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Rihanna
Barbadian singer (born 1988) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Robyn Rihanna Fenty (/riˈænə/ ⓘ ree-AN-ə;[3][4][n 1] born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. She has had a significant cultural impact through both her music and fashion ventures. Rihanna is one of the wealthiest and best-selling musicians of all time, with estimated sales of 250 million records. Her accolades include nine Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and 13 American Music Awards, with nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
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Rihanna was discovered by producer Evan Rogers and signed to Def Jam Recordings in 2005. She debuted with the Caribbean-inspired records Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006), both of which reached the top ten of the U.S. Billboard 200. The albums respectively spawned the singles "Pon de Replay" and "SOS", which peaked at number two and one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Adopting a more mature image, Rihanna transitioned to dance-pop and R&B on the album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) and its reissue, subtitled Reloaded (2008). The project spawned a string of successful singles, including the U.S. number-one songs "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia".
After exploring darker and more personal themes on the rock-imbued record Rated R (2009), Rihanna returned to her more upbeat sound on the dance-pop album Loud (2010), later incorporating R&B on Talk That Talk (2011); the synth-pop set Unapologetic (2012) became her first album to top the Billboard 200. The albums contained the U.S. number-one singles "Rude Boy", "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M", "We Found Love", and "Diamonds". After her departure from Def Jam in favor of Jay-Z's label, Roc Nation, she released the dancehall-influenced record Anti (2016), which became her second chart-topping album, yielding the U.S. number-one single "Work". Her films include Battleship (2012), Home (2015), and Ocean's 8 (2018).
The highest-certified female digital single artist by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Rihanna has seven US diamond certified singles and 14 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside entertainment, Rihanna is known for her business ventures; she founded the nonprofit Clara Lionel Foundation, the cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty, and fashion brand Fenty under LVMH, becoming the first Black woman to lead a luxury brand for the group. She was named an ambassador by the Government of Barbados and declared a National Hero of Barbados in 2021. Rihanna has been listed amongst history's greatest artists by publications such as Rolling Stone and Billboard.
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Life and career
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1988–2002: Early life
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, on February 20, 1988.[5][6] She is the daughter of Monica (née Braithwaite), an Afro-Guyanese accountant,[7] and Ronald Fenty, a Barbadian warehouse supervisor of African, Irish, English, and Scottish descent.[8][9][10] Rihanna has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, as well as two half-sisters and a half-brother—Kandy, Samantha and Jamie—from her father's previous relationships.[11][12] She was raised in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown and helped her father sell clothes at a street stall.[13][14] Her childhood was affected by her father's struggles with alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction, which strained her parents' marriage.[15][16][17] Rihanna has spoken about witnessing her father physically abuse,[18] retrospectively describing her as "one of the strongest women I know, if not the strongest".[11]
As a child, Rihanna suffered from intense headaches that required multiple CT scans, with doctors once suspecting a tumor. Her health began to improve after her parents divorced when she was 14.[19][20][21] She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere School.[22][23] One of her teachers described her as a "well-behaved student" who stayed out of trouble.[23] She showed an interest in singing, dancing, and poetry. Rihanna began listening to reggae artists such as Sizzla and Damien Marley, as well as R&B musicians like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.[24][25] At the age of 11, she became a cadet in Barbados's Cadet Corps, with future singer Shontelle as her drill sergeant.[24] Though she initially planned to finish high school, she ultimately dropped out at age 16 to pursue a music career.[26]
2003–2006: Career beginnings with Music of the Sun and A Girl Like Me
In 2003, Rihanna formed a music trio with two classmates in Barbados.[27] Unnamed and without original material, the girl group auditioned for American producer Evan Rogers, who recalled that "the minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist".[28][29] The trio went on to perform a cover of Destiny's Child's "Emotion".[28][30] Impressed, Rogers arranged a second meeting with Rihanna and her mother—this time without the other two girls—and later invited her and her mother to his hometown in Connecticut to record demo tapes for record label submissions.[31][32] Rihanna's demo tape included tracks like "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time".[33][34] In 2005, she became the first artist to sign with Syndicated Rhythm Productions, the production company founded by Rogers and Carl Sturken.[31][35]
