Rihanna Rihanna Background information Birth name
Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Born
February 20, 1988 (age 20)
Origin
Saint Michael, Barbados
Genre(s) Occupation(s) Years active
R&B, Pop, reggae, dance-pop, electronica, electropop, dancehall Singer, model, fashion designer, music director 2005–present
Label(s)
Def Jam Recordings
Associated
Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Maroon 5,
acts
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 Chart positions Year
Title
Sales/certification U.S. CAN UK GER FRA NZ JAP AUS •
Music of the Sun 2005
•
1st studio album
•
Released: August 30, 2005
2006 A Girl like Me •
2nd studio album
10
5
7
1
35 31
5
13
93 28 14
18
8
4
—
9
•
RIAA certification: Gold US sales: 500,000+
•
Worldwide sales: 2 million
•
RIAA certification: Platinum US sales: 1.2
•
million •
Released: April 19, 2006
•
Worldwide Sales: 3.5 million
•
RIAA certification: 2x Platinum US sales: 1,675,000+
Good Girl Gone Bad 2007
•
3rd studio album
•
Released: May 30, 2007
2
1
1
4
15
3
7
2
•
•
Worldwide sales: 5.5 million
EPs •
2006: Sessions@AOL
1. 2. 3. 4.
"SOS" "If It's Lovin' That You Want" "Unfaithful" "Pon de Replay"
•
2007: Sessions@AOL
1. 2. 3. 4.
"Umbrella" "Shut Up and Drive" "Unfaithful" "SOS"
DVD • •
Good Girl Gone Bad Live o Release: June 13, 2008 (EUR), June 14, 2008 (US) Barbadian Superstardom
Singles Chart positions Ye Single ar
U. W U. S. W S. po p
U U.S. .S. U AU N IR CA GE FR SU CR AU IS PO NO NE E BR Airp dan K S Z E N R A I O T R L R T U A lay ce
Albu m
"Pon de 3 2 2 1 Replay " 20 05
1
2 6 1 2 7 6 18 3 3 5 2 2 3 18 2 —
"If It's Lovin' That 34 36 15 — — 11 9 9 8 48 25 — 19 10 31 10 2 — 17 35 — You Want" "SOS"
1 1 1 1
1
2 1 3 3 2 2 12 3 1 4 2 1 3 4 1 22
"Unfai 4 6 4 1 thful"
1
2 2 4 2 1 2 7 1 2 2 1 1 2 4 1 —
20 "We 06 Ride" — — 84 1 "Break It Off" (feat. Sean Paul)
Musi c of the Sun
A Girl 1 — 24 7 17 45 45 — 42 11 — 15 24 — 42 27 — like 7 Me
21 9 6 — — — — — — 29 — — — — — — — — —
16 — 0
"Umbr ella" 1 1 1 1 (feat. Jay-Z)
"Shut Up 11 15 10 1 and Drive" 20 "Don't 07 Stop the 1 3 2 1 Music " "Hate That I Love You"
1
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
— 5 4
1
6 7 7 — —
1 4 7 6 33 14 7 31 8 6 13 5 8 16 2
G ood Girl 4 1 3 6 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 7 1 1 1 Gon e Bad
1 14 6 13 17 11 16 13 3 14 8 — — 7 8 1 5
(feat. Ne-Yo)
"Take a 1 1 2 14 Bow"
7
1 3 2 1 1 6 12 7 1 6 5 7 5 3 1 1
"Distu 3 1 1 3 rbia"
4
4 8 1 4 2 — — 9 1 — 12 17 3 20 9 15
Number4 4 2 7 one songs
5
2 3 2 2 3 2 1 3 3 2 3 3 1 1 5 4
7
8 9
1 9 8 7 3 6 10 6 10 8 7 7 9 0
7 11 11
1 11 11 9 8 9 12 9 11 10 8 10 11 1
20 08
Top-ten hits
8 9 10 8
Top-forty 1 11 12 9 hits 2
Guest singles
(and Reloa ded Editio n)
Chart positions Ye Sing ar le
A lbu U. U U.S. W U. S. .S. U A IR CA GE FR SU CR AU IS PO NO NE FI PO m Airp NZ EU W S. po dan K US E N R A I O T R L R T N R lay p ce
20 "Rol — — — — — — — — — — 33 — 89 — — — — — — 8 20 — ' 07 l It" "Thr ow 20 Your — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 20 — ' 08 Han ds Up"
"If I Nev er See Your Face 27 51 36 — — 28 11 21 16 12 — — 52 15 — 6 41 — 11 — — Agai n" (with Maro on 5)
20 08 " Just Sta nd Up"
Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloa ded It Won't 75 Be Soon Befor e Long : Delu xe
Char
(wit TB 12 TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB TB ity TBA 33 h A 0 A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A singl Vari e ous Fem ale Artis ts)
Other charted songs Chart positions Year
Single
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: Gold U.S.: digital certification: Platinum •
"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
"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
AUS: certification: Platinum SWE: certification: Gold U.S.: digital certification: Platinum U.S.: mastertone certification: Gold •
"Shut Up and Drive"
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
"The One"
Memphis Bleek
534
"Boom Boom"
Cham
Ghetto Story
"The Hotness"
Shontelle
Save the Last Dance 2 soundtrack
2005
2006
Clinique 'Get Your Happy' CD sampler
"Just Be Happy"
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
"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
Chris Brown
Graffiti
"TBA" [16]
Timbaland
Shock Value 2
"Tears Fall"
Ciara
Fantasy Ride
2008 Version)
Music videos Album
Music of the Sun
A Girl Like Me
Year
Video
Director(s)
"Pon de Replay"
Little X
"If It's Lovin' That You Want"
Marcus Raboy
"SOS"
Chris Applebaum
2005
2006 "Unfaithful" Anthony Mandler "We Ride"
"Umbrella"
Chris Applebaum
"Shut Up and Drive"
Anthony Mandler
"Don't Stop the Music"
Taj / Rihanna
"Hate That I Love You"
Anthony Mandler
2007
Good Girl Gone Bad (and Reloaded edition)
"Take a Bow" "If I Never See Your Face 2008 Again" Anthony Mandler / Rihanna
"Disturbia"
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
Best Reggae/Dancehall Album
Won
Album of the Year
Won
Best Dance Single
Won
Song of the Year
Won
Best New Artist
Won
Entertainer of the Year
Won
Female Artist of the Year
Won
Best-Selling Female Artist of the Year
Won
"Music of the Sun"
"Pon de Replay" 2006
Rihanna
"A Girl Like Me"
Album of the Year
Won
Best Music Video (Female)
Nominated
Best Dance (Pop) Single
Nominated
Best Music Video (Female)
Nominated
Song of the Year
Nominated
Best Entertainer of the Year
Won
Best Female Entertainer of the Year
Won
"SOS."
"Unfaithful" 2007
Rihanna Best Selling Recording Artiste (Worldwide) Won Digicel People’s Choice Award
Nominated
"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
2008
Rihanna
BET Awards
Pop/R&B Artist of the Year
Won
Female Entertainer of the Year
Won
People's choice Entertainer of the Year
Won
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
Rihanna
Award
Result
Female Artist of the Year
Won
Pop 100 Artist of the Year
Won
Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year
Won
2006
"SOS"
Hot Dance Airplay song of the Year Nominated
Brit Awards Year Nominated work 2008 Rihanna
Award
Result
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
"Umbrella"
2008
"Don't Stop the Music"
"Hate That I Love You"
Record of the Year
Nominated
Song of the Year
Nominated
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Won
Best Dance Recording
Nominated
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
"Unfaithful"
Best International Song
Won
Rihanna
New International Artist of The Year Nominated
2007
"Don't Stop the Music" Best International Song
Won
Rihanna
Nominated
2008 Best International Artist
Teen Choice Awards Year
Nominated work
Award
Result
Female Breakout Artist
Won
Choice R&B Artist
Won
Choice Music: R&B Artist
Won
Choice Female Hottie
Nominated
2006 Rihanna
Rihanna Choice Music: Female Artist Nominated 2007 Choice Summer Artist
Nominated
Choice Music: Single
Nominated
"Shut Up and Drive" Choice Summer Song
Nominated
"Umbrella"
World Music Awards Year Nominated work
Award Female Entertainer of the Year
Result Won
2007 Rihanna World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artist Won
Other awards Year
Title
Award
Nominated work
Result
2006
20th Japan Gold Disc Award[1]
New Artist of the Year
Rihanna
Won
MOBO Awards[2]
Best R&B Artist
Rihanna
Won
Best R&B Artist
Rihanna
Won
Best Song for
"SOS"
Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Best New Artist in a Video "Pon de Replay" Won
Best International Act
Rihanna
Won
Best Video
"Umbrella"
Nominated
"Shut Up and Drive"
Won
MOBO Awards
People's Choice Awards Favorite R&B Song
MTV Video Music Awards
2007
MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards Latin America
Premios Principales 2007
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
Ultimate Urban
Rihanna
Won
Solo
Rihanna
Nominated
Most Addictive
"Umbrella"
Nominated
Song of the Year
"Umbrella"
Nominated
Best Pop Artist (International)
"Umbrella"
Nominated
Song of the Year
"Umbrella"
Won
Image Awards
Best Music Video
"Umbrella"
Nominated
Female Artist of the Year Rihanna (International)
Nominated
Hit of the Year (National "Umbrella" or International)
Nominated
Best Video of the Year
"Umbrella"
Nominated
Best International Artist Video
"Don't Stop the Won Music"
Best R&B/Urban Dance Track
Don't Stop the Music
Won
Best Pop Dance Track
Don't Stop the Music
Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards
Best Female Video
Take A Bow
Nominated
Swiss Music Awards
Best Song International
Umbrella (feat. Won Jay-Z)
ECHO Awards
MTV Video Music Awards Japan MuchMusic Video 2008 Awards
International Dance Music Awards