, Nicola Roberts, Lysa Cooper and Henry Holland assist up-and-coming British designers with their clothing lines.[355] The US version of Styled to Rock premiered on October 25, 2013, on Bravo.[356] In 2013, Rihanna collaborated with MAC Cosmetics and released her own summer, fall and holiday lines of makeup called "RiRi hearts MAC".[357] In July 2013, lager production company Budweiser announced that Rihanna had become a part of their global "Made For Music" campaign, also co-starring Jay-Z.[358]
Early in her career, Rihanna made clear her interest in fashion and desire to work in the clothing design industry. Regarding this, she said, "Fashion has always been my defense mechanism".[359] In November 2011, Rihanna announced her first fashion venture with Armani.[360] In February 2013, Rihanna presented her first women's fashion collection at London Fashion Week for British brand River Island, collaborating with her personal stylist Adam Selman.[361] They published three more collections for the brand.[362][363] Rihanna then collaborated with numerous fashion house's including Dior, Stance and Manolo Blahnik.[364][365][366]
In March 2015, Rihanna was chosen as the new face of Dior; making her the first black woman to be the face of the brand.[367]
In 2014, Rihanna became the creative director of the fashion sportswear Puma, overseeing the brand's women's line which will include collaborations in apparel and footwear.[368] The following year, Rihanna released her first trainer with Puma and it sold out online within three hours of its pre-sale launch.[369] Over the next two years, Rihanna released various other footwear in different colorways and styles, which were all met positively by both critics and buyers.[370][371] 2016 saw Rihanna debut her first clothing line in collaboration with Puma at New York Fashion Week; the collection was met with rave reviews from fashion critics.[372]
Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in the straight-to-DVD film Bring It On: All or Nothing, released in August 2006.[36] Rihanna starred as Petty Officer (GM2) Cora Raikes in her first theatrical feature film Battleship, which was released on May 18, 2012.[373] Loosely based on the game of the same name, both the film and Rihanna's performance received mixed-to-negative reviews; the New York Times said she was "just fine in the rather generic role".[374]
In 2015, Rihanna appeared in the voice role of Tip in the animated feature film Home alongside Jim Parsons and Jennifer Lopez; the film was based on The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex.
In August 2018, it had been reported that Rihanna had been filming a secret project in Cuba titled Guava Island throughout that summer alongside Donald Glover. Glover's Atlanta collaborator Hiro Murai was directing, with Letitia Wright and Nonso Anozie also involved.[382] The trailer for the full-length movie premiered on November 24[383] at the PHAROS festival in New Zealand. The exact details project were not announced until April 2019 when advertisements for Guava Island appeared on Spotify indicating something happening on "Saturday Night | April 13".[384] It was later revealed Amazon Studios would distribute the film and Regency Enterprises had financed the film, which was released on April 13.[385]
In 2006, she created her Believe Foundation to help terminally ill children.[386][387]
In 2007, Rihanna was named as one of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet Ambassadors, with each celebrity representing a different global charity.[388] To help raise awareness and combat HIV/AIDS, Rihanna and other public figures designed clothing for the February 2008 H&M Fashion Against AIDS line.[389][390] In 2008, Rihanna performed a series of charity concerts entitled A Girl's Night Out[391] to benefit the Believe Foundation. The concerts were made free for the public. Money from sponsors and advertisers were to be donated to provide medical supplies, school supplies and toys to children in need.[392][393][394] In September 2008, Rihanna contributed to the song "Just Stand Up!" with fifteen other female artists, who shared the stage to perform the song live on September 5, 2008, during the "Stand Up to Cancer" television special. The proceeds from the single were given to the fundraiser.[67] The television special helped raise $100 million for cancer research.[395]
I feel strongly that all children everywhere should be afforded the opportunity of a quality education, therefore I'm proud to announce Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with education advocacy leaders like the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen. Working together, I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally.
– Rihanna, discussing the Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with the Global Partnership for Education[396]
Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in 2012, in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. Programs include the Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, and education programs.[397][398] The CLF hosts an annual Diamond Ball charity fundraiser event. The inaugural event in 2014 raised over $2 million and the second raised over $3 million.[399][400] On February 12, 2012, Rihanna performed a benefit show at the House of Blues to raise money for the Children's Orthopaedic Center and the Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children's Hospital.[401] In November 2012, Rihanna gave $100,000 to food bank donation for Hurricane Sandy.[402] On January 3, 2014, Rihanna was part of the MAC Viva Glam campaign, which benefits women, men and children living with HIV/AIDS.[403] In March 2020, Rihanna donated $5,000,000 to COVID-19 relief[404] and followed that up with additional donations of personal protective equipment to the state of New York[405] and an offer of $700,000 worth of ventilators to her home country Barbados.[406] In April 2020, Rihanna further donated an additional $2,100,000, matching Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for a total of $4,200,000, to provide support and resources to individuals and children suffering from domestic violence amid the lockdown.[407]
During her performance at the NCAA March Madness Music Festival, Rihanna expressed her disagreement with Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act that allows companies and individuals to use their religious beliefs as protection, in case of being accused of discrimination against LGBT people.[409] Rihanna along with other celebrities featured in an online video titled "23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America". The video was released in partnership with the We Are Here Movement and called for action against police brutality.[410]
Rihanna called to a transformation of the global financial system so it will be better adjusted to stop climate change and poverty, including giving help to countries heavily suffering from climate change.[408]
Personal life
Rihanna in 2012
Rihanna owns a $14 million penthouse in Lower Manhattan.[416] She also purchased a house in West London for £7 million in June 2018, to be closer to her work with her FENTY fashion label.[334] In December 2018, Rihanna put her Hollywood Hills mansion up for sale after a break-in six months before. The mansion was reported to have sold for $10.4m.[417]Forbes began reporting on Rihanna's earnings in 2012.[418]
Rihanna began dating American singer Chris Brown in 2007. Their relationship ended in February 2009, following their highly publicized domestic violence case. She then entered an on-again, off-again relationship with Canadian rapper Drake, which lasted from 2009 to 2016.[419] During an interview with Rolling Stone in January 2013, Rihanna confirmed that she had rekindled her relationship with Brown,[420] although he remained under probation for their 2009 domestic violence case.[421] Their reunion followed persistent media speculation that occurred throughout 2012.[422][423] In May 2013, Brown stated during an interview that he and Rihanna had broken up again.[424] In 2017, Rihanna began dating Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel.[425][426] They split in January 2020.[427]
On May 19, 2021, American rapper ASAP Rocky confirmed during an interview with GQ that he and Rihanna were in a relationship.[428][429][430][431] On January 31, 2022, it was revealed that the couple was expecting their first child.[432] On May 19, 2022, it was confirmed that Rihanna had given birth to a son.[433][434][435] On May 10, 2023, Rocky and Rihanna revealed their son's name as RZA Athelaston Mayers, named after Wu-Tang Clan leader and founder RZA.[436] On February 12, 2023, during the Super Bowl LVIIhalftime show performance, Rihanna revealed she was pregnant with her second child, becoming the first person to headline a Super Bowl halftime show while pregnant.[437][438][439] The pregnancy was confirmed in a British Vogue cover story featuring her family, which was released days after the Super Bowl appearance.[160] On August 1, 2023, they welcomed their second son, named Riot Rose Mayers.[440]
Domestic violence case
On February 8, 2009, Rihanna's scheduled performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards was canceled.[68] Reports surfaced that her boyfriend at the time, Chris Brown, had physically assaulted her. He turned himself in to the police and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats.[69][441] On March 5, 2009, Brown was charged with assault and making criminal threats.[70] Due to a leaked photograph from the police department obtained by TMZ.com—which revealed that Rihanna had sustained extensive visible injuries—an organization known as STOParazzi proposed "Rihanna's Law", which, if enacted, would "deter employees of law enforcement agencies from releasing photos or information that exploits crime victims."[71] Gil Kaufman of VH1 reported the "nonstop coverage of the Rihanna/Brown case has brought up a number of issues regarding the privacy of alleged victims of domestic violence, including the decision by almost all major news outlets to divulge the identity of the victim—which is not typically done in domestic-violence cases" and discussed the controversial distribution of the leaked photograph.[442] Rihanna was subpoenaed to testify during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles on June 22, 2009.[443] On June 22, 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault. Brown received five years of probation and was ordered to stay 50 yards (46 m) away from Rihanna unless at public events, which then would be reduced to 10 yards (9 m).[444]
On September 2, 2009, Brown spoke about the domestic violence case in a pre-recorded Larry King Live interview, his first public interview about the matter.[445][446][447][448] He was accompanied to the interview by his mother, Joyce Hawkins, and attorney Mark Geragos, as he discussed growing up in a household with his mother being repeatedly assaulted by his stepfather. Brown said of hearing details of his assault of Rihanna, "I'm in shock, because, first of all, that's not who I am as a person, and that's not who I promise I want to be."[445]
On July 1, 2015, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that Rihanna had surpassed more than 100 million Gold and Platinum song certifications. In doing so, Rihanna has the most digital single awards and is the first and only artist to surpass RIAA's 100 million cumulative singles award threshold.[458] In the United Kingdom, she has sold over 7 million albums, making her the third bestselling female artist this century.[459] According to Billboard, her total album sales stand at 54 million copies sold worldwide.[460]
Rihanna has accumulated 14 No. 1 singles on the US BillboardHot 100 chart for the third most No. 1 songs in the chart's history.[461] She has been named the top Mainstream Top 40 chart artist of the past twenty years by Billboard; she ranks first with most entries (36), most top tens (23) and most No. 1 songs (10).[462] As of March 2014[update], Rihanna has sold over 18 million singles and 6 million albums in the United Kingdom.[463][464] She is the tenth bestselling[465] and the second bestselling female singles artist in the country, only behind Madonna[466] and is second only to the Beatles for the most million-selling singles in the UK.[467] Rihanna has seven No. 1 singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[468] and Airplay chart,[469] as well as sixteen No. 1 singles on the Rhythmic chart.[470] She has also earned over 30 top-ten songs in the UK and Australia.[471]
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