Rihanna
Date of birth
20th February, 1988
Occupation
Musician
Sex
1st January, 1970
Height
1.74
Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty; 20.2.1988) is the first female from Barbados to have received a Grammy Award and is currently signed to the Def Jam Recordings record label. She was presented with an area of land in Appes Hill, St. James, Barbados, in a tribute to her work.
Net worth: Rihanna's earnings are $160 million according to Celebrity Net Worth as of 2016.
Rihanna's Childhood Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna is the daughter of Ronald Fenty (of African and Irish descent) and Monica Fenty, who has a Guyanese ancestry. In Combermere Schoool, she formed a musical group with two of her classmates. In 2004, she was crowned Miss Combermere in a local beauty pageant, as well as performing in the 'Colours Of Combermere' school show. She received her big break aged 15, when a friend introduced her to Evan Rogers, a music producer who was on vacation on the island. Rogers and his partner, Carl Sturken recorded Rihanna's material in the U.S. and sent it to various record companies. One of these copies reached Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to his Def Jam label.
Musical Career: Rihanna has named Beyonce, Brandy Norwood and her upbringing in the Caribbean as the major influences on her music. Music Of the Sun was Rihanna's debut album, released in 2005. 'Pon de Replay' was one of the singles released from the album. The track was co-written by Rogers, Sturken and Rihanna and reached number two in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart. The album itself received platinum certification for selling over 2 million units worldwide and Rihanna promoted the album by touring as Gwen Stefani's opening act. The second single from the album, 'If It's Lovin' That You Want', was significantly less successful, reaching 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 11 in the UK charts. A third single, 'Let Me', was released in Japan only.
Less than eight months after the release of her debut album, Rihanna launched a second album, A Girl Like Me, in 2006. The album went into the U.S. charts at number five. And the main single from the track, 'SOS', was used in a Nike advertising campaign. 'SOS' became the first number one Billboard single for Rihanna. Her third top 10 U.S. hit came with 'Unfaithful', written by the R&B singer Ne-Yo, though its follow-up, 'We Ride' was less successful, which failed to chart in the Billboard Hot 100. 'Break It Off', featuring Sean Paul, was her fourth single from the album. Digital download sales helped the song jump from 52 to number 9.
Good Girl Gone Bad, her third album, was recorded with Timbaland, Ne-Yo and Stargate and released in 2007. Jay-Z and Ne-Yo also feature on the album and Justin Timberlake co-wrote 'Rehab' and sang backing vocals for the track. The album went three times platinum on the United World Albums Chart. The first single from the album, 'Umbrella', which featured Jay-Z, was a number one hit in a number of countries. In the UK, it was the longest running number one single since Wet Wet Wet's 'Love Is All Around' (1994) and the longest running number one by a female artist since Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' (1992). With 8,160,000 points on the United World Chart, it was the most successful song of 2007. 'Umbrella' was followed by the singles 'Shut Up And Drive', 'Don't Stop The Music' and 'Hate That I Love You'.
In November 2009, Rihanna released her fourth album 'Rated R', which featured guest spots from Slash, will.i.am and Jeezy. The album debuted at number four in the US Billboard 200 albums charts, selling 181,000 copies in the United States in its first week, giving Rihanna her highest first-week sales in the US at that time.
Rihanna released her fifth album 'Loud' in 2010. 'Loud' debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 207,000 copies in its first week, making it her fastest selling album at the time. The album featured guests Drake and Nicki Minaj and had some of Rihanna's most popular singles, namely 'What's My Name?' and 'Only Girl (In The World)'. That year saw her first collaboration with Eminem in the smash hit 'Love the Way You Lie'.
In 2011, Rihanna followed up 'Loud' with her sixth album 'Talk That Talk', which debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, selling 198,000 copies in the United States. The album is platinum in the United States. Guest spots on this album included Jay-Z and Calvin Harris.
Rihanna's seventh album, 'Unapologetic' was released in November 2012. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 238,000 copies in its first week, giving Rihanna her first number one album in the United States and bestselling debut week of her career. Rihanna recruited previous producers, such as The-Dream, Chase & Status and David Guetta, to work with new producers such as Parker Ighile, Mike Will Made-It and Labrinth. The album has been certified platinum in the United States. The song 'Nobody's Business' caused controversy as it featured Rihanna's abusive ex-partner Chris Brown. Rihanna has received twenty-three Grammy nominations including record of the Year, Best Rap / Sung Collaboration, Best R&B performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals, Best Dance Recording. She also obtained seven Grammys including Song of the Year and Best R&B song.