Rihanna's demo was sent to rapper Jay-Z, who had just become the president and CEO of the record label Def Jam Recordings.[36][37] Although Jay-Z initially thought "Pon de Replay" was too big for a new artist, he invited Rihanna to audition. In early 2005, she performed in New York City for Jay-Z and music executive Antonio "L.A." Reid, singing Whitney Houston's "For the Love of You" along with demo tracks "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time".[31][38][39] Jay-Z was convinced she had potential,[40] and Reid instructed him not to let her leave the building without signing a deal.[41] She waited in Jay-Z's office while lawyers finalized a six-album contract with Def Jam.[42] Rihanna canceled meetings with other labels and, shortly after turning 16, relocated from Barbados to the US, finishing her high school education with a tutor.[34][43]
After signing with Def Jam, Jay-Z and his team spent three months completing the Rihanna's debut studio album.[44][45] She collaborated with various producers, primarily Rogers and Sturken.[44] "Pon de Replay" was selected as the lead single for its summer appeal.[46] The song was released in May 2005 and became a commercial success, reaching number two on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.[47][48][34] Her debut studio album, Music of the Sun, was released on August 29, 2005. It debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 and sold 69,000 units first-week. The album has since sold two million copies worldwide.[49][50] Its second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want", saw moderate success, peaking at number 36 in the U.S.[51] Rihanna made her acting debut with a cameo in the straight-to-DVD film Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), in which she portrayed herself.[52]
Soon after releasing Music of the Sun, Rihanna began working on her second studio album. Titled A Girl Like Me, the record was released in the United States on April 25, 2006.[53][54] The album was a commercial success, reaching number five in both the U.S. and the UK, and selling 115,000 copies in its first week.[55][56] It became her first RIAA-certified double Platinum album, surpassing one million units sold.[57] The lead single, "SOS", became her first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the charts in Australia.[58] The follow-up singles—"Unfaithful", "We Ride" and "Break It Off"—saw moderate chart performance but failed to match the success of "SOS".[59]
2007–2008: Stardom with Good Girl Gone Bad
In early 2007, Rihanna featured on the single "Roll It" alongside Jamaican band J-Status and fellow Barbadian artist Shontelle from the former's debut album The Beginning.[60] Around this time, Rihanna had begun work on her third studio album.[61] Aiming to shed her girl-next-door image in favor of a more mature and rebellious persona, she teamed up with producers like Ne-Yo, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Tricky Stewart for her third studio album.[62] The record, titled Good Girl Gone Bad, was released on May 31, 2007, to critical acclaim.[63][64] Described as a turning point in Rihanna's career,[65] it represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous releases,[66] with the singer embracing a new musical direction through uptempo dance tracks.[67][68] The album sold 162,000 copies first-week and charted at number two on the Billboard 200.[69]
The lead single from Good Girl Gone Bad, "Umbrella", featuring rapper Jay-Z, was named one of the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone.[70] The song topped the charts in several territories, spending ten consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart and seven at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[71] The following singles, "Shut Up and Drive" and "Hate That I Love You", saw moderate success, while the album's fourth single, "Don't Stop the Music", became a globally successful song.[72][73] In support of the album, Rihanna embarked on the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour in September 2007, performing 80 shows across 30 countries worldwide.[74] At the 2008 Grammy Awards, she received multiple nominations for Good Girl Gone Bad and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Umbrella" alongside Jay-Z.[75]
In late 2008, she released "Rehab", the fifth and final single from Good Girl Gone Bad; it peaked within the top 20 of the charts in both the US and UK.[76] Having sold nine million copies as of 2023, Good Girl Gone Bad is her best-selling album worldwide.[50] Entertainment Weekly named her "Diva of the Year" and praised her "newfound staying power".[77] In the late 2000s, Rihanna continued to increasingly distance herself from her Barbados island girl image.[31] In April 2008, Rihanna joined Kanye West as a supporting act on his Glow in the Dark Tour.[78] In June, she released Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, a reissue of her third studio album;[66] selling 63,000 copies first-week, it helped the original album rise to number seven in the U.S.[79]
Reloaded spawned four new tracks, two of which—"Disturbia" and "Take a Bow"—topped the Billboard Hot 100.[80] Soon after the release of Reloaded, she issued Good Girl Gone Bad Live, a DVD documentary featuring Rihanna's December 2007 concert at the Manchester Arena in Manchester.[81] In 2008, she announced her romantic relationship with singer Chris Brown and later topped the Hot 100 once again with a feature on rapper T.I.'s song "Live Your Life".[82][83]
2009–2011: Domestic violence case, Rated R, and Loud
On February 8, 2009, Rihanna was forced to cancel her scheduled performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards following reports that she had been physically assaulted by Brown, her then-boyfriend.[84] He later turned himself in to authorities and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats. On March 5, 2009, he was formally charged with assault and making criminal threats.[85] The case garnered widespread media attention, particularly after TMZ published a leaked police photograph showing Rihanna with visible injuries. In response to the breach of privacy, the advocacy group Stoparazzi proposed "Rihanna's Law", aimed at preventing law enforcement personnel from releasing sensitive images or information that exploit crime victims.[86]
