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Not to be confused with Rhianna.
Rihanna

Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20 1988) is a Bajan singer with musical influences from pop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, and dance. Rihanna became known around the world with chart hits such as "Pon de Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful" and more recently, with "Break It Off" and "Umbrella".

Early life

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados to Ronald and Monica Fenty. Her mother is Guyanese[1][2] and her father is Barbadian.[3] She has two younger brothers named Rorrey and Rajad. Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to one of Barbados' older secondary schools, 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, singing Mariah Carey's "Hero". 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 US 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 Records. Rihanna 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 black artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.[4][5][6]

Music career

Music of the Sun

Main article: Music Of The Sun
File:Rihanna-MusicOfTheSun.jpg
Music Of The Sun (2005)

Rihanna's debut album Music Of The Sun, which she co-wrote, was released in August 2005. The first single released from the album was the track "Pon De Replay", which peaked at number 2 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart due to considerable airplay. The second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want", was less successful than its predecessor, climaxing on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 36, and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself peaked within the top ten in Canada, and the US, and within the top forty in the UK. It has received platinum certifications in several countries, and received a Gold certification in the US by the RIAA. To further promote the album, Rihanna toured as an open act for American pop singer Gwen Stefani. The album itself sold over 500,000 units in the US and over 2 million worldwide. The album features many dancehall songs that harken to her island upbringing. Because her second album, "A Girl Like Me" was released so soon after "Music Of the Sun", no more singles were released. However, a third single, "Let Me" was officially released in Japan, and peaked at #8 there.

A Girl Like Me

Main article: A Girl Like Me
File:Rihanna girl like me200px.jpg
A Girl Like Me (2006)

In 2006, Rihanna participated in several endorsement deals, including for Nike and J.C. Penney. She 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 US and number four in the UK. The lead single, "SOS", was used in her 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, and addresses the feelings of guilt that the protagonist of the song faces as she cheats on her former boyfriend. The song became her third top ten hit in the US and in the UK. The third single "We Ride" wasn't as successful as her previous releases, failing to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, however, it has managed to seal her 5th UK top 20 single, where it peaked at number 17 on that chart and peaked #1 at Hot Dance Club Play. Rihanna's fourth single from the album "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul had already managed peak at #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 based soley on airplay. It was released as a digital download on February 19, 2007, which made the song jump from #52 to #10 and then eventually peaking at #9.

In total Rihanna has had 11 different number ones 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 (Remix) and We Ride). When Rihanna got the Clinique endorsement, she recorded a song written by Ne-Yo entitled Just Be Happy as part of the deal to promote their Happy fragrance. The song can be heard on her Myspace page. 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.

Good Girl Gone Bad

Main article: Good Girl Gone Bad
File:Gggbrihanna.jpg
Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)

Good Girl Gone Bad is the third album by R&B singer Rihanna which was released on June 4 2007 in most European countries and on June 5 2007 in the United States. She went in the studio in the early 2007 with Ne-Yo, Stargate, Timbaland among others recording for 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. The first single "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z, was released on March 29 2007 is currently climbing the charts, reaching #1 in various countries, including the U.S. It was produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash. Her second single, expected to be "Shut Up and Drive", will be sent to radio stations in June. Rihanna also stated that the album has a different feel from her previous two, with more up-tempo and mid-tempo melodies.

Rihanna worked with Timbaland on three songs in the album. Justin Timberlake co-wrote and provides background vocals on "Rehab".[7] In interviews, many have questioned the meaning and reasoning of the album title. During an interview on UK radio station Capital FM, Rihanna explains: "Bad is not sleazy. Bad has its own term to every individual and in my case it just means I’ve gotten a little rebellious on the album, broken out of my shell and I'm taking risks... Michael Jackson "bad" kind of way.

Discography

Main article: Rihanna discography

Albums

Singles

Awards and nominations

  • 2006: THE 20th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD 2006- New Artist Of The Year
  • 2006: MTV Video Music Awards - Best New Artist (nominated) - SOS
  • 2006: MTV Video Music Awards - Viewer's Choice Award (nominated) - SOS
  • 2006: MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best New Artist in a Video - Pon De Replay
  • 2006: Teen Choice Awards - Female Breakout Artist
  • 2006: Teen Choice Awards - Choice R&B Artist
  • 2006: MOBO Awards - Best R&B Artist
  • 2006: BMI Urban Awards - Pon de Replay
  • 2006: MTV Europe Music Awards - Best R&B Artist
  • 2006: MTV Europe Music Awards - Best Song of the Year - SOS (nominated)
  • 2006: Billboard Music Awards - Female Artist of the Year
  • 2006: Billboard Music Awards - Pop 100 Artist of the Year
  • 2006: Billboard Music Awards - Hot 100 Artist of the Year
  • 2006: Billboard Music Awards - Hot Dance Airplay song of the Year for "SOS"
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Best Reggae/Dancehall Album - Music Of The Sun
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Best Dance Single - Pon De Replay
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Song Of The Year - Pon De Replay
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Album Of The Year - Music Of The Sun
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Best New Artist
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Female Artist Of The Year
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Best-selling Female Artist Of The Year
  • 2006: Barbados Music Awards - Entertainer Of The Year
  • 2007: Barbados Music Awards - Best Entertainer of the Year
  • 2007: Barbados Music Awards - Best Female Entertainer of the Year
  • 2007: Barbados Music Awards - Diamond Sales Award
  • 2007: Barbados Music Awards - Album of the Year
  • 2007: Barbados Music Awards - Best Soul / R&B Single - Unfaithful
  • 2007: Barbados Music Awards - Song of the Year - Unfaithful
  • 2007: NRJ Music Awards - Best International Song - Unfaithful

See also

References

  1. ^ Rihanna: Brightest Star, allhiphop.com. September 2005
  2. ^ Interview with Rihanna. Morafire.com. Jan/Feb 2007.
  3. ^ Interview with Rihanna. Honoluluadvertiser.com. September 15 2006.
  4. ^ http://ahotmess.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/rihanna-performs-in-germany/
  5. ^ http://soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in050802rihann
  6. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1982597/bio
  7. ^ Rihanna Loses Good Girl Image, Thanks to Jay-Z, Justin, Timbaland, Ne-Yo


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