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Not to be confused with Rhianna or Rayhana.
Rihanna

Robyn Rihanna Fenty (born February 20, 1988), who performs under the mononym Rihanna (pronounced /riːˈɑːnə/), is a Barbadian singer, model, and beauty queen. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados Rihanna relocated to the United States at the age of sixteen to pursue a recording career, under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers. She subsequently signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for then-label head Jay-Z.

In 2005, Rihanna released her debut studio album, Music of the Sun, which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200 and features the Billboard Hot 100 hit single "Pon de Replay". Less than a year later, she released her second studio album, A Girl Like Me, peaking within the top five of the Billboard albums chart and produced her first number one single, "SOS". Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), peaking at number two on the Billboard 200, released three number one hit singles—"Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia". The album was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, winning Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Umbrella", which features Jay-Z.[1][2][a]

Rihanna had sold over eleven million albums worldwide and has received several allocates, including the 2007 World Music Awards for World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artist and Female Entertainer of the Year, as well as the 2008 American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.[3][4] She also serves as the cultural ambassador for Barbados.[5]

Biography

1988–2004: Early life and recording contract

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, to Ronald and Monica Fenty. She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty.[6] Her mother, a native of Guyana, is Afro-Guyanese and her father is Barbadian and Irish.[7] Rihanna's parents divorced when she was fourteen years old.[6]

Rihanna attended Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then the Combermere School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates at the age of fifteen. In 2004, she won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant.[8] She was an army cadet in a sub-military programme that trained with the military of Barbados and Shontelle was her drill sergeant.[9]

At the age of fifteen she formed a girl group with two of her classmates.[6] In 2003, friends introduced Rihanna and her two bandmates to record producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. The group auditioned for Rogers, who said that "the minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist." While auditioning for Rogers, Rihanna sang Destiny's Child's cover of "Emotion".[6] Over the next year, Rihanna and her mom shuttled back and forth to Rogers home in Stamford, Connecticut. Then, shortly after turning 16, she relocated to the U.S. and moved in with Rogers and his wife.[6] Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record a four-song demo, which included what would become her first hit, "Pon de Replay" to send to various recording companies. Rihanna's demo made its way to Def Jam, which invited her to audition for the label's then-president, Jay-Z, who quickly signed her.[8][10][11]

2005–2006: Music of the Sun and A Girl like Me

Rihanna released her debut album, Music of the Sun, on August 30, 2005 in the United States. The album reached number 10 on the Billboard 200.[12] As of 2009, the album is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting shipments to US retailers of over 500,000 units.[13] The album received mixed reviews by music critics. Rolling Stone magazine rated it 2.5 out of 5 stars and described as lacking the replay value, ingenuity and rhythm of the single with "generic vocal hiccups and frills" of US R&B inflecting upon her "caribbean charm".[14] Template:Sound sample box align right

"Pon de Replay" (2005)
"Pon de Replay" is Rihanna's debut single. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Template:Sample box end Music of the Sun yielded two singles, the first being "Pon de Replay", which was peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[15] It also became a global hit where it peaked within the top 10 across 15 countries. The second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want" was less successful than "Pon de Replay", having managed a peak position of number 36 in the United States.[15] In Australia, Ireland and New Zealand the single proved to be well-received reaching the top 10 in those countries.

Less than eight months after the release of Music of the Sun, Rihanna released her second album, A Girl Like Me, in April 2006. The album reached number five on the Billboard 200[12] and has been certified platinum by the RIAA, having shipped over one million units.[13][16] The lead single, "SOS," peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first number-one in the United States.[15] The second single, "Unfaithful," was a worldwide hit. In 2006, before the release, Rihanna served as an opening act for Gwen Stefani to promote the album. Rihanna then started touring with Pussycat Dolls from November to February 2007 in the United Kingdom.

When Rihanna received an endorsement deal from Clinique, she recorded a song written by Ne-Yo entitled "Just Be Happy" as part of the deal to promote their Happy fragrance. Rihanna also recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P&G's female deodorant Secret. During this time Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role to the film Bring It On: All or Nothing, released on August 8, 2006.

