In 2014, Rihanna shared a throwback photo on her Instagram account. Born as Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988, she grew up in Barbados with a father who was addicted to drugs and physically abusive to her mother. Despite her difficult upbringing, Rihanna has joked about annoying her neighbors with her “annoying little husky man voice.”
In 2003, record producer Evan Rogers met the 15-year-old Rihanna while vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rihanna told him that being in the music industry was her dream, despite having no formal training in music or dance. Rogers was impressed with her “presence,” which seemed to come from a desire to escape her turbulent home life.
According to John Seabrook’s book “The Song Machine,” record executives look for artists who have a strong desire to connect with their fans, and Rihanna’s powerful drive to escape her past and create a better future made her a perfect fit for the industry. She was signed to Def Jam in 2005 under the mentorship of then-president Jay-Z.
Back in 2004, Rihanna composed her song “Pon de Replay” and submitted it to various record labels. The following year, when she was just 16 years old, she flew to New York City to try out for Jay-Z, the newly appointed president and CEO of Def Jam. In an interview with The Guardian in 2007, Rihanna narrates that during the audition, she performed a Whitney Houston cover and two original songs, including “Pon de Replay.” She confessed to feeling nervous and star-struck as she sat across from Jay-Z, who offered her a record deal after the audition. Rihanna’s debut single instantly became a hit.
Back in May 2005, Rihanna released the studio version of her song “Pon de Replay” which was a fusion of dance-pop and reggae. Interestingly, this track became an instant hit and landed on the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, all when the songstress was only 17 years old. Just a year later, in May 2006, she dropped another chart-topping single, making it her first No. 1 hit.
“S.O.S.” marked the first single to be dropped from Rihanna’s second studio album, titled “A Girl Like Me.” The song premiered on Valentine’s Day and climbed its way to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 just three months later, holding its position for three weeks straight. A significant milestone in her career, Rihanna’s game-changing track “Umbrella” was released on March 29, 2007.
According to Joe Lynch from Billboard, Rihanna had already released two albums and had four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart prior to the release of “Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z).” However, she was missing one crucial element – a pop smash that would solidify her status as a true pop icon in the long run. “Umbrella” proved to be that iconic song, reaching No. 1 on the charts and dominating the summer of 2017. It also introduced Rihanna to a wider audience, including older generations. The success of “Umbrella” earned Rihanna her first Grammy Award in 2008.
During the 50th Grammy Awards, Rihanna’s popular song “Umbrella” won the award for best rap/sung collaboration. This was a huge accomplishment for the artist as it marked her first recognition by the Recording Academy, and she had been nominated for four awards. On that night, Rihanna shared the award with Jay-Z, who was also a part of the hit song. Although “Umbrella” was also nominated for record of the year, it unfortunately lost to Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”. In 2010, Rihanna collaborated with Drake for the first time, making it an exciting moment for both fans and the music industry.
In 2010, Rihanna and Drake teamed up to create their first collaborative track, “What’s My Name?” Their rumored romance may have sparked interest in the steamy song, which became the second single from Rihanna’s fifth studio album. The track peaked at number one and earned the duo a Grammy nomination for best rap/sung collaboration. While they didn’t win, it marked the beginning of a successful creative partnership that later produced hit songs such as “Take Care” and “Work.” Rihanna’s album “Loud,” which featured “What’s My Name?,” received her first Grammy nomination for album of the year.
Rihanna’s album “Loud” made its debut on November 12, 2010, under the Def Jam label. This album was a major hit, featuring three No. 1 songs: “What’s My Name?,” “Only Girl,” and “S M.” It also earned Rihanna her first Grammy nomination for album of the year, which is the most prestigious award at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Although she did not win, losing to Adele’s “21,” it was still a notable achievement. In May 2012, Rihanna made her first appearance on the big screen with her role in the movie “Battleship.”
The movie “Battleship,” which was inspired by the classic board game of the same name, received negative reviews. However, it marked Rihanna’s debut as an actress, and she played the role of Cora Raikes, a skilled weapons expert. Director Peter Berg specifically chose her for the role after being impressed by her intelligence and articulateness during an interview with Diane Sawyer following her assault by Chris Brown in 2009. He also saw her comedic acting skills in a skit on “Saturday Night Live” and was convinced that she could act. In November 2012, Rihanna’s album “Unapologetic” reached number one on the charts.
On November 19, 2012, Def Jam released Rihanna’s seventh studio album entitled “Unapologetic”. The album quickly rose to the top of the Billboard 200 charts, becoming her first No.1 album. Notably, the album was awarded the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album on January 26, 2014. Rolling Stone’s Jon Dolan praised the album’s “stark, shadowy R&B” for its confrontational honesty and powerful vocal performances, such as in the songs “Pour It Out” and “Stay”. In 2013, Rihanna was bestowed the inaugural Icon Award at the American Music Awards.
During the 2013 American Music Awards, Rihanna was recognized as the “voice of our time” and the top-selling digital artist of all time. Her performance of the hit single “Diamonds” from her album “Unapologetic” was followed by her mother, Monica Braithwaite, presenting her with the first-ever Icon Award. Braithwaite acknowledged that Rihanna’s career has not always been smooth sailing but praised her strength, positivity, humility, and focus. Rolling Stone reported on the occasion, and it marked a historic moment for both mother and daughter. The following year, she was honored with the CFDA Fashion Icon award.
In 2014, Rihanna made a bold fashion statement at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) event by wearing a sheer gown adorned with Swarovski crystals. Despite receiving criticism for her revealing outfit, Rihanna shrugged it off in her typical carefree manner by jokingly asking if her bedazzled breasts were bothering anyone. She even went on to win the Fashion Icon award that night.