The case raised concerns about media ethics and the treatment of domestic violence victims, especially regarding the near-universal disclosure of Rihanna's identity, an uncommon practice in such cases.[87] Rihanna was later subpoenaed to testify at a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles on June 22, 2009.[88] The incident and its aftermath influenced her artistically, prompting her to begin work on her fourth studio album, Rated R, in early 2009.[89][90] Released on November 20, 2009,[91] Rated R marked a shift away from the upbeat sound of Rihanna's earlier albums, embracing a darker, more introspective tone with rock influences.[92][93] The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and sold 181,000 copies in its first week.[94] Its single "Rude Boy" peaked atop the Hot 100 for six weeks, becoming the best-selling song from Rated R.[95] Two other singles from the album, "Russian Roulette" and "Hard", both peaked at within the top ten of the U.S. chart.[96] In support of the album, Rihanna embarked on the Last Girl on Earth tour in 2010.[97]
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Rihanna entered an on-and-off relationship with Canadian rapper Drake in 2009.[98] In June 2010, she collaborated with rapper Eminem on the single "Love the Way You Lie" from his album Recovery. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks; in the UK, it peaked at number two on the singles chart and became the best-selling song of 2010.[99] In October 2010, Rihanna switched management, signing with Jay-Z's Roc Nation.[100] Rihanna returned to her more upbeat sound with her fifth studio album, Loud, which was released on November 12, 2010.[101] A dance-pop record,[101] Loud debuted at number three in the U.S. with first-week sales of 207,000 copies.[102] It spawned three Billboard Hot 100 number-one songs: the lead single "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?" featuring Drake, and "S&M", which topped the chart following the release of its remix featuring Britney Spears.[103] With the achievement, Rihanna became the youngest and fastest solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 history to accumulate ten number-one singles.[104][105]
At the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2010, "Only Girl (In the World)" won Best Dance Recording.[106] The songs "Man Down", "California King Bed", and "Cheers (Drink to That)" were released as singles from Loud in 2011.[107][108] To support the album, Rihanna launched the Loud Tour in June 2011, which included a record-breaking ten sold-out shows at The O2 Arena in London—the most by a female artist in the venue's history.[109][110] The tour grossed $90 million, making it one of the highest-grossing tours worldwide that year.[111] Also in 2011, she embarked on three successful collaborations: West's "All of the Lights" from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010),[112] Nicki Minaj's "Fly" from her debut album Pink Friday (2010),[113] and David Guetta's "Who's That Chick?" from One More Love (2010).[114]
2011–2013: Talk That Talk and Unapologetic
Rihanna aimed to explore more sexually expressive themes on her sixth studio album, Talk That Talk,[115][116] which was released on November 18, 2011.[117] A dance-oriented pop and R&B album,[116][118] Talk That Talk opened at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 198,000 copies,[117] while debuting atop the UK Singles Chart with 163,000 units sold.[119] The album's lead single, "We Found Love", became a worldwide chart-topper.[120] It spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it both Rihanna's longest-running chart-topping single and the longest-running number one song in the U.S. in 2011.[121][122] The follow-up singles, "You da One",[123] the title track featuring Jay-Z,[124] and "Where Have You Been",[125] achieved more moderate success. The lattermost was the most successful of the three, peaking at number five in the U.S.[126]
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In early 2012, Rihanna appeared on two major collaborations: Coldplay's "Princess of China" and Drake's "Take Care".[127][128] That February, she won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "All of the Lights" with West,[129] and was named Best International Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards for the second year in a row.[130] In March, Rihanna and Brown released two controversial remixes—her track "Birthday Cake" and his "Turn Up the Music"—which were criticized due to their history of domestic violence.[131][132] In September 2012, "We Found Love" won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, making Rihanna the first woman to receive the honor more than once.[133][134]
Rihanna's seventh studio album, titled Unapologetic, was released on November 19, 2012.[135] A synth-pop record with EDM and hip-hop elements,[136][137] Unapologetic debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 238,000 copies, becoming Rihanna's first chart-topping album in the United States.[138] The album's lead single, "Diamonds", topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna's 12th number-one song on the chart.[139] The album's second single, "Stay"—a collaboration with Mikky Ekko—reached number three in the US.[140] To promote the album ahead of its release, Rihanna embarked on the 777 Tour, performing seven shows in seven countries over the course of seven days.[141] A documentary about the tour aired on Fox in May 2013, followed by the release of a DVD version the next day—her third long-form live video.[142] In January 2013, Rihanna and Brown had rekindled their relationship,[143] although he remained under probation for their 2009 domestic violence case.[144] The two broke up four months later.[145]
Rihanna made her feature film debut as Petty Officer Cora Raikes in Battleship (2012).[146][147] Loosely inspired by the board game of the same name,[148] both the film and Rihanna's performance received mixed-to-negative reviews;[149] Neil Genzlinger, writing for The New York Times, remarked she was "just fine in the rather generic role".[150] In February 2013, Rihanna won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for the music video of "We Found Love" (2011).[126] That same month, the Official Charts Company reported she had sold 3.87 million records in the country over the past year, placing her at number one among the 2013 Brit Awards artist nominees.[151] Her fifth headlining tour, the Diamonds World Tour, launched in March 2013 in support of Unapologetic.[152] Rihanna made a cameo in the comedy film This Is the End (2013),[153] and later collaborated with rapper Wale on his remix of the single "Bad".[154] In December 2013, she topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart with a feature on Eminem's song "The Monster".[155][156]
2014–2017: Standalone releases and Anti
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In 2014, Rihanna featured on Shakira's single "Can't Remember to Forget You".[157] Following the release of Unapologetic and the ensuing tour, she expressed a desire to take a break from recording, saying she wanted "a year to just do whatever I want artistically, creatively".[158] In May of that year, she officially parted ways with Def Jam Recordings and transitioned fully to Roc Nation, the label that had been managing her career since October 2010.[159] While working on her eighth studio album, Rihanna released the single "FourFiveSeconds"—a collaboration with Kanye West and Paul McCartney—"Bitch Better Have My Money", and "American Oxygen";[160][161][162] none of the three appeared on the album's final tracklist.[163] In 2015, she starred alongside Jim Parsons and Jennifer Lopez as the voice of Tip in the animated film Home. Rihanna also curated and released a concept album as its soundtrack.[164]
In late 2015, Rihanna signed a $25 million deal with Samsung to promote its Galaxy product line, with the company also sponsoring the rollout of her eighth studio album, titled Anti, and its accompanying tour.[165][166] The album was released exclusively on Tidal on January 28, 2016.[167] A dancehall and psychedelic soul record,[168][169] Anti peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, marking her second chart-topping record in the U.S.[170] The lead single, "Work", topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart,[171] with the third and fourth singles, "Needed Me" and "Love on the Brain", peaking within the number ten.[172][173] Announced in November 2015, the Anti World Tour launched in March 2016 in support of the album, featuring Travis Scott as the North American opener and Big Sean on select European dates.[174] The Weeknd was originally slated to join parts of the European leg but withdrew due to "unforeseen changes in upcoming projects".[175]
In 2016, Rihanna appeared as a featured artist on multiple singles: West's "Famous" (uncredited vocals);[176] Calvin Harris's "This Is What You Came For";[177] Drake's "Too Good";[178] and Mike Will Made It's "Nothing Is Promised".[179] "This Is What You Came For" was a commercial success, peaking at number two and three in the UK and US, respectively.[177][180] In June 2016, Rihanna released "Sledgehammer" as part of the film soundtrack for Star Trek Beyond.[181] In August, she was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, where she performed a series of medleys of her most successful songs.[182][183] In 2017, she featured on Future's "Selfish";[184] DJ Khaled's "Wild Thoughts";[185] Kendrick Lamar's "Loyalty";[186] and N.E.R.D's "Lemon".[187] "Loyalty" won the her and Lamar the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.[188]
In 2017, Rihanna portrayed Marion Crane in a recurring role during the fifth and final season of Bates Motel, which was met with widespread critical acclaim.[189][190] In Luc Besson's sci-fi film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), she played a shapeshifting, burlesque-style entertainer and performer in a space station club; she starred alongside Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne.[191][192][193] That year, Rihanna began dating Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel; their relationship ended three years later.[194][195][196]
2018–present: Hiatus, motherhood and Super Bowl LVII halftime show
Rihanna was part of the all-female ensemble cast of the heist film Ocean's 8 (2018), directed by Gary Ross.[197][198] The film was a major box office success, earning $300 million globally.[199] In October 2017, British artist Shakka revealed he had been collaborating with Rihanna on what he described as her "absolutely insane" upcoming album. In December 2018, Rihanna confirmed that the album would be released in 2019,[200] and later announced that it is a reggae project.[201] Alongside Donald Glover, she starred in the film Guava Island (2019), in which she played Glover's love interest.[202] In September 2019, it was announced that she had signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[203] In December 2019, Rihanna alluded to her album being complete and indefinitely withholding the release date in an Instagram post.[204]
During this period, Rihanna appeared on Canadian singer PartyNextDoor's song "Believe It", which was released on March 27, 2020.[205] American rapper ASAP Rocky confirmed that he and Rihanna were in a relationship in May 2021;[206] she gave birth to their first son the following year.[207] On October 28, 2022, she released the lead single from the soundtrack of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, titled "Lift Me Up", her first solo musical release since Anti.[208] The song earned her nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song.[209] On February 12, 2023, she headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show,[210] 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.[211] Initial reports stated that the performance drew 118.7 million viewers across television and digital platforms.[212] However, Nielsen Media Research later revised the figure to 121.017 million, making it the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history—surpassing Katy Perry's Super Bowl XLIX performance.[213]
The Super Bowl performance earned her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including one for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live).[214] Rihanna gave birth their second son in 2023, having previously revealed her pregnancy during the halftime performance, making her the first person to headline a Super Bowl halftime show while pregnant.[215][216] In 2025, she voiced Smurfette in the film Smurfs, which saw negative reviews from critics.[217] In May that year, while appearing at the Met Gala, Rihanna revealed she was pregnant with her third child.[218]
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Artistry
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Music and voice
Rihanna is a mezzo-soprano, with a range spanning from B2 to C♯6.[219][220][221] 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.'"[68] 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".[222] Andy Gill from The Independent feels that "California King Bed" features her best vocal performance.[223] 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."[224] 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".[225] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Rihanna at number 68 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[226]
"[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[227]
Growing up in Barbados, she mainly listened to reggae, hip hop and soca music.[228] 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."[228] 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".[39][229] Her early dancehall roots can be found on her debut album, Music of the Sun, and its follow-up, A Girl like Me.[230] 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".[231] 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 male to be her boyfriend.[232] 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.[233] 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".[234] 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.[235] 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".[236] It represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous albums and is described as a turning point in her career.[237][238] 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.[21][239]
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.[240] In her fifth album Loud, Rihanna reflects on the fun and energetic vibe she had while recording the album.[241] The album is a mixture of ballads, party anthems and empowering love songs.[242] Talk That Talk was similar to Rated R, as both contain hip hop, R&B, dancehall and dubstep genres.[243] 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").[244] She also branched out into house music with tracks like "We Found Love", "Only Girl (In the World)" and "Complicated".[245] Her songs are also inspired through record sampling from other artists.[246]
Influences
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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.[247] 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."[247] 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.[248] She revealed that Carey's song "Vision of Love" "was the song that made [her] want to do music".[249][250]
In her youth, she would see Bob Marley on television because of his fame in the Caribbean.[251] 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".[252] 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.[253][254] 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".[255] 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."[256][257]
Rihanna was also influenced by Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Tupac, Beyoncé and Destiny's Child.[258][259][260][261] Other musical influences and idols include Celine Dion,[262] Grace Jones,[263] Lil' Kim,[264] Alicia Keys,[265] Prince,[266] Fefe Dobson,[267][268] and Brandy.[21] Rihanna takes influence from the different types of music she discovered when she came to America and revealed that rock music was one of the first genres she fell in love with.[228] She commented, "as I grow older, I want to know more about music. I want to discover more types of music".[21] She cited Brandy's fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004), as her main inspiration for her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007).[21] In her early career, her music contained strong influences of Caribbean music, including reggae and dancehall.[269] The music video of the song "Rude Boy" featured images inspired by her Caribbean roots.[269]
Videos and stage
Rihanna has worked with music video director Anthony Mandler on more than a dozen music videos, the first being "Unfaithful" (2006).[270] "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.[270] 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".[245] 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."[271] 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."[272]
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".[245] Her music video for "Umbrella" shows Rihanna's transition into adulthood and her newly adopted image.[273] The "dark, creepy" scenes of "Disturbia" have been compared to Michael Jackson's Thriller.[271][274] 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.[275] In 2011, Rihanna released three controversial music videos about sadomasochism, rape and domestic violence.[276] "Man Down", which features Rihanna shooting a man in a train station, was criticized by the Parents Television Council.[277] "We Found Love", which shows Rihanna and her love interest in a drug-filled unhealthy relationship,[275] sparked criticism from the Rape Crisis Centre for its message.[278] 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."[276] Rihanna was the first woman to pass 2 billion cumulative views on the music video website Vevo.[279]
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."[280] 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.[281] 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.[282] 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."[283] 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".[284]
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Public image
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Perspective
Known for her style and image, the media have constantly followed the evolution of Rihanna's music and fashion sense.[285] 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".[286] 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.[287][288] 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".[289] 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.[290] 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."[291] 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).[292] She followed the likes of recording artists Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera who also shed their innocent image for an edgier look and sound.[293]
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".[294] Her image and fashion has changed several times with different hairstyles since the release of her third album.[295][296] 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.[297] 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."[298] 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".[299] 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."[300]
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.[301] 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."[284] 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."[302][303]
Described as one of the sexiest women of her generation,[304][305] she revealed that being a sex symbol is not a priority and that "it's definitely flattering, but also uncomfortable."[306] Her appearance has landed her on the cover of magazines such as Maxim, FHM, Rolling Stone,[307] and in December 2012, Rihanna became the first woman to be featured on the cover of GQ magazine's "Men of the Year" issue.[307] Rihanna made her first appearance at the Met Gala in 2007.[308] She has made eight appearances in the years since. 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.[309] The dress, which had taken two years to make before Rihanna came across it,[310] became the subject of a documentary by Pietra Brettkelly, entitled Yellow Is Forbidden.[311] She co-chaired the 2018 Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination themed event, wearing Maison Margiela.[312]
One of the richest celebrities, as of 2021, Rihanna is the world's wealthiest female musician with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.[313] She was also listed among Forbes' Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2019.[314] In 2020, she debuted on the Sunday Times Rich List, claiming third place on the list of Britain's richest musicians.[315]
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Legacy
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Perspective
Rihanna is regarded by the media as a pop and fashion icon, particularly since her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007).[316][317][318][319][320] Nick Levine of Digital Spy described Good Girl Gone Bad as "the closest thing to a Thriller that 2007/08 is likely to produce".[321] 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.[322][323] Her single "Work" has been credited by a Billboard editor for bringing the dancehall genre to the forefront of mainstream American music.[324] 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.[325]
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In August 2018, Billboard ranked Rihanna as the tenth biggest Hot 100 artist of all time, as well as the fifth biggest female act of all time.[326][327] Billboard also ranked Rihanna the top Hot 100 artist of the 2010s decade.[328] In 2014, Time magazine's pop stardom ranking metric ranked Rihanna second in history, based on all-time chart performance and contemporary significance.[329] In 2013, Rihanna was also named the most influential pop star in the United Kingdom by UK channel 4Music.[330] Moreover, Rihanna's work has influenced numerous artists such as Lorde,[331] Sam Smith,[332] Little Mix, Rita Ora,[333] Billie Eilish,[334] Selena Gomez,[335] Justin Bieber,[336] Ellie Goulding,[337] Kim Petras,[338] Jennie from Blackpink,[339] Marilyn Manson,[340] Jessie J,[341] SZA,[342] Fifth Harmony,[343] Camila Cabello,[344] Demi Lovato,[345] Alexandra Stan,[346] Grimes,[347] Sleater-Kinney,[348] Tegan and Sara,[349][350] Cover Drive,[351] Cher Lloyd,[352] Bad Gyal,[353] and Era Istrefi.[354]
Rihanna has become a dominating figure on social media and internet streaming, ranking at No. 1 on Forbes' 2012 list of Social Networking Superstars.[355] Time magazine included Rihanna on its 100 Most Influential People in the World issue in 2012 and 2018,[356] 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."[357] Rihanna was ranked one of the best dressed women in 2018, by luxury fashion retailer Net-a-Porter.[358] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her at 68 on their list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[359] Billboard placed her at number three on its 2024 "Greatest Pop Starts of the 21st Century" list[360] and number two on its 2025 "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.[361]
Rihanna has an honorary title of Ambassador for Culture and Youth in Barbados.[362] 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.[363][364][365][366] In February 2017, Rihanna was named Harvard University's "Humanitarian of the Year" by the Harvard Foundation.[367] During Rihanna's third annual "Diamond Ball", former U.S. president Barack Obama, praised Rihanna's work and stated: "[She's] become a powerful force in the fight to give people dignity."[368] 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."[369][370][371]
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."[372]
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Business ventures
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Perspective
Rihanna's first fragrance, Reb'l Fleur, was released in January 2011.[373] 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.[374] Rihanna's second fragrance, Rebelle, was released in February 2012.[375] The promotional campaign for Rebelle, was shot by director, Anthony Mandler, who also shot the promotional campaign for Reb'l Fleur.[376] In November 2012, Rihanna released her third fragrance, Nude.[377] 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.[378][379]
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.[380] Including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, 16 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.[381] "The challenge is to get everyone to respect music again, to recognize its value", stated Jay-Z on the release of Tidal.[382] In 2016, it was revealed that Rihanna would be releasing her music through her own label Westbury Road Entertainment,[383] which was established in 2005.[384] Westbury Road is the name of her Barbados residence. The music would be distributed through Universal Music Group.[385][386] Westbury Road Entertainment's artist roster includes Melissa Forde as the label's photographer,[387] 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.[388] In addition to Fr8me, Rihanna opened a photo agency called "A Dog Ate My Homework", which represents photographers Erik Asla and Deborah Anderson.[388]
Fenty
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."[389] 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.[390]
Rihanna exclusively uses her surname for business endeavors not related to her music career so as not to conflate the two.[391] 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.[392] In September 2021 Rihanna dropped the lawsuit against her father.[393]
Fenty Beauty
In 2017, Rihanna launched her cosmetics company Fenty Beauty under LVMH's Kendo Brands. Rihanna owns 50 percent of Fenty Beauty, according to Forbes.[394] The partnership was worth $10 million and would see Rihanna release various beauty products.[395] The first installment of Fenty Beauty was released on September 8, 2017, in stores and online, available in over 150 countries.[396] 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.[397] Time magazine named Fenty Beauty as one of "The 25 Best Inventions of 2017", highlighting the breadth of its range.[398] 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."[399]
Savage X Fenty
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.[400] 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.[401]
In September 2019, Rihanna promoted the brand in a show again during the New York Fashion Week held at the Barclays Center with modeling appearances from models Alex Wek, Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, actress Laverne Cox, and musicians Normani and 21 Savage. The show featured performances by DJ Khaled, Halsey, ASAP Ferg, Big Sean, Migos, Fat Joe, Fabolous, and Tierra Whack[402] and premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 20, 2019, as the Savage X Fenty Show. The show was renewed for a third time in 2020, with appearances from musicians such as Travis Scott, Rosalía, Bad Bunny, Ella Mai, Lizzo, Big Sean, Miguel, Roddy Ricch and Rico Nasty. This version also premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 2, 2020.[403]
Fenty Skin
In July 2020, Rihanna launched a skin care brand called Fenty Skin.[404]
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.[405]
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Other ventures
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Perspective
Rihanna has ventured into other businesses and industries. In October 2005, Rihanna struck an endorsement deal with Secret Body Spray.[406] In 2010, Rihanna featured in the Optus commercial, in conjunction with Optus supporting Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth.[407] The same year Rihanna also featured in the Kodak commercial along with rapper Pitbull.[408] In October 2010, she released a photo book[409] 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.[410][411]
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.[412] The US version of Styled to Rock premiered on October 25, 2013, on Bravo.[413] In 2013, Rihanna collaborated with MAC Cosmetics and released her own summer, fall and holiday lines of makeup called "RiRi hearts MAC".[414] 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.[415]
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".[416] In November 2011, Rihanna announced her first fashion venture with Armani.[417] 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.[418] They published three more collections for the brand.[419][420] Rihanna then collaborated with numerous fashion house's including Dior, Stance and Manolo Blahnik.[421][422][423] 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.[424]