Accolades attributed to Rihanna include: World's Best Selling Pop Female Artist and Entertainer of the Year at the World Music Awards, Favourite Female Artist - Soul / R&B at the American Music Awards, and best R&B song, for 'Shut Up and Drive' at the 2008 People's Choice Awards.
In 2016 Rihanna released her eighth studio album Anti in which the leading single work reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. She also announced a supporting tour for the album which see's Rihanna travelling the world.
Other Ventures: Rihanna has released five different perfumes since 2011 (Reb'l Fleur,Rebelle, Nude, Rogue and RiRi). She also announced in 2014 that she was to release an aftershave for men entitled 'Rogue Man'.
Rihanna has also collaborated with MAC cosmetics on creating her own make up line called 'RiRi hearts MAC' in 2013. She also has endorsements with Nivea, Budweiser and Kodak.
Rihanna's first television program Styled to Rock premiered in the UK in August 2012 on Sky Living. This saw numerous British designers over a ten week period compete in different challenges in order to win the prize of dressing Rihanna for one of her events.
She has also collaborated with British high street fashion brand River Island on four of their collections in 2013. In 2014 Rihanna announced that she was to become the creative director of the fashion sportswear Puma overseeing the brand's women's clothing range. In the following year (2015) Rihanna was chosen to be the face of Dior which made her the first black woman to be the face for the company.
In 2016 Rihanna collaborated with Manolo Blahnik to create an all denim shoe collection.
Personal Life: In 2009 it was reported that Rihanna's partner at the time, singer Chris Brown, had violently attacked her. Brown was charged for assault and making criminal threats and later pled guilty to felony assault. He was given five years' probation and a restraining order. In 2013, Rihanna admitted that she was once again in a relationship with Brown, however Brown stated that the two had broken up again in May that year. Rihanna also had a relationship with Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Matt Kemp from late 2009 to 2010. Speculation also suggested she had dated rapper Drake.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2013 Rihanna confirmed that she was dating Chris Brown once again. However in May 2013 Brown stated that the couple had broken up for the second time. In 2016 rumors emerged that Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio were dating as they have been spotted together numerous times.
Met Gala 2021: The Three Pop Icons Who Took Our Breath Away
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 14 September 2021
Billie, Lil Nas X and Rihanna stole the show at the fashion event.
It’s the fashion event of the year and, as usual, all the charting pop icons were in attendance at the 2021 Met Gala. This year’s theme was American Independence and, as the saying goes, it was go big or go home - exactly the sentiment these celebs took with them to Metropolitan Museum of Art this week.
I would have hated to be at the Met Gala with Billie this year. Fellow attendees must have felt like the Ugly Sisters to her Cinderella. Clothed in peach tulle with a vintage wavy blonde bob, black eyeliner and a dusky red lip, she did designer Oscar de la Renta proud.
Continue reading: Met Gala 2021: The Three Pop Icons Who Took Our Breath Away
Coldplay Feat. BTS: Will This Be Among The Band’s Finest Collaborations?
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 23 June 2021
The rumour is that the two bands will be joining forces soon...
Earlier this year Coldplay’s Chris Martin expressed his love of several movies and songs that he found “helpful and wonderful” - among them being BTS’ smash hit Butter. We never had the singer down as a K-Pop fan, but we can’t blame him for loving the track.
This bromance goes both ways too, with the K-Pop superstars performing Coldplay’s Fix You on MTV Unplugged back in February with their blessing; that’s a big deal if you’re aware of how precious Coldplay are when it comes to letting other artists cover their music.
Continue reading: Coldplay Feat. BTS: Will This Be Among The Band’s Finest Collaborations?
Doja Cat And More Pop Sweethearts Who Embraced A Darker Image
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 11 November 2020
Doja Cat isn't the only one who shocked the world with a new image.
It seems we're not the only ones whose jaws dropped when we saw Doja Cat crawl out of a television screen The Ring style with a ripped dress, dark make-up and lank hair at the 2020 MTV European Music Awards, only to perform a hard rock rendition of her song Say So. Apart from the fact that the song, and indeed Doja Cat herself, is the most pop thing ever, we just weren't expecting such an alternative side to the singer - and we certainly weren't expecting to love it so much.
