Rihanna

RihannaBackground information

Birth name Robyn Rihanna Fenty

Born February 20, 1988 (age 20)

Origin Saint Michael, Barbados

Genre(s)R&B, Pop, reggae, dance-pop, electronica,

electropop, dancehall

Occupation(s)Singer, model, fashion designer, music

director

Years active 2005–present

Label(s) Def Jam Recordings

Associated

acts

Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Maroon 5,

Justin Timberlake, T. I., Timbaland

Website Official Site

Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty; February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, model, fashion designer . She is the second artist, and first female, from Barbados to have received a Grammy Award (the first being Jimmy Senya Haynes). Rihanna is currently signed to the Def Jam Recordings label. She has attained four Billboard Hot 100 number ones thus far ("SOS", "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia"), tying her with Mariah Carey and Beyonce as the female solo artist with the most number ones this decade.

Rihanna came to fame in 2005 with the release of her debut album Music of the Sun, which featured her breakthrough single "Pon de Replay". Less than a year later, Rihanna released A Girl Like Me and gave her first number one single, "SOS". In 2007, Rihanna released her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad. The album has yielded six hit singles including three worldwide number one singles "Umbrella", "Don't Stop the Music" and "Take A Bow". Since the release of her debut album, Rihanna has amassed eleven top 40 hit singles in the U.S.

Biography

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados to Ronald Fenty of Barbados and Monica Fenty, who is of Guyanese descent. She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty.

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.

In 2003, 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, Beyoncé Knowles, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Bob Marley, Madonna and her Caribbean background as major musical influences. Rihanna also stated in a recent interview that former Island Def Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone whom she admired and looked up to, having a fellow artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.

Music career

2005–2006: Music of the Sun

Rihanna's debut album, Music of the Sun, was released on August 30, 2005, yielding two singles, the first being "Pon de Replay" which was released on August 22, 2005. This single became a huge success upon its release peaking at number 2 in the US on Billboard Hot 100 charts.[16] It also became a global hit where it peaked within the top 10 across 15 countries as well as achieving top 20 chartings on 20 charts around the world.[16] The single written by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers was described by Rolling Stone magazine as a "poppy piece of dancehall reggae with slapping, syncopated beats recalling big-band jazz." [17] However, despite "Pon de Replays" commercial chart success, the album itself was rated 2.5 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 2 million units in various other countries.

The second single "If It's Lovin' That You Want" was less successful than "Pon de Replay", but it became a hit nonetheless by managing to achieve a top 40 charting in the USA reaching a high of number 36. In Australia, Ireland and New Zealand the single proved to be well-received reaching the top 10 in those countries. Overall the single became a top 40 hit on 11 charts around the globe. Despite the album not having huge promotion and only releasing two singles Music of the Sun managed to sell over 500,000 copies in the United States and 2 million worldwide.[18]

When asked about the nature of the album by AskMen Magazine about the album itself, Rihanna noted that it was released quickly after she was discovered in her home as a means of portraying her image as a girl from a small area who had moved to a large country in line with her debut, and that her second album was released somewhat shortly thereafter to illustrate that in her time in the country she had grown up quickly enough to release another album.

2006–2007: A Girl like Me

Rihanna second album, A Girl Like Me, was released in April 2006; less than eight months after the release of her first album. 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 at 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. A Girl like Me's sales were significantly stronger, selling over 1 million in the U.S and over 3.5 million worldwide.[19][20][21]

In total, Rihanna has had eleven 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", 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 recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P&G’s female deodorant Secret.

During this time Rihanna also made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, which was released on August 8, 2006.

2007–present: Good Girl Gone Bad

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, features Jay-Z and Ne-Yo. Rihanna worked with Timbaland on three songs in the album. Justin Timberlake co-wrote and provides background vocals on "Rehab".[22]

The album so far has yielded five hit singles, including the world-wide number one hit "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z. In addition to reaching number one in various countries, "Umbrella" was the number one single in the UK for 10 consecutive weeks, making it the longest running UK number one single since Wet Wet Wet's single "Love Is All Around", back in 1994, and the longest running number one by a female artist since Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which also topped the chart for 10 weeks in 1992. By the end of the year, "Umbrella" was ranked second on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart in the United States;[23] however, due to the song's world-wide chart dominance it was named the most successful song in the world for 2007, getting 8,160,000 points on the United World Chart.[24]

Her other singles, "Shut Up and Drive" and "Don't Stop The Music" were able to mirror the success of "Umbrella", with "Don't Stop the Music" reaching number three on the

Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna's seventh top ten single and her fourth top five hit, while peaking at number one in various countries, including the United World Chart. The fourth single (third single in the US and UK) "Hate That I Love You", featuring Ne-Yo, was able to peak at number seven in the U.S.

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 called the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour, and was released on DVD on June 17, 2008, featuring the show performed at the Manchester Evening News Arena on December 6, 2007.

Rihanna premiered a new single, "Take a Bow", on KIIS-FM's On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The song was backed by the re-issue of her third album, titled Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, which was released on June 17, 2008.[25] It peaked at number one on the Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart, as well as numerous other countries. Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded also includes Rihanna's duet with Maroon 5, "If I Never See Your Face Again" and her newest US single, "Disturbia".

Future projects

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. She went on the Glow In The Dark Tour with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D.

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 will be a godmother of the eight season of Star Academy France.

Charity work

Rihanna created her Believe Foundation in 2006 to help terminally ill children. Rihanna has performed a number of concerts to raise funds for both charities and the Foundation. After her performances, she met children from the local charities, signing autographs and posing for pictures with her young fans. She explains her reasons for starting the Foundation, "When I was young and I would watch television and I would see all the children suffering, I always said: when I grow up, I want to help."

From taking time out for little acts of kindness, such as signing a games console for an auction benefiting Mission Australia, her commitment to helping children has extended to becoming a 2008 Cartier LOVECHARITY Bracelet Ambassador, performing at Madonna’s Raising Malawi fundraiser, and even using her fame to help a mother of two find a bone marrow donor.

Filmography

2006 - Bring It On: All or Nothing.... As Herself 2009 - Mama Black Widow.... Carol Tilson

Television

2006 -Punk'd

Discography

This is a comprehensive listing of official releases by Rihanna, a Barbadian pop singer. Rihanna has released three studio albums, thirteen singles, and twelve music videos on her record label Def Jam.

Rihanna's debut album Music of the Sun was released in August 2005, and sold over a million copies worldwide.[1] It produced the top five single "Pon de Replay", which was certified Gold in 2006.[2] Her second album A Girl like Me was released the following year and enjoyed international chart success. The album's lead single "SOS" reached number one in the U.S. and the song "Unfaithful" won "Best International Song" at the NRJ Music Awards in 2007.[3] Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna's third album, was released in June 2007 and has sold over 5.5 million copies becoming her best selling album to date. Rihanna has sold over 10.8 million albums worldwide, and over 3.4 million in the U.S. She has also had seven number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and five number-ones on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay.

Albums

Studio albums

Year Title

Chart positions

Sales/certification

U.S. CAN UK GER FRA NZ JAP AUS

2005

Music of the Sun

1st studio album

Released: August 30, 2005

10 7 35 31 93 28 14 —

RIAA certification: Gold

US sales: 500,000+

Worldwide sales: 2 million

2006 A Girl like Me 2nd studio album

5 1 5 13 18 8 4 9 RIAA certification: Platinum

US sales: 1.2

Released: April 19, 2006

million

Worldwide Sales: 3.5 million

2007

Good Girl Gone Bad 3rd studio album

Released: May 30, 2007

2 1 1 4 15 3 7 2

RIAA certification: 2x Platinum

US sales: 1,675,000+

Worldwide sales: 5.5 million

EPs

2006: Sessions@AOL

1. "SOS" 2. "If It's Lovin' That You Want" 3. "Unfaithful" 4. "Pon de Replay"

2007: Sessions@AOL

1. "Umbrella" 2. "Shut Up and Drive" 3. "Unfaithful" 4. "SOS"

DVD

Good Girl Gone Bad Live o Release: June 13, 2008 (EUR), June 14, 2008 (US)

Barbadian Superstardom

Singles

Year

Single

Chart positions

Album

WW

U.S.

