Only twenty years old, Rihanna has accomplished more than most musicians ever will in their entire careers - she's released three albums, won a Grammy, and been signed to Def Jam Recordings. Perhaps even more impressive is that she remains as charming and genuine as ever, consistently releasing catchy dancehall music that blends her exotