Rihanna

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<b>100 Best Albums</b> After giving the world a decade of nonstop hit, the big question for Rihanna was “What’s next?” Well, she was going to wait a little longer than expected to reveal the answer. Four years separated <i>Unapologetic</i> and her eighth album. But she didn’t completely escape from the spotlight during the mini hiatu. Rather, she experimented in real time by dropping one-off singles like the acoustic folk “FourFiveSeconds” collaboration with Kanye West and Paul McCartney, the patriotic ballad “American Oxygen,” and the feisty “Bitch Better Have My Money.” The sonic direction she was going to land on for <i>ANTI</i> was still murky, but those songs were subtle hints nonethele. When she officially unleashed <i>ANTI</i> to the world, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t the Rihanna we’d come to know from years past. In an unexpected twist, the singer tossed her own hit factory formula (which she polished to perfection since her 2005 debut) out the window. No, this was a freshly independent Rihanna who intentionally took time to dig deep. As the world was holding its breath awaiting the new album, she found a previously untapped part of her artistry. <i>ANTI</i> says it all in the title: The album is the complete antithesis of Pop Star Rihanna. From the abstract cover art (which features a poem written in braille) to newfound autonomy after leaving her longtime record label, Def Jam, to form her own, <i>ANTI</i> shattered all expectations of what a structured pop album should sound like—not only for her own standard, but also for fellow artists who wanted to demolish industry rule. And the risk worked in her favor: it became the singer’s second No. 1 LP. “I got to do things my own way, darling/Will you ever let me?/Will you ever respect me?” Rihanna mockingly asks on the opening track, “Consideration.” In response, the rest of the album dives headfirst into fearlessness where she doesn’t hesitate to get sensual, vulnerable, and just a little weird. <i>ANTI</i>’s overarching theme is centered on relationship. Echoing Janet Jackson’s <i>The Velvet Rope</i>, Rihanna details the intricacies of love from all stage. Lead single “Work” is yet another flirtatious reunion with frequent collaborator Drake as they tease each other atop a steamy dancehall bassline. She spits vitriolic acid on the Travis Scott-produced “Woo,” taunting an ex-flame who walked away from her: “I bet she could never make you cry/’Cause the scars on your heart are still mine.” .

via Apple Music

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