U.S. pop

U.S. dance

U.S. Airplay

UK

AUS

NZ

IRE

CAN

GER

FRA

SUI

CRO

AUT

ISR

POL

NOR

NET

EU

BRA

2005

"Pon de Replay"

3 2 2 1 1 2 6 1 2 7 618

3 3 5 2 2 318

2 —

Music of the Sun"If It's

Lovin' That You Want"

34

36

15

— —11

9 9 8 48 25 —19

10 3110

2 —17

35

—

2006

"SOS" 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 3 2 212

3 1 4 2 1 3 4 1 22

A Girl like Me

"Unfaithful"

4 6 4 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 2 7 1 2 2 1 1 2 4 1 —

"We Ride"

— —84

1 —17

24

717

45 45 —42

11 —15

24

—42

27

—

"Break It Off" (feat. Sean Paul)

21

9 6 — — —— —— 29 — — — — — — — — —160

—

2007

"Umbrella" (feat. Jay-Z)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

Good Girl Gone Bad(and Reloaded Edition)

"Shut Up and Drive"

11

15

10

1 — 5 412

4 7 633

14

7 31 8 6 13 5 8 16

"Don't Stop the Music

1 3 2 1 1 4 1 3 6 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 7 1 1 1

"

"Hate That I Love You" (feat. Ne-Yo)

6 7 7 — —15

14

613

17 1116

13

3 14 8 — — 7 8 1

2008

"Take a Bow"

1 1 2 14 7 1 3 2 1 1 612

7 1 6 5 7 5 3 1 1

"Disturbia"

3 1 1 3 4 4 8 1 4 2 — — 9 1 —12

17

320

9 15

Number-one songs

4 4 2 7 5 2 3 2 2 3 2 1 3 3 2 3 3 1 1 5 4

Top-ten hits

8 910

8 7 8 910

9 8 7 3 6 10 610

8 7 7 9

Top-forty hits

12

11

12

9 711

11

11

11

11 9 8 9 12 911

10

810

11

Guest singles

Year

Single

Chart positions

Album

WW

U.S.

U.S. pop

U.S. dance

U.S. Airplay

UK

AUS

NZ

IRE

CAN

GER

FRA

SUI

CRO

AUT

ISR

POL

NOR

NET

FIN

POR

EU

2007

"Roll It"

— — — — — — — — — —33

—89

— — — — — — 820

— '

2008

"Throw Your Hands Up"

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —20

— '

2008

"If I Never See Your Face Again" (with Maroon 5)

27

51

36

— —28

11

21

16

12

— —52

15 — 641

—11

— —75

Good Girl Gone Bad: ReloadedIt Won't Be Soon Before Long: Deluxe

"Just Stand Up" (with Various Female Artists)

TBA

120

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

33TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

Charity single

Other charted songs

Year Single

Chart positions

Album

JAP BUL POR

2006 "Let Me" 8 — — Music of the Sun

2008 "Breaking Dishes" — 45 15 Good Girl Gone Bad

Single certification

ARIA: Australia IFPI: Austria IFPI: Germany SNEP: France NVPI: Netherlands IFPI: Norway IFPI: Sweden IFPI: Switzerland RIAA: U.S. BPI: UK

"Pon de Replay"

AUS: certification: Platinum SWE: certification: Gold U.S.: digital certification: Platinum

"SOS"

AUS: certification: Platinum SWE: certification: Gold U.S.: digital certification: Platinum U.S.: mastertone certification: Gold

"Unfaithful"