2007–present: Good Girl Gone Bad and domestic violence case

Rihanna at Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour

Rihanna went into the studio in early 2007 with Ne-Yo, Stargate, and Timbaland among others to record her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad. The album was released on June 5, 2007. The album so far has yielded eight hit singles, including the worldwide number one hit "Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z. In addition to reaching number one in various countries, "Umbrella" was the number one single in the United Kingdom for 10 consecutive weeks, making it the longest-running UK number-one single since Wet Wet Wet's single "Love Is All Around" spent 15 weeks at the top in 1994.[17] Her other singles, "Shut Up and Drive", "Don't Stop The Music" and Hate That I Love You were able to mirror the success of "Umbrella," with "Don't Stop the Music" reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 while peaking at number one in various countries.

With the re-issue of her third album, titled Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, which was released on June 17, 2008,[18] Rihanna released the singles "Take a Bow" — which became a worldwide number-one hit — the duet with Maroon 5, "If I Never See Your Face Again," and the other #1 hit"Disturbia" which debuted at number 18, it gave Rihanna her 4 #1 on the Hot 100. Rihanna has five Billboard Hot 100 number ones hits both as a lead artist thus far ("SOS," "Umbrella," "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia"), as well as T.I.'s "Live Your Life", on which she is featured. This makes her one of the two female solo artist with the most number ones this decade, with the other being Beyoncé Knowles. Good Girl Gone Bad has shipped over two million units in the United States, receiving a two-time platinum certification from RIAA; this gave Rihanna her best-selling album, to date.[13] Rihanna was nominated in four categories at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, winning Monster Single of the Year and Video of the Year.[19] At the 2008 Grammy Awards Rihanna received six nominations, which included Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Umbrella," Best Dance Recording for "Don't Stop The Music" and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group and Best R&B Song for "Hate That I Love You". "Umbrella" earned Rihanna her first Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.[20]

Starting September 12, 2007, Rihanna toured Canada and the United States in support of the album with several shows and then crossed to Europe. The tour was called the The Good Girl Gone Bad Tour, and was the first tour headlined by her alone. A documented performance at Manchester Evening News Arena on December 6, 2007 was released as a DVD on June 17, 2008. Rihanna won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist at the 2008 American Music Award.[21]

On February 8, 2009, Rihanna's scheduled performance at the 2009 Grammy Awards was canceled.[22] Reports later surfaced regarding an alleged altercation with her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, who was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats.[23] On March 5, 2009, Brown was charged with assault and making criminal threats.[24] Due to a leaked photograph from the Los Angeles Police Department obtained by TMZ.com—which revealed Rihanna had sustained visible injuries—an organization known as STOParazzi has proposed a law called "Rihanna's Law", which, if enacted, would "deter employees of law enforcement agencies from releasing photos or information that exploits crime victims."[25] Gil Kaufman of VH1 reported "[t]he 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 the controversial distribution of the leaked photograph.

Musical style and performance

Music and theme

"Don't Stop the Music" (2007)
"Don't Stop the Music" contains a sample of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something".
Problems playing this file? See media help.
File:Vmarihanna08 2.jpg
Rihanna arriving at the MTV VMA's in late 2008

Rihanna's musical style has changed during the release of her last three albums. Her music includes various styles of musical genres, including contemporary R&B, dance-pop, pop rock and the Caribbean music styles of reggae and dancehall. Her music was first described as a Reggae/Dancehall vibe. With the release of her debut album Music of the Sun and its lead single "Pon de Replay", Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic described Rihanna's musical style as "synthesize Caribbean rhythms and beats with standard-issue urban dance-pop: Caribbean-inflected urban, if you will."[26] Rihanna is also described as utilizing "dancehall-lite beats and a reggae vocal cadence."[26] NME describes the singer as a "heady mix of dancehall, reggae and contemporary R&B."[27] Her music then became more R&B and dance-pop follow-up album A Girl Like Me. With songs like "Kisses Don't Lie" and "Shut Up and Drive", her music style became more pop rock oriented. Barry Walters of Rolling Stone considers Rihanna's A Girl Like Me to be "lightweight dancehall and R&B jams."[28] After the release of Good Girl Gone Bad, Allmusic's Andy Kellman credits Rihanna to be "as pop as pop gets."[29] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times described her hit "Umbrella" as a lightweight pop confection with a heavy hip-hop backbeat, a breezy love song enriched by those unexpectedly goth-sounding keyboards and by the incongruous hint of anguish in Rihanna’s girlish voice.[30]

