Everything you need to know about Rihanna's incredible albums
As we eagerly await her ninth album!
Last updated 20th Feb 2024
Rihanna is one of the biggest names in the music industry, having gifted us with an array of huge hits including 'Umbrella', 'Diamonds' and 'Rude Boy' during her incredible career. Not only has the multi-talented 36-year-old had an illustrious music journey, but she has also achieved amazing success with her Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty brands.
Following the release of her brilliant album 'Anti' in 2016, fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of the singer's highly-anticipated ninth studio album, after she released her track 'Lift Me Up' from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack in 2022.
Whilst we look forward to 'R9', we've decided to take a look at RiRi's hugely successful eight albums.
Everything you need to know about Rihanna's albums:
'Music of the Sun'
'Music of the Sun' was Rihanna's debut studio album, released when she was just 17-years-old. The album is in the dance-pop, dancehall and R&B genres, also featuring Caribbean music and reggae elements.
Release date: 29th August 2005
Track list: 1) 'Pon de Replay' 2) 'Here I Go Again' (featuring J-Status) 3) 'If It's Lovin' That You Want' 4) 'You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)' (featuring Vybz Kartel) 5) 'That La, La, La' 6) 'The Last Time' 7) 'Willing To Wait' 8) 'Music of the Sun' 9) 'Let Me' 10) 'Rush' (featuring Kardinal Offishall) 11) 'There's a Thug in My Life' (featuring into by J-Status) 12) 'Now I Know' 13) 'Should I?' (featuring J-Status) (UK bonus track)
Sales: In the UK, 'Music of the Sun' is certified Gold by the BPI, with over 148,000 sales.
Charts: In the UK, the album charted at Number 35.
Personnel: Producers on the album included Evan Rogers, Carol Sturken and Spanador.
'A Girl Like Me'
'A Girl Like Me' is a pop and reggae album. Ne-Yo wrote the song 'Unfaithful', which was the second single to be released from the album. Rihanna told MTV News that the album is called 'A Girl Like Me' as it draws on her 'personal experiences'.
Release date: 10th April 2006
Track list: 1) 'SOS' 2) 'Kisses Don't Lie' 3) 'Unfaithful' 4) 'We Ride' 5) 'Dem Haters' (featuring Dwane Husbands) 6) 'Final Goodbye' 7) 'Break It Off' (with Sean Paul) 8) 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' (featuring J-Status) 9) 'Selfish Girl' 10) 'P.S. (I'm Still Not Over You) 11) 'A Girl Like Me' 12) 'A Million Miles Away' 13) 'If It's Lovin' That You Want - Part 2' (featuring Cory Gunz) (bonus track)
Sales: In the UK, the album is certified 2x Platinum, with sales over 667,000
Charts: 'A Girl Like Me' reached Number 5 on the UK Albums Chart
Tours: Rihanna embarked on the 'Rihanna: Live in Concert' tour from June to September 2006, visiting cities across the United States, Canada and Jamaica.
Personnel: Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Stargate, J.R. Rotem and Ne-Yo.
'Good Girl Gone Bad'
Rihanna's third studio album 'Good Girl Gone Bad' saw the singer take on a new sound, with the album being in the dance-pop and R&B genres. The song 'Umbrella' won the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2008 Grammy Awards and went on to become one of the biggest hits of the decade.
Release date: 31st May 2007
Track list: 1) 'Umbrella' (featuring Jay-Z) 2) 'Push Up on Me' 3) 'Don't Stop the Music' 4) 'Breakin' Dishes' 5) 'Shut Up and Drive' 6) 'Hate That I Love You' (featuring Ne-Yo) 7) 'Say It' 8) 'Sell Me Candy' 9) 'Lemme Get That' 10) 'Rehab' 11) 'Question Existing' 12) 'Good Girl Gone Bad' 13) 'Cry' (UK bonus track)
Sales: In the UK, 'Good Girl Gone Bad' is certified 7x Platinum, with over 2.1 million sales.
Charts: In the UK, the album reached Number 1.
Tours: In support of the album, Rihanna went on the 'Good Girl Gone Bad Tour', visiting cities across the world - including in the UK. The tour took place between September 2007 and January 2009.
Personnel: Rihanna worked with Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Neo da Matrix, Timbaland, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers and Stargate.
'Rated R'
'Rated R' was an edgier release from Rihanna, with some of the tracks on the album incorporating rockier elements and having darker themes. Rihanna described recording sessions for the album as 'therapeutic'.
Release date: 20th November 2009
Track list: 1) 'Mad House' 2) 'Wait Your Turn' 3) 'Hard' (featuring Jeezy) 4) 'Stupid in Love' 5) 'Rockstar 101' (featuring Slash) 6) 'Russian Roulette' 7) 'Fire Bomb' 8) 'Rude Boy' 9) 'Photographs' (featuring will.i.am) 10) 'G4L' 11) 'Te Amo' 12) 'Cold Case Love' 13) 'The Last Song'
Sales: 'Rated R' is certified 2x Platinum in the UK, with 710,000 sales
Charts: The album reached Number 9 on the UK Albums Chart
Tours: In support of the album, Rihanna went on the 'Last Girl on Earth' tour from April 2010 to March 2011
Personnel: Rihanna worked with Chase & Status, Stargate, The-Dream, Ne-Yo and Brian Kennedy.
