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.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