Influences

Rihanna cites Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Fefe Dobson,[31][32][33] Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Celine Dion,[33] Brandy,[34] and Gwen Stefani[35] as musical influences. In a interview, Rihanna stated, that while growing up in Barbados, she grew up listening to reggae music and when she came to the U.S. she was exposed many different types of music.[36] Rihanna also stated that Mariah Carey has been one of major influences, whose classic song, "Vision of Love" made an impact on her.[37]

Videography

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."[38] 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."[39] Rihanna commented that Marilyn Monroe and vintage clothing served for visual inspiration for the music video "Hate That I Love You"; in contrast, the "dark, creepy" scenes of "Disturbia" have drawn comparison to Michael Jackson's Thriller.[38][40]

Rihanna has appeared in several commercials. Including for Cover Girl[41] and in the Barbados Tourism Authority's (BTA) tourism commercials.[42]

Charity work

Rihanna created her Believe Foundation in 2006 to help terminally ill children.[43] Rihanna has performed a number of concerts to raise funds for both charities and the Foundation. She is also a 2008 Cartier LOVECHARITY Bracelet Ambassador, performed at Madonna’s Raising Malawi fundraiser, and helped a woman find a bone marrow donor.[44]

In September 2008, Rihanna joined other female pop, rock, R&B & country singers such as Carrie Underwood, Ciara, Beyoncé Knowles, Leona Lewis, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and Fergie to record "Just Stand Up!", the theme song to the anti-cancer campaign Stand Up to Cancer and its theme song.

Rihanna has teamed up with H&M and other celebrities like Timbaland and Good Charlotte for "Fashion against AIDS." The collection is designed to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. It was released at H&M in early February 2008.[45] She went on the Glow in the Dark Tour with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D.[46]

Rihanna was also selected as the spokesmodel for Gucci’s first UNICEF ad campaign. She will appear in the fashion house’s Tattoo Heart campaign, premiering in December. Rihanna will be photographed in series of special edition print ads with UNICEF items, twenty-five percent of sales will benefit the children’s charity.[47]

In New York, Rihanna was then enlisted by Gucci's Frida Giannini along with Madonna to light the UNICEF Christmas snowflake. Rihanna, is now the face of the fourth annual Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF, which aims to raise funds for children in Africa through the sale of its Tattoo Heart collection of bags.[48]

Discography

Main article: Rihanna discography

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna

See also

Notes

^ a: Barbados born producer Jimmy Senya Haynes produced and arranged Babylon The Bandit for the band Steel Pulse, but he was never credited as a member of the band.[49][50]