'Loud'
'Loud' saw Rihanna return to a more up-beat, pop sound. The album was hugely successful, producing popular singles including 'What's My Name?' and 'Only Girl' (In The World)', which won the award for Best Dance Recording at the 2011 Grammy Awards.
Release date: 12th November 2010
Track list: 1) 'S&M' 2) 'What's My Name?' (featuring Drake) 3) 'Cheers (Drink to That)' 4) 'Fading' 5) 'Only Girl (In the World)' 6) 'California King Bed' 7) 'Man Down' 8) 'Raining Men' (featuring Nicki Minaj) 9) 'Complicated' 10) 'Skin' 11) 'Love the Way You Lie (Part II) (featuring Eminem)
Sales: 'Loud' is certified 7x Platinum in the UK, with 2.1 million sales
Charts: The album charted at Number 1 in the UK
Tours: Rihanna embarked on the 'Loud' tour, which took place from June to December 2011
Personnel: Rihanna worked with producers including Stargate, Sandy Vee, The Runners, Tricky Stewart and Alex da Kid.
'Talk That Talk'
Rihanna's sixth studio album 'Talk That Talk' was originally planned to be a re-issue of her fifth album 'Loud'. The album is within the dance-pop and R&B genres, with elements of hip-hop, dubstep and electronic music.
Release date: 18th November 2011
Track list: 1) 'You Da One' 2) 'Where Have You Been' 3) 'We Found Love' (featuring Calvin Harris) 4) 'Talk That Talk' (featuring Jay-Z) 5) 'Cockiness (Love It)' 6) 'Birthday Cake' 7) 'We All Want Love' 8) 'Drunk on Love' 9) 'Roc Me Out' 10) 'Watch n' Learn' 11) 'Farewell'
Sales: 'Talk That Talk' is certified 3x Platinum in the UK, with 1 million sales
Charts: The album reached Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart
Personnel: Rihanna worked with producers including Alex da Kid, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, No I.D. and Stargate.
'Unapologetic'
'Unapologetic' was a hugely-successful album, winning the award for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards. The album produced huge tracks including 'Diamonds' and 'Stay'.
Release date: 19th November 2012
Track list: 1) 'Phresh Out the Runway' 2) 'Diamonds' 3) 'Numb' (featuring Eminem) 4) 'Pour It Up' 5) 'Loveeeeeee Song' (featuring Future) 6) 'Jump' 7) 'Right Now' (featuring David Guetta) 8) 'What Now' 9) 'Stay' (featuring Mikky Ekko) 10) 'Nobody's Business' featuring Chris Brown 11) 'Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary' 12) 'Get It Over With' 13) 'No Love Allowed' 14) 'Lost In Paradise'
Sales: 'Unapologetic' is certified 2x Platinum in the UK with 600,000 sales
Charts: The album reached Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart
Tours: In support of the album, Rihanna embarked on the 'Diamonds World Tour', which started in March 2013 and concluded in November 2013
Personnel: Rihanna worked with The-Dream, David Guetta, Chase & Status, Stargate, Parker Ighile, Mike Will Made It and Labrinth.
'Anti'
'Anti' was Rihanna's seventh album, and her first one to be released under Roc Nation and Westbury Road after leaving Def Jam Recordings.
Release date: 28th January 2016
Track list: 1) 'Consideration' (featuring SZA) 2) 'James Joint' 3) 'Kiss It Better' 4) 'Work' (featuring Drake) 5) 'Desperado' 6) 'Woo' 7) 'Needed Me' 8) 'Yeah, I Said It' 9) 'Same Ol' Mistakes' 10) 'Never Ending' 11) 'Love on the Brain' 12) 'Higher' 13) 'Close to You'
Sales: 'Anti' is certified Platinum in the UK, with 300,000 sales
Charts: The album reached Number 7 on the UK Albums Chart
Tours: In support of the album, Rihanna went on her 'Anti World Tour' from March to November 2016
Personnel: Rihanna worked with producers including Jeff Bhasker, Boi-1da, DJ Mustard, Hit-Boy, Brian Kennedy, Timbaland and No I.D.
Ninth album
After the release of 'Anti' in 2016, fans have been eagerly awaiting Rihanna's highly-anticipated ninth studio album. RiRi had previously told Vogue that she wanted to release the new album in 2023, but this was before she announced her second pregnancy and welcomed her baby boy Riot Rose Mayers.
However, in December 2023, Rihanna teased big plans, telling Entertainment Tonight that she'd always had plans to return to touring, but she wants to wait until she has new music before going on tour. Hopefully we'll be getting new music from Rihanna soon!
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