A smooth path to the pinnacle of stars
Rihanna’s journey to the pinnacle of stardom has been marked by remarkable milestones, devoid of smooth sailing yet rich with triumphs. Following the release of “Rated R,” the music scene was graced with “Loud” on November 15, 2010. This fifth album proved to be yet another international sensation, propelled by hits such as “Only Girl” (reaching number 1 in fourteen countries), “What’s My Name” (a duet with Drake), and “Love The Way You Lie (Part II)” featuring rapper Eminem. Additionally, her collaboration with David Guetta on “Who’s That Chick”, featured in the reissue of the French DJ’s album “One Love” titled “One More Love,” further underscored her versatile presence in the music industry. During her Loud Tour, the songstress achieved a remarkable feat by selling out all tickets for her ten concerts at London’s O2 Arena.
In November 2011, Rihanna unveiled her sixth opus, “Talk That Talk.” Its lead single, “We Found Love,” stormed the charts, claiming the number 1 spot in 18 countries and securing a place in the Top 10 in 30 countries. This anthem dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 10 weeks. Its music video earned the prestigious Video of the Year accolade at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, marking Rihanna as the first woman to win this award more than once. Another standout track, “Where Have You Been,” emerged as a summer smash in 2012.
Continuing her streak of success, Rihanna presented her seventh album, “Unapologetic,” on November 16, 2012. The album’s lead single, “Diamonds,” soared to the top of iTunes charts worldwide upon its release. In a grand promotional endeavor, the star embarked on a 777 Tour on November 14, encompassing 7 concerts across 7 countries in 7 days—an ambitious undertaking that took Rihanna from Paris to New York and through Mexico. This grandiose venture set the stage for her Diamonds World Tour, her fifth tour, which commenced on March 13, 2013, marking yet another chapter in her remarkable career trajectory.
Rihanna, an artist at the summit
Rihanna’s journey with her latest album, “Unapologetic”, served as both a response to her critics and a testament to her fans’ unwavering support. This album surged, selling a staggering 3.2 million copies worldwide. Anchored by its initial single, “Diamonds,” and followed by “Stay”, featuring Mikky Ekko, the album garnered widespread acclaim. The music video for “Stay”, unveiled on February 12, 2013, presented Rihanna in a vulnerable state, notably appearing nude in a bathtub. Despite swiftly topping the singles charts in the United States and numerous other countries, the video sparked controversy, leading to its initial restriction on YouTube for viewers under 18, later made accessible to all audiences. For Rihanna and her dedicated fanbase, the controversy was overshadowed by achievements. On April 22, 2013, she became the first and only artist to secure 10 number ones on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart in the United States. Her total singles sales on legal download platforms soared to an impressive 60 million.
However, amidst her flourishing career, Rihanna’s personal life continued to face highs and lows. Speculation arose that “Stay” was a direct message to her ex, Chris Brown. Despite confirming her reconciliation with Chris Brown via Instagram in late 2012, their reunion was short-lived. In the spring of 2013, Chris Brown officially announced their separation during an interview with an Australian media outlet. Returning to her single pursuits, Rihanna ventured into controversial territory with “Pour It Up,” released on April 15, 2013, the fourth single from her seventh studio album, “Unapologetic.” However, it wasn’t until October 2 of the same year that she unveiled the video for this track. Despite its US sales of 1.2 million copies alone, the video sparked polarizing opinions, deemed by many as bordering on explicit content while others saw it as an assertion of control over her body and sexuality, as Rihanna showcased twerking in the attire of a club dancer.
Towards the end of 2013, Rihanna collaborated with Eminem on “The Monster”, marking her thirteenth number one hit in the United States. Additionally, she joined forces with Shakira for the hit “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” released in January 2014. Simultaneously, the megastar announced the preparation of her 8th solo album, titled “R8.” Not limiting her endeavors to music, Rihanna contributed to a concept album for the soundtrack of Dreamworks’ upcoming animation film, “Home.” In the summer of 2014, Rihanna and Eminem embarked on a joint tour in the United States titled “The Monster Tour.”
Anticipation mounted among fans for new tracks as they awaited Rihanna’s next album. In January 2015, she unveiled “FourFiveSeconds”, the first single from her upcoming album then titled “R8.” Teaming up with rapper Kanye West and former Beatles member Paul McCartney, the trio created a hit that Rihanna performed for the first time live at the Grammy Awards.
On February 25, Rihanna released “Towards The Sun,” the first extract from the soundtrack of the film “Home,” which resonated well at the box office. Continuing her streak, Rihanna captivated audiences with her live performance of her new hit “Bitch Better Have My Money” at the iHeart Awards in Los Angeles, emerging from a helicopter clad in a striking green fur, a moment etched in memory. She also released the track “American Oxygen”.
Throughout 2015, fans eagerly awaited signs of the new album. It wasn’t until October that Rihanna unveiled the cover and title of the album, “Anti.” The following month, indirectly confirming its imminent release, she announced a major tour commencing in February 2016, with Travis Scott, Big Sean, and The Weeknd as opening acts. Rihanna, not just a successful singer but a fashion icon, became the face of luxury fashion house Dior in 2015, marking the first time a black woman held this role in the brand’s 69-year history, joining the ranks of icons like Isabelle Adjani, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, and Marion Cotillard.
Following a four-year hiatus, Rihanna finally unveiled her new album, “Anti”, on January 28, 2016. Contrary to fans’ expectations, the album did not include tracks like “FourFiveSonces,” “American Oxygen,” or “Bitch Better Have My Money.” The day before the album’s release, Rihanna unveiled its first single, “Work,” featuring Drake, which ascended to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Despite its initial release as a free download, “Anti” shattered records by achieving gold and platinum status. Rihanna also received the 100 Million Song Awards from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), marking her singles’ sales since her debut. Among these, notable hits include “We Found Love”, certified nine times platinum, “Stay”, “What’s My Name”, and “Only Girl” (In The World), certified six times platinum, along with the collaboration “FourFiveSeconds” with Paul McCartney and Kanye West, certified double platinum. The artist etched her name in history as the first woman to receive this accolade. The release of “Anti” became the catalyst for Rihanna’s return to the stage for an international tour. The tour commenced with its first concert in Jacksonville, Florida, in March 2016, kicking off a series of 71 dates scheduled across North America and Europe.
For French fans, Rihanna ensured a show in Paris, Lyon, Nice, and Lille in July 2016. Additionally, in September 2016, Rihanna was nominated for the NRJ Music Awards 2016 in categories including “Female Artist of the Year,” “International Group/Duo of the Year” for her collaboration with Calvin Harris, and “Music Video of the Year” for “Work.” The summer of 2017 witnessed Rihanna’s musical triumph as she collaborated with DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller on the track “Wild Thoughts,” a rendition of Carlos Santana’s “Maria Maria” from 1999.
In the fashion realm, Rihanna unveiled “Fenty Beauty by Rihanna” in late 2017, a makeup line catering to all skin tones. Additionally, in May 2018, she launched her lingerie brand, Savage x Fenty. Expanding her horizon, Rihanna ventured into the film industry. Following notable appearances in films like “Battleship” and “Valerian,” 2018 saw her in “Ocean’s 8,” alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway. During the same year, she announced a new musical project: a double album, one leaning towards reggae and dancehall, the other more oriented towards pop. After six years of absence, Rihanna made her grand return. In early fall 2022, the Barbadian singer re-entered the music scene by unveiling her unreleased track “Lift Me Up.” Within just two days, this song from the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack, dedicated to the late actor Chadwick Boseman, amassed over 12 million streams. In a surprise move, Rihanna ventured into a ballad this time instead of her usual pop style.
Subsequently, Rihanna announced on her Instagram that she would headline the halftime show of Super Bowl LVII in February 2023. On the personal front, Rihanna embraced motherhood for the first time in May
2023: Rihanna Absent from the Music Scene.
The reason? Following the birth of her first child, the international star welcomed a second child the following year. Alongside her partner A$AP Rocky, they unveiled photos of their two children to the press in late 2023. RZA Athelston and Riot Rose are the joyous babies of this artist duo. Undoubtedly, these two children will likely inherit abundant talents. After this exciting news, everyone eagerly anticipates Rihanna’s return to the stage or the studio.
These star babies with astonishing names : Riot Rose, the son of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.
They just keep going. A year after the arrival of their eldest son RZA, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky welcomed their second child, little Riot Rose, last September. The name is not arbitrary, as it references his father’s song “Riot” and his passion for flowers. Something not widely known is that “he loves having fresh flowers in the house, enjoys decorating with flowers, and he even had real flowers in his grillz once,” said a source to ET, adding that roses were RiRi’s favorite flowers.
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