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http://images.askmen.com/galleries/singer/rihanna/pictures/rihanna-picture-5.jpg[/img][b]Robyn Rihanna Fenty[/b] (born February 20, 1988) is a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados][color:19ee=#002bb8]Barbadian[/color][/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer][color:19ee=#002bb8]singer[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_(person)][color:19ee=#002bb8]model[/color][/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_designer][color:19ee=#002bb8]fashion designer[/color][/url] known as [b]Rihanna[/b] (pronounced /riːˈɑːnə/). She is the second artist, and first female, from Barbados to have received a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_Grammy_Awards][color:19ee=#002bb8]Grammy Award[/color][/url][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-0][color:19ee=#002bb8][1][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-1][color:19ee=#002bb8][2][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-2][color:19ee=#002bb8][3][/color][/url][/sup] (the first being [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Pulse][color:19ee=#002bb8]Jimmy Senya Haynes[/color][/url]).[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-3][color:19ee=#002bb8][4][/color][/url][/sup] Rihanna is currently signed to the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Def_Jam_Recordings][color:19ee=#002bb8]Def Jam Recordings[/color][/url] label.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-4][color:19ee=#002bb8][5][/color][/url][/sup] She has attained five [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard][color:19ee=#002bb8]Billboard[/color][/url][/i] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100][color:19ee=#002bb8]Hot 100[/color][/url] number ones thus far ("[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS_(Rihanna_song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]SOS[/color][/url]", "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella_(song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Umbrella[/color][/url]", "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_a_Bow_(Rihanna_song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Take a Bow[/color][/url]", "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disturbia_(song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Disturbia[/color][/url]" and "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Your_Life][color:19ee=#002bb8]Live Your Life[/color][/url]") and is currently tied with fellow [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_(music)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Pop[/color][/url]/[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26B][color:19ee=#002bb8]R&B[/color][/url] singer [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9_Knowles][color:19ee=#002bb8]Beyoncé[/color][/url] as the female solo artist with the most number ones in [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_in_the_2000s][color:19ee=#002bb8]this decade[/color][/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-5][color:19ee=#002bb8][6][/color][/url][/sup] She has sold over 11 million albums worldwide.
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http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/specials/chase/rihanna/rihanna3.jpg[/img]Rihanna came to fame in 2005 with the release of her debut album [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Sun][color:19ee=#002bb8]Music of the Sun[/color][/url][/i], which featured her breakthrough single "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pon_de_Replay][color:19ee=#002bb8]Pon de Replay[/color][/url]". Less than a year later, Rihanna released [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Girl_like_Me_(Rihanna_album)][color:19ee=#002bb8]A Girl Like Me[/color][/url][/i] and gave her first number one single, "SOS". In 2007, Rihanna released her third studio album, [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Girl_Gone_Bad][color:19ee=#002bb8]Good Girl Gone Bad[/color][/url][/i]. The album has yielded six hit singles including three worldwide number one singles including "Umbrella", "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Stop_the_Music_(Rihanna_song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Don't Stop the Music[/color][/url]" and "Take a Bow". Since the release of her debut album, Rihanna has amassed twelve top 40 hit singles in the U.S.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-6][color:19ee=#002bb8][7][/color][/url][/sup]
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http://img.letssingit.com/artists/9z9nx/rihanna12.jpg[/img]Rihanna was born in [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Michael,_Barbados][color:19ee=#002bb8]Saint Michael, Barbados[/color][/url] to Ronald Fenty and Monica Fenty. She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-7][color:19ee=#002bb8][8][/color][/url][/sup]
Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combermere_School_(Barbados)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Combermere School[/color][/url], 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.
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http://img.letssingit.com/artists/9z9nx/rihanna13.jpg[/img]In 2003, at the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends introduced her to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer][color:19ee=#002bb8]record producer[/color][/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sturken_and_Evan_Rogers][color:19ee=#002bb8]Evan Rogers[/color][/url], who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rogers, along with his partner, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sturken_and_Evan_Rogers][color:19ee=#002bb8]Carl Sturken[/color][/url], helped Rihanna record material in the U.S. which was sent to various recording companies. One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay-Z][color:19ee=#002bb8]Jay-Z[/color][/url], who eventually signed her to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Def_Jam_Recordings][color:19ee=#002bb8]Def Jam Recordings[/color][/url].
