Home Women Rihanna :

Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados, she always exhibited a special quality, winning beauty and talent contests as a schoolchild. But because she lived on the fairly remote island of Barbados in the West Indies, she never foresaw the sort of stardom that would later befall her. That stardom came courtesy of a fateful meeting with a man named Evan Rogers. 

The New Yorker was vacationing in Barbados with his wife, a native of the island, when someone turned him on to Rihanna. Since Rogers had spent years producing pop artists -- including superstars like *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, Laura Pausini, and Rod Stewart -- he offered her the opportunity to record some music after he recognized her talent and potential. Along with Rogers' production partner, Carl Sturken (the other half of Syndicated Rhythm Productions), Rihanna recorded some demos that sparked the interest of the Carter Administration -- that is, newly appointed Def Jam president Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. This led to an audition and, in turn, an on-the-spot offer to sign with Def Jam, which Rihanna indeed inked on the spot. During a tribute to Rihanna, she was designated a cultural ambassador and presented with a parcel of land in Apes Hill, St. James.

Come summer 2005, Def Jam rolled out "Pon de Replay," the lead single of Music of the Sun, which was produced almost entirely by Rogers and Sturken and which synthesized Caribbean rhythms and beats with urban-pop songwriting. "Pon de Replay" caught fire almost immediately, climbing all the way to number two on The Billboard Hot 100 and contesting the half-summer reign of Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" atop the chart, and this was before Music of the Sun even had been released. The album spawned one other hit, "If It's Lovin' That You Want," which broke the Top 40. Rihanna's follow-up album, A Girl Like Me, was a greater success, spawning three big hits: a chart-topper ("S.O.S.") and two Top Tens ("Unfaithful," "Break It Off").

Rihanna's third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), continued her success and, more notably, signaled a change of direction. Whereas her past two albums had been been imbalanced -- often weighed down by faceless balladry and canned Caribbean-isms -- Good Girl Gone Bad was a first-rate dance-pop album. Moreover, it was surprisingly solid, stacked with potential singles and easily enjoyable from beginning to end. Collaborators included Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, and StarGate. The lead single, "Umbrella," shot to number one and, for the third year in a row, was a potential "song of the summer." By this point it was clear that Rihanna had become one of the biggest singles artists of the mid-2000s.

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, to Ronald Fenty of Barbados (of African and Irish ancestry) and Monica Fenty, who is of Guyanese descent. She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad. Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to the Combermere School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates. In 2004, she won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant and performed in the Colours of Combermere School Show. At the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rogers, along with his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record material in the U.S. which was sent to various recording companies. 

One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to Def Jam Recordings. Rihanna cites Brandy Norwood, Beyoncé Knowles, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Bob Marley and her Caribbean background as major musical influences. Rihanna also stated in an interview that her friend and former Island Def Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone that she admired and looked up to, having a fellow artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.

Rihanna's debut album, Music of the Sun, was released August 30, 2005 from which, further singles were released, the first being "Pon de Replay" which was released on October 11, 2005 and reached position #2 in both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart and gained several #1 positions in various niche charts. The single itself was written by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers alongside Rihanna herself and described by Rolling Stone magazine as a "poppy piece of dancehall reggae with slapping, syncopated beats recalling big-band jazz." 

However, despite Pon de Replay's commercial chart success, the album itself was rated 2½ out of 5 stars by Rolling Stone magazine 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". Since its release, the album reached the top 10 in both US and Canadian charts, gaining gold certification from the RIAA from selling 500,000 units and subsequent platinum certifications for selling 1 million units in various other countries. To further promote the album, Rihanna toured as an opening act for American pop singer Gwen Stefani.

The second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want", was considerably less successful than its predecessor, peaking at position #36 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100 and position #11 in the UK. A third single, "Let Me", was released only in Japan, where it was a big hit, reaching #8 on the charts.

Rihanna released her second album, A Girl like Me, in April 2006; less than eight months after the release of her first album. The album debuted at number five in the U.S. and number four in the UK. The lead single, "SOS", was used in an endorsement deal with Nike. The song became Rihanna's first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also debuted at number one on the Hot Digital Songs chart. "SOS" peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the UK. The second single, entitled "Unfaithful", was written by R&B singer Ne-Yo. 

The song became her third top ten hit in the U.S. and in the UK. The third single, "We Ride", wasn't as successful as her previous releases, failing to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, however, it became her fifth UK top 20 single, where it peaked at number 17 on that chart and peaked number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. Rihanna's fourth single from the album, "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul, had already climbed to number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on airplay. It was released as a digital download on February 19, 2007, which made the song jump from number fifty-two to number ten and then eventually peak at number nine.