Not even the best casino bonus would have had us bet on a transformation like this. Though we ought to stop being so shocked when this happens by now; after all, she's not the only pop sweetheart to have made a controversial transformation in recent history. Here are just a few women in music who furthered their success by trading in their innocence...
Continue reading: Doja Cat And More Pop Sweethearts Who Embraced A Darker Image
Halloween Pop Party: The Spooky Pop Tunes You Need For Your Playlist
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 21 October 2020
Costume? Check. Pumpkins? Check. Amazing pop playlist? Look no further...
Most people seem to think that rock and gothic tunes are the best suited to Halloween playlists, but the truth is you can have just as much of a spooky blast with upbeat, danceable pop songs if guitars just aren't your thing. We've put together a playlist of the most fun horror-inspired contemporary pop numbers perfect for your socially-distanced Halloween gatherings.
A video clip is doing the rounds showing models, drag queens and dancers strutting their stuff to the song Doom by Coucou Chloe; the remix of which features a speeded up Hadith (essentially what Muslims believe to be the word of the Prophet Muhammad) which tells of the signs of the day of judgement. As appropriate as that sounds for 2020, it has offended a great many of Rihanna's Muslim followers and for a very good reason.
Continue reading: Why Rihanna's Use Of The Islamic Hadith At The Savage X Fenty Show Is NOT OK
Weekly Coronavirus Updates: Virtual Gigs, Rihanna's Donation And Gal Gadot's Incredible Imagine Video
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 23 March 2020
How has coronavirus affected the music world this week?
Seeing as there's no live music going on, we're going to be talking about the virtual music events that have been going on lately, as well as the stand-out charitable efforts supporting those who have been effected by the coronavirus lockdown and even those who have been fighting this crippling disease.
Virtual Gigs
You'll be unsurprised to learn that Glastonbury is the latest major music event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus. It seems we can forget pretty much all of our live music plans for the foreseeable future - but that doesn't mean we can't make new ones...
Continue reading: Weekly Coronavirus Updates: Virtual Gigs, Rihanna's Donation And Gal Gadot's Incredible Imagine Video
Ultimate Bedroom Anthems For Valentine's Day [Playlist]
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 14 February 2019
Perfect tunes for setting the mood.
Happy Valentine's Day! Lots of couples will celebrating this cheesy AF but lovely day, and will most likely celebrate well into the night too. To help you get your evening off to a good start, we've come up with a playlist of some of the steamiest songs to be played in the bedroom.
The 30-year-old singer and beauty entrepreneur was styled by Enninful himself and shot by the world-famous photographer Nick Knight for the September issue, as we come up to Enninful's first British Vogue anniversary. He replaced Alexandra Shulman last year and launched his first isse in December 2017 with Adwoa Aboah on the cover.
Continue reading: Rihanna Reigns In British Vogue's All-Important September Issue
Met Gala 2018: Pope Rihanna And Zendaya Of Arc Among Best Dressed
By Holly Mosley in Fashion / Beauty on 08 May 2018
This year's best dressed stars at the Catholic-themed Met Gala.
The 2018 Costume Institute Gala was literally couture heaven. With the theme of 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination', celebrities showed up to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art with costumes inspired by angels, priests, saints and religious figures; some of which were totally breath-taking.
Here are some of the best dressed at the 2018 Met Gala:
Continue reading: Met Gala 2018: Pope Rihanna And Zendaya Of Arc Among Best Dressed
Rihanna seen arriving at the 30th Footwear News Achievement Awards held at IAC Headquarters, New York, United States - Tuesday 29th November 2016
Rihanna, Sandra Bullock, and Cate Blanchett film a scene together for 'Ocean's Eight' in Central Park - New York City, United States - Monday 7th November 2016
Rihanna performing live at the 2016 Global Citizen Festival held in Central Park, New York, United States - Saturday 24th September 2016
Rihanna seen on stage at V Festival 2016 held at Hylands Park in Chelmsford United Kingdom - Sunday 21st August 2016
Rihanna and Justin Bieber enjoy a night out at Tape London. They were seen leaving the club at 5am. - London, United Kingdom - Saturday 20th August 2016