Rihanna cites [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy_Norwood][color:19ee=#002bb8]Brandy[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(entertainer)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Madonna[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Keys][color:19ee=#002bb8]Alicia Keys[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston][color:19ee=#002bb8]Whitney Houston[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9_Knowles][color:19ee=#002bb8]Beyoncé[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey][color:19ee=#002bb8]Mariah Carey[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley][color:19ee=#002bb8]Bob Marley[/color][/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fefe_Dobson][color:19ee=#002bb8]Fefe Dobson[/color][/url][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-8][color:19ee=#002bb8][9][/color][/url][/sup] and her [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean][color:19ee=#002bb8]Caribbean[/color][/url] background as major musical influences.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-9][color:19ee=#002bb8][10][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-10][color:19ee=#002bb8][11][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-11][color:19ee=#002bb8][12][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-12][color:19ee=#002bb8][13][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-13][color:19ee=#002bb8][14][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-14][color:19ee=#002bb8][15][/color][/url][/sup]
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http://www.librarising.com/astrology/celebs/images2/QR/rihanna.jpg[/img][/sup]Rihanna's debut album, [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Sun][color:19ee=#002bb8]Music of the Sun[/color][/url][/i], was released on August 30, 2005 in the United States, yielding two [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_(music)][color:19ee=#002bb8]singles[/color][/url], the first being "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pon_de_Replay][color:19ee=#002bb8]Pon de Replay[/color][/url]" which was released on August 22, 2005. This single became a huge success upon its release peaking at number 2 in the US on [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard][color:19ee=#002bb8]Billboard[/color][/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100][color:19ee=#002bb8]Hot 100[/color][/url] charts.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-autogenerated1-15][color:19ee=#002bb8][16][/color][/url][/sup] 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.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-autogenerated1-15][color:19ee=#002bb8][16][/color][/url][/sup] The single written by [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sturken_and_Evan_Rogers][color:19ee=#002bb8]Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers[/color][/url] was described by [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone][color:19ee=#002bb8]Rolling Stone[/color][/url][/i] magazine as a [i]"poppy piece of dancehall reggae with slapping, syncopated beats recalling big-band jazz."[/i][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-16][color:19ee=#002bb8][17][/color][/url][/sup] However, despite "Pon de Replay"'s commercial chart success, the album itself was rated 2.5 out of 5 stars by [i]Rolling Stone[/i] Magazine and described as lacking the replay value, ingenuity and rhythm of the single with "generic vocal hiccups and frills" of US [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues][color:19ee=#002bb8]R&B[/color][/url] 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
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http://img.letssingit.com/artists/9z9nx/rihanna11.jpg[/img]The second single "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_It%27s_Lovin%27_That_You_Want][color:19ee=#002bb8]If It's Lovin' That You Want[/color][/url]" 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, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland][color:19ee=#002bb8]Ireland[/color][/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand][color:19ee=#002bb8]New Zealand[/color][/url] 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 [i]Music of the Sun[/i] managed to sell over 500,000 copies in the United States and 2 million worldwide.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-world1-17][color:19ee=#002bb8][18][/color][/url][/sup]
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http://img.letssingit.com/artists/9z9nx/img93486.jpg[/img][/sup]Rihanna second album, [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Girl_like_Me_(Rihanna_album)][color:19ee=#002bb8]A Girl Like Me[/color][/url][/i], was released in April 2006; less than eight months after the release of her first album. The lead single, "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS_(Rihanna_song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]SOS[/color][/url]", was used in an endorsement deal with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.][color:19ee=#002bb8]Nike[/color][/url]. The song became Rihanna's first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also debuted at number one on the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Digital_Songs][color:19ee=#002bb8]Hot Digital Songs[/color][/url] chart. "SOS" peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the UK. The second single, entitled "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfaithful_(song)][color:19ee=#002bb8]Unfaithful[/color][/url]", was written by R&B singer [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne-Yo][color:19ee=#002bb8]Ne-Yo[/color][/url]. The song became her third top ten hit in the U.S. and in the UK. The third single, "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Ride][color:19ee=#002bb8]We Ride[/color][/url]", was not 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. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Dance_Club_Play][color:19ee=#002bb8]Hot Dance Club Play[/color][/url] chart. Rihanna's fourth single from the album, "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_It_Off][color:19ee=#002bb8]Break It Off[/color][/url]" featuring [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Paul][color:19ee=#002bb8]Sean Paul[/color][/url], had already climbed to number 45 on the [i]Billboard[/i] 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. [i]A Girl like Me'[/i]s sales were significantly stronger, selling over 1 million in the U.S.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna#cite_note-defjam-18][color:19ee=#002bb8][19][/color][/url][/sup]
In total, Rihanna has had eleven number-ones on the [i]Billboard[/i] charts and has had major success on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with eight number-ones. When Rihanna received an endorsement deal from [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinique][color:19ee=#002bb8]Clinique[/color][/url], 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 "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winning_Women][color:19ee=#002bb8]Winning Women[/color][/url]" with Pussycat Doll [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Scherzinger][color:19ee=#002bb8]Nicole Scherzinger[/color][/url] for P&G’s female deodorant [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procter_%26_Gamble][color:19ee=#002bb8]Secret[/color][/url].
During this time Rihanna also made her acting debut in a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_appearance][color:19ee=#002bb8]cameo[/color][/url] role in [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bring_It_On:_All_or_Nothing][color:19ee=#002bb8]Bring It On: All or Nothing[/color][/url][/i], which was released on August 8, 2006
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