Rihanna

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Rihanna

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Img_capt = Rihanna in Kanye West's "Glow in the Dark" tour
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Born = birth date and age|1988|2|20
Origin = Saint Michael, Barbados
Genre = Pop, R&B, reggae, dance-pop, electronica, electropop, dancehall
Occupation = Singer, model, fashion designer
Years_active = 2005–present
Label = Def Jam Recordings
Associated_acts = Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, T.I., Timbaland
URL = [http://www.thisisrihanna.com Official Site]

Rihanna (pronounced /riːˈɑːnə/; born Robyn Rihanna Fenty; February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, model and fashion designer. She is the second artist, and first female, from Barbados to have received a Grammy Award [ [http://www.nationnews.com/story/290977982429101.php The Nation Newspaper GRAMMY GIRL ] ] [ [http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/14209/10/] dead link|date=August 2008] [ [http://www.nationnews.com/story/291115427507003.php The Nation Newspaper Bajan stars welcome Grammy ] ] (the first being Jimmy Senya Haynes). [ [http://www.nationnews.com/story/291001479699304.php The Nation Newspaper Jimmy was first ] ] Rihanna is currently signed to the Def Jam Recordings label. [ [http://www.defjam.com/site/artist_home.php?artist_id=586 Def Jam Recordings] ] She has attained five "Billboard" Hot 100 number ones thus far ("SOS", "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", "Disturbia" and "Live Your Life") and is the female solo artist with the most number ones in this decade. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003839063 Billboard] She has sold over 11 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide.

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 including "Umbrella", "Don't Stop the Music" and "Take A Bow". Since the release of her debut album, Rihanna has amassed twelve top 40 hit singles in the U.S. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=RIHANNA&sql=11:3ifyxqesldae~T51 allmusic ((( Rihanna > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))) ] ]

Biography

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados to Ronald Fenty and Monica Fenty. 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 record 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, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Bob Marley and her Caribbean background as major musical influences. [ [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,3655378,00.html ARTISTdirect's Exclusive Interview With Rihanna! - ARTISTdirect News ] ] [ [http://top40.about.com/od/artistsls/p/rihannap.htm Rihanna Profile ] ] [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20043289_20043293_20043298,00.html Rihanna on embracing her 'Bad' side Rihanna | SUMMER MUSIC Q&A | Music | The EW 100 | Entertainment Weekly ] ] [ [http://ahotmess.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/rihanna-performs-in-germany/ Rihanna performs in Germany] ] [ [http://soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in050802rihann Rihanna: A Dream Come True] ] [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1982597/bio Rihanna - Biography ] ]

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. [http://acharts.us/song/823 Rihanna - Pon De Replay - Music Charts ] ] 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. 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." [Walters, Barry (September 8, 2005). [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/rihanna/albums/album/7579447/review/7583534/music_of_the_sun Music of the Sun Review] . "Rolling Stone". Accessed August 18, 2007.] However, despite "Pon de Replay"'s 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. [http://acharts.us/performer/rihanna World Chart Positions] . aCharts.us. Accessed July 30, 2007.]

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. [http://www.defjam.com/site/artist_news.php?artist_id=586&news_id=102315 "Rihanna Takes RIAA Platinum for "Girl Like Me", Her Second Album, Featuring Hits "Unfaithful" and "SOS""] . Def Jam Recordings. Accessed September 10, 2007.] [ [http://www.mediatraffic.de/albums-2006.htm Index ] ] [worldwidealbums.net]

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 "", which was released on August 8, 2006.

2007: "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". [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1558496/20070501/rihanna.jhtml Rihanna Loses Good Girl Image, Thanks to Jay-Z, Justin, Timbaland, Ne-Yo] ]

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. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2007/charts/hot100.html Billboard 2007 Year In Music ] ]

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. 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 "", which was released on June 17, 2008. [ cite web | url=http://ryan.kiisfm.com/pages/takeabow.html | title=Rihanna "Take A Bow" | publisher=KIIS-FM | date=2008-03-14 | accessdate=2008-03-14 ] 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 "Disturbia". "If I Never See Your Face Again" did not get the success it was expected to get in the US, peaking at #51. It did perform better in other countries, mostly charting in the top 20. "Disturbia" was another huge success, giving Rihanna her fourth number one single and her ninth top ten hit in the US. It reached #3 in the UK and charted in the top 10 in several countries. The eighth single, "Rehab" featuring Justin Timberlake, is set to be sent to radio stations October 7, 2008. [ [http://www.allaccess.com/] ]

Good Girl Gone Bad has so far sold 5.5 million copies and is Platinum in the US, including Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded.

2009: "Fourth Studio Album"

On October 4th, 2008, in an interview with All Music, Rihanna confirmed that she is currently in the studio working on her fourth studio album. She stated that, "I'm currently working on record number four and I'm having so much fun. I'm having so many new experiences and meeting so many new people, it's amazing". Rihanna also stated that the album will head in a more Techno Rock direction saying, "I want this album to head in the same direction as "Good Girl Gone Bad" but with even more edge. The tracks will be less R&B influenced and will have a feel closer to that of, "Disturbia", "Shut Up and Drive" and "Breakin' Dishes". Rihanna also stated that she will be writing 3 tracks of the album herself and that they are quite different from her previous work and also stated that one of the tracks will fit into the punk-rock category". A release date for the album has not yet been announced. [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/rihanna/news.jhtml All Music]

Breakthrough Success and Accomplishments

Rihanna has five "Billboard" Hot 100 number ones hits both as a lead artist thus far ("SOS", "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia"), as well as T.I.'s "Live Your Life", on which she is featured. This makes her the artist with the most number ones this decade. The Good Girl Gone Bad album has three Billboard Hot 100 number one singles. She has so far sold approximately 11 million albums worldwide.

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. [ [http://www.popcrunch.com/good-charlotte-rihanna-h-celebrities-team-with-hm-for-fashion-against-aids-clothing-line/ Good Charlotte, Rihanna H&M AIDS Charity Fashion Line; Celebrities Team With H&M For “Fashion Against AIDS” Clothing Line ] ] She went on the Glow in the Dark Tour with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580653/20080130/west_kanye.jhtml Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour Will Feature Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, 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, [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580653/20080130/west_kanye.jhtml Kanye West Nabs Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco For Upcoming Tour - News Story Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News ] ] 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." Fact|date=March 2008 In the near future, Rihanna is scheduled to work with Ryan Tedder who named her as 'The Next Britney'. [ [http://ultimate - rihanna.com/2008/03/21/news/tedder-rihanna-is-the-next-britney/#comments RYAN TEDDER: ‘RIHANNA IS THE NEXT BRITNEY’ as a compliement. Ultimate Rihanna - Rihanna Fenty Fan Site ] ] Rihanna will be a godmother of the eight season of Star Academy France. [ [http://worldofrihanna.com/2008/07/28/rihanna-star-academy-france/ French magazine “Tele Loisirs” has just announced that Rihanna and Christophe Mae would be godparents of the eight season of Star Academy France.] ]

Charity work

Rihanna created her Believe Foundation [ [http://www.believerihanna.com The Believe Foundation - founded by Rihanna ] ] in 2006 to help terminally ill children. Rihanna has performed a number of concerts to raise funds for both charities and the Foundation. She is also a 2008 Cartier LOVECHARITY Bracelet Ambassador, performed at Madonna’s Raising Malawi fundraiser, and was lauded for her efforts to help a woman find a bone marrow donor. [ [http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/rihanna%20fights%20to%20save%20cancer-stricken%20mum_1060479 Rihanna - Rihanna Fights To Save Cancer-Stricken Mum ] ]

In September 2008, Rihanna joined other female pop/rock singers such as Carrie Underwood, Ciara, and Fergie for the anti-cancer campaign "Stand Up to Cancer" and its theme song, "Just Stand Up!". The single is now available via iTunes.

Discography

*2005: "Music of the Sun"
*2006: "A Girl like Me"
*2007: "Good Girl Gone Bad"
*2009: "TBA"

Filmography

* 2006: "" - Herself

Television

* 2006: "Punk'd"

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)
* 2008: Tour with Chris Brown in Australia and New Zealand

Awards

References

External links

* [http://www.thisisrihanna.com Rihanna] Official Website
*
* [http://www.believerihanna.com Rihanna's Believe Foundation]

Persondata
NAME=Rihanna
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Fenty, Robyn Rihanna
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Singer, model, song-writer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1988-2-20
PLACE OF BIRTH=Saint Michael, Barbados
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=