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.[425] The following year, Rihanna released her first trainer with Puma and it sold out online within three hours of its pre-sale launch.[426] 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.[427][428] 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.[429]
Philanthropy
In 2006, she created her Believe Foundation to help terminally ill children.[430][431] 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.[432][433] In 2008, Rihanna performed a series of charity concerts entitled A Girl's Night Out[434] 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.[435][436][437] In September 2008, Rihanna contributed to the song "Just Stand Up!" with 15 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.[438] The television special helped raise $100 million for cancer research.[439]
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[440]
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.[441][442] 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.[443][444] 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.[445] In November 2012, Rihanna gave $100,000 to food bank donation for Hurricane Sandy.[446] On January 3, 2014, Rihanna was part of the MAC Viva Glam campaign, which benefits women, men and children living with HIV/AIDS.[447] In March 2020, Rihanna donated $5,000,000 to COVID-19 relief[448] and followed that up with additional donations of personal protective equipment to the state of New York[449] and an offer of $700,000 worth of ventilators to her home country Barbados.[450] 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.[451]
The Clara Lionel Foundation donated to climate justice and climate resilience. In 2022 it allocated 13 million euro to climate justice.[452]
Advocacy
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.[453] 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.[454]
In January 2017, Rihanna participated in the 2017 Women's March, which took place in New York among protests the day after US President Donald Trump's inauguration.[455] She has also criticized President Trump's immigration policies—including Executive Order 13769, which sought to ban citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States—and his response to the 2019 shootings in El Paso and Dayton.[456][457] In October 2019, she stated that she declined to perform at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show in support of Colin Kaepernick following the controversy surrounding his role in the national anthem protests.[458] In February 2021, Rihanna extended her support to Indian farmers' protest against the farm bills through Twitter.[459]
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.[452]
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Achievements
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Perspective
As of September 2018[update], Rihanna has sold over 250 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists ever.[460] Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and honors, including 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 13 American Music Awards, 8 People's Choice Awards, among others. Rihanna received the "Icon Award" at the 2013 American Music Awards[461][462] and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.[463] She holds six Guinness World Records.[464] In the United States, Rihanna has sold over 10 million albums,[465] while Nielsen SoundScan ranked her as the bestselling digital artist in the country, breaking a Guinness World Record for digital single sales of over 58 million as of 2012.[466][467][468]
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.[469] In the United Kingdom, she has sold over 7 million albums, making her the third bestselling female artist this century.[470] According to Billboard, her total album sales stand at 54 million copies sold worldwide.[471]
Rihanna has accumulated 14 No. 1 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the third most No. 1 songs in the chart's history.[472] She has been named the top Mainstream Top 40 chart artist of the past 20 years by Billboard; she ranks first with most entries (36), most top tens (23) and most No. 1 songs (10).[473] As of March 2014[update], Rihanna has sold over 18 million singles and 6 million albums in the United Kingdom.[474][475] She is the tenth bestselling[476] and the second bestselling female singles artist in the country, only behind Madonna[477] and is second only to the Beatles for the most million-selling singles in the UK.[478] Rihanna has seven No. 1 singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[479] and Airplay chart,[480] as well as 16 No. 1 singles on the Rhythmic chart.[481] She has also earned over 30 top-ten songs in the UK and Australia.[482]
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Discography
Studio albums
- Music of the Sun (2005)
- A Girl like Me (2006)
- Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)
- Rated R (2009)
- Loud (2010)
- Talk That Talk (2011)
- Unapologetic (2012)
- Anti (2016)
Filmography
- Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
- Battleship (2012)
- This Is the End (2013)
- Home (2015)
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
- Ocean's 8 (2018)
- Guava Island (2019)
- Smurfs (2025)
Tours
As a headliner
- Rihanna: Live in Concert (2006)
- Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–2009)
- Last Girl on Earth Tour (2010–2011)
- Loud Tour (2011)
- Diamonds World Tour (2013)
- Anti World Tour (2016)
As a co-headliner
- The Monster Tour (with Eminem) (2014)
Promotional tours
- A Girl's Night Out (2008; a series of charity concerts to benefit the "Believe Foundation")
- 777 Tour (2012; in support of her seventh studio album Unapologetic)
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See also
Notes
References
Print sources
External links
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