In total, Rihanna has had 11 #1's on the Billboard charts and has had major success on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with four number-ones ("Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful", and "We Ride"). 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 recently recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P&G’s female deodorant Secret.

Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, which was released on August 8, 2006; she also appeared on an episode of American soap opera All My Children and drama Las Vegas.

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. It features Jay-Z and Ne-Yo as featured artists. Rihanna worked with Timbaland on three songs in the album. Justin Timberlake co-wrote and provides background vocals on "Rehab". Seven weeks after the album was released, it had gone platinum in the United States and 3x Platinum on the United World Albums Chart.

The first single, "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z, was released on March 29, 2007, reaching number one in various countries, including the U.S. "Umbrella" was the #1 single in the UK for 10 consecutive weeks. It was the longest running UK #1 single since "Wet Wet Wet's¹" single "Love Is All Around", back in 1994, and the longest running #1 by a female artist since Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which also topped the chart for 10 weeks in 1992. It was produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash. Umbrella was set at #2 at the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart, behind Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable". 

However, Umbrella is the most successful song of 2007, getting 8,160,000 points on the United World Chart. Time magazine named "Umbrella" one of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at #3. Explains writer Josh Tyrangiel, "Rihanna has a special talent for vocal innuendo. She toys with the word umbrella or, as Rihanna would put it, um-ba-rella, ella, ella as if she's taking it for a ride on a water bed. The sexiest song of 2007." The second single, "Shut Up and Drive", was sent to radio stations on June 5, and peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Her club airplay third single, "Don't Stop The Music" was premiered on BET's 106 & Park on July 20, 2007 and was released only in Canada. The song was released in the UK on 4th February, it peaked at #4 from downloads alone and has climbed back to #4 upon physical release. However, the single was also released in parts of Europe, where it was a huge success. The song peaked at #1 in countries like Germany, France, The Netherlands and Austria. The song has so far reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming her seventh top ten single and her fourth top five hit. It also reached #1 on the United World Chart. 

On February 17, 2008, Rihanna's single "Don't Stop The Music" became the first single in history to make it to number 1 on the Australian ARIA charts based solely on digital downloads. The single is yet to be released on CD and has already made it to the coveted number 1 position on the national singles charts. The fourth single, "Hate That I Love You" featuring Ne-Yo, was released on August 21, and so far has peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Rihanna her sixth top ten hit.

The fifth single was to be "Breakin' Dishes" according to Billboard and has so far peaked on #4 on the Hot Dance Club Play. However due to the high surge in airplay and digital sales of "Don't Stop the Music", it has replaced Breakin' Dishes as the next single.

Also in 2007, Rihanna won World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artist & Entertainer of the Year at the 2007 World Music Awards. On November 18, 2007 She won Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B at the 2007 American Music Awards. "Shut Up and Drive" won best R&B song at the 2008 People's Choice Award. "Don't Stop the Music" won best international song at the 2008 NRJ Music Awards in France.

She also won four awards at the 2008 BMAs Barbados Music Awards including Pop/R&B Artist of the Year, Best Pop/R&B Single - Don't Stop the Music, Best Female Music Video - "Shut Up and Drive", Song of the Year - "Umbrella", Album of the Year - Good Girl Gone Bad, Female Entertainer of the Year and People's Choice Entertainer of the year

Starting September 12, 2007, Rihanna toured Canada and the United States in support of the album with several shows and then crossed to Europe. It is called the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour, which will be released on DVD in early 2008 and feature the show performed at the Manchester Evening News Arena on December 6 2007.

Rihanna received four Grammy Awards nominations: Record of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (for "Umbrella"), Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (for "Hate That I Love You") as well as Best Dance Recording (for "Don't Stop the Music"), while her album received an extra two Grammys: Song of the Year and Best R&B Song.

Rihanna premiered a new single, "Take A Bow", on KIIS-FM's On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The song will be backed by the re-issue of Good Girl Gone Bad, which will be released on May 27, 2008. During this period in 2007, Rihanna insured her legs for $1 million. 

There are conflicting reports about her next album. MTV.com reported that Rihanna has now gone into the studio to start recording her fourth album, but on the Ryan Seacrest show Rihanna said "I am not in the studio yet, Not yet no, We're not gonna have an album out this year, probably the top of next year in 2009." In the near future, Rihanna is scheduled to work with Ryan Tedder who named her as 'The Next Britney'.

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 will be available at H&M in early February 2008. She will be going on the Glow In The Dark Tour with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. Rihanna has recorded a duet with Ciara called "Tears Fall" for her third studio album, Fantasy Ride.