AUS: certification: Gold SWE: certification: Gold SWI: certification: Gold U.S.: digital certification: Platinum U.S.: mastertone certification: Platinum FR: certification:silver

"Umbrella"

AUS: certification: Platinum DEN: certification: Platinum[9] GER: certification: Platinum NZ: certification: Platinum[10] SWE: certification: Platinum SWI: certification: Gold UK: certification: Platinum[11] U.S.: digital certification: 2x Platinum U.S.: mastertone certification: Platinum

"Shut Up and Drive"

AUS: certification: Gold U.S.: digital certification: Platinum

"Don't Stop the Music"

AUS: certification: Platinum BEL: certification: Platinum[12] DEN: certification: Platinum[13] GER: certification: Gold NZ: certification: Gold[14] UK: certification: Silver U.S.: digital certification: 2x platinum U.S.: mastertone certification: Platinum FR: certification: Platinum

"Hate That I Love You"

AUS: certification: Gold U.S.: certification: Platinum

"Take a Bow"

DEN: certification: Gold[15] NZ: certification: Gold U.S.: certification: Platinum

Guest appearances

These songs have not appeared on a studio album released by Rihanna:

Year Song Artist Album

2005

"The One" Memphis Bleek 534

"Boom Boom" Cham Ghetto Story

2006

"The Hotness" Shontelle Save the Last Dance 2 soundtrack

"Just Be Happy"Clinique 'Get Your Happy' CD sampler

2007

"First Time" Fabolous From Nothin' to Somethin'

"Roll It" J-Status The Beginning

"Throw Your Hands Up" Elephant Man Let's Get Physical

"Livin' A Lie" The-Dream Love Hate

"Winning Women"Nicole Scherzinger

Her Name Is Nicole

2008 "Where Do We Go" Razah Razah

"Live Your Life" T.I. Paper Trail

"Numba 1 (Tide Is High)"Kardinal Offishall

Not 4 Sale

"Electric Guitar"(Album Version)

Chris Brown Graffiti

"TBA" [16] Timbaland Shock Value 2

"Tears Fall" Ciara Fantasy Ride

Music videos

Album Year Video Director(s)

Music of the Sun 2005

"Pon de Replay" Little X

"If It's Lovin' That You Want" Marcus Raboy

A Girl Like Me 2006

"SOS" Chris Applebaum

"Unfaithful"

Anthony Mandler

"We Ride"

Good Girl Gone Bad(and Reloaded edition)

2007

"Umbrella" Chris Applebaum

"Shut Up and Drive" Anthony Mandler

"Don't Stop the Music" Taj / Rihanna

"Hate That I Love You"

Anthony Mandler2008 "Take a Bow"

"If I Never See Your Face Again"

"Disturbia" Anthony Mandler /

Rihanna

Tours

2006: The Pussycat Dolls with Rihanna UK Tour 2006: Rock tha Block Tour 2007: Good Girl Gone Bad Tour 2008: Glow in the Dark Tour (with Kanye West, N.E.R.D, and Lupe Fiasco)

Awards

This is a comprehensive list of awards and nominations won by Rihanna, a Barbadian singer-songwriter. Her first single led her to win three awards, following her winning more awards for both herself and her debut album. Her second album, A Girl Like Me (2006), was much more successful and earned her many more awards and nominations. Good Girl Gone Bad, the third album, was the most successful album of her career. She won Favorite Female Artist — Soul/R&B at the American Music Awards, a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration award at the 2008 Grammy Awards, and an International Album of the Year award at the Juno Awards. Since beginning her career, Rihanna has received forty-three awards from seventy-eight nominations.

American Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2008 Rihanna Favorite Female Artist — Soul/R&B Won

Barbados Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2006

"Music of the Sun"

Best Reggae/Dancehall Album Won

Album of the Year Won

"Pon de Replay" Best Dance Single Won

Song of the Year Won

Rihanna

Best New Artist Won

Entertainer of the Year Won

Female Artist of the Year Won

Best-Selling Female Artist of the Year Won

2007

"A Girl Like Me" Album of the Year Won

"SOS."