References

  1. ^ "The Nation Newspaper GRAMMY GIRL". The Daily Nation. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  2. ^ "The Nation Newspaper Bajan stars welcome Grammy". The Daily Nation. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  3. ^ "World-beaters of pop music", Birmingham Mail, p. 4, 2007-11-05
  4. ^ Cohen, Sandy (2008-11-24), "Brown, West, Keys, Rihanna are big winners at AMAs", Orlando Sentinel, p. A.21
  5. ^ "Rihanna Honoured". 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  6. ^ a b c d e Watson, Margeaux (2007-06-22). "Caribbean Queen: Rihanna". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  7. ^ Spivey, Lisa (Jan 2007), "Rihanna, The New Cover Girl", Los Angeles Sentinel, vol. 72, no. 23, p. B.5, ISSN 0890-4340
  8. ^ a b Patterson, Sylvia (2007-08-26). "Singing in the rain". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  9. ^ "Talking Shop: Shontelle". BBC News. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  10. ^ "Rihanna: Biography - Part 1 & 2". People. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  11. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Jay-Z's Picks: Teairra Mari, Rihanna, Ne-Yo". MTV. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  12. ^ a b "Artist Chart History — Rihanna". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  13. ^ a b c "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  14. ^ Barry, Walters (2005-09-08). "Rihanna: Music of the Sun". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  15. ^ a b c "Artist Chart History — Rihanna". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  16. ^ "Rihanna Takes RIAA Platinum for Girl Like Me, Her Second Album, Featuring Hits "Unfaithful" and "SOS"". Def Jam Recordings. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  17. ^ Sexton, Paul (2007-07-23). "Rihanna Makes It 10 Weeks Atop U.K. Singles Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  18. ^ "Rihanna "Take A Bow"". KIIS-FM. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  19. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2007-09-10). "Britney Spears Kicks Off Show, But VMA Night Belongs To Rihanna And Justin Timberlake". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  20. ^ "The 2008 Grammy Winners Are..." EW. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  21. ^ "Rihanna at the AMA'".
  22. ^ Rihanna pulls out after Chris Brown arrest
  23. ^ "Rihanna claims she was choked unconscious". Welt English. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  24. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7925460.stm
  25. ^ "Will Rihanna get legal satisfaction with 'Rihanna's law'?", The Dish Rag, Los Angeles Times, 2009-03-24, retrieved 2009-03-28 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ a b Rihanna: Music of the Sun > Overview, Allmusic, 2005, retrieved 2009-02-20
  27. ^ Rihanna: Biography, NME, 2006, retrieved 2009-02-20
  28. ^ Rihanna: A Girl Like Me: Music reviews: Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 2006, retrieved 2009-02-20
  29. ^ Rihanna: Good Girl Gone Bad > Overview, Allmusic, 2007, retrieved 2009-02-20
  30. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (2007-07-19). "Seasonal Signature: Pop Goes the Summer". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  31. ^ "Rihanna Interview". kidzworld. Retrieved February 9, 2009. You mention that some of your musical influences are Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey.
  32. ^ "Rihanna: A Dream Come True".
  33. ^ a b "ARTISTdirect's Exclusive Interview With Rihanna!". those were the kinds of artists that always influenced me. Celine Dion, Mandy Moore, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child.
  34. ^ "Caribbean Queen". EW.com. 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  35. ^ http://myspace.com/rihanna "Coming from Barbados, I really hadn't heard that much rock music," Rihanna confesses. "Touring with Gwen changed my perspective."
  36. ^ [1]
  37. ^ Rihanna's major influences
  38. ^ a b Bream, Jon (2008), "Hush Hush Rihanaa; The decade's hottest pop diva is all a-twitter about Monday's Jingle Ball. But don't ask about costar and boyfriend Chris Brown -- her lips are sealed.", Star Tribune, p. E.1, ISSN 0895-2825 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  39. ^ Epaminondas, George (Aug 2008), "Rihanna, Revealed", InStyle, vol. 15, no. 8, p. 196, ISSN 1076-0830
  40. ^ Wener, Ben; Fadroski, Kelli Skye (2008-10-22), "Making mix discs for your creeptastic party? Pick from our Halloween 50", The Orange County Register
  41. ^ YouTube: Rihanna's Commercial for Cover Girl
  42. ^ YouTube: Rihanna's Commercial for the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA)
  43. ^ "The Believe Foundation - founded by Rihanna".
  44. ^ "Rihanna - Rihanna Fights To Save Cancer-Stricken Mum".
  45. ^ "Good Charlotte, Rihanna H&M AIDS Charity Fashion Line; Celebrities Team With H&M For "Fashion Against AIDS" Clothing Line".
  46. ^ "Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour Will Feature Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D." MTV News. 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  47. ^ "Rihanna's Gucci Ad Campaign for UNICEF".
  48. ^ "Gucci Benefits UNICEF".
  49. ^ "The Nation Newspaper Jimmy was first". The Daily Nation. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  50. ^ "The Nation Newspaper Jimmy was first". The Daily Nation. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
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