Best Music Video (Female) Nominated

Best Dance (Pop) Single Nominated

"Unfaithful"

Best Music Video (Female) Nominated

Song of the Year Nominated

Rihanna

Best Entertainer of the Year Won

Best Female Entertainer of the Year Won

Best Selling Recording Artiste (Worldwide) Won

Digicel People’s Choice Award Nominated

2008 "Umbrella" Song of the Year Won

"Shut Up And Drive" Best Female Music Video Won

"Don't Stop the Music" Best Pop/R&B single Won

Rihanna

Pop/R&B Artist of the Year Won

Female Entertainer of the Year Won

People's choice Entertainer of the Year Won

BET Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2006 Rihanna Best New Artist Nominated

2008 Rihanna Best Female R&B Artist Nominated

Billboard Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2006

Rihanna

Female Artist of the Year Won

Pop 100 Artist of the Year Won

Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year Won

"SOS" Hot Dance Airplay song of the Year Nominated

Brit Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2008 Rihanna Best International Female Artist Nominated

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are held annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Rihanna has won one award from six nominations.

Year Nominated work Award Result

2008

"Umbrella"

Record of the Year Nominated

Song of the Year Nominated

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Won

"Don't Stop the Music"

Best Dance Recording Nominated

"Hate That I Love You"

Best R&B Song Nominated

Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group w/ Vocals

Nominated

Juno Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2008 "Good Girl Gone Bad" Album of the Year (International) Won

NRJ Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2007

"Unfaithful" Best International Song Won

Rihanna New International Artist of The Year Nominated

2008

"Don't Stop the Music" Best International Song Won

Rihanna Best International Artist Nominated

Teen Choice Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2006 Rihanna

Female Breakout Artist Won

Choice R&B Artist Won

2007

Rihanna

Choice Music: R&B Artist Won

Choice Female Hottie Nominated

Choice Music: Female Artist Nominated

Choice Summer Artist Nominated

"Umbrella" Choice Music: Single Nominated

"Shut Up and Drive" Choice Summer Song Nominated

World Music Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result

2007 Rihanna

Female Entertainer of the Year Won

World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artist Won

Other awards

Year Title AwardNominated

workResult

2006

20th Japan Gold Disc Award[1] New Artist of the Year Rihanna Won

MOBO Awards[2] Best R&B Artist Rihanna Won

MTV Europe Music Awards

Best R&B Artist Rihanna Won

Best Song for "SOS" Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

Best New Artist in a Video

"Pon de Replay"

Won

2007

MOBO Awards

Best International Act Rihanna Won

Best Video "Umbrella" Nominated

People's Choice Awards Favorite R&B Song"Shut Up and Drive"

Won

MTV Video Music Awards

Monster Single of the Year

"Umbrella" Won

Video of the Year "Umbrella" Won

Best Director (Director: Chris Applebaum)

"Umbrella" Nominated

Female Artist of the Year "Umbrella" Nominated

MTV Europe Music Awards

Ultimate Urban Rihanna Won

Solo Rihanna Nominated

Most Addictive "Umbrella" Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards Latin America

Song of the Year "Umbrella" Nominated

Best Pop Artist (International)

"Umbrella" Nominated

Premios Principales 2007

Song of the Year "Umbrella" Won

2008

Image Awards Best Music Video "Umbrella" Nominated

ECHO Awards

Female Artist of the Year (International)

Rihanna Nominated

Hit of the Year (National or International)

"Umbrella" Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

Best Video of the Year "Umbrella" Nominated

MuchMusic Video Awards

Best International Artist Video

"Don't Stop the Music"

Won

International Dance Music Awards

Best R&B/Urban Dance Track

Don't Stop the Music

Won

Best Pop Dance TrackDon't Stop the Music

Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

Best Female Video Take A Bow Nominated

Swiss Music Awards Best Song InternationalUmbrella (feat. Jay-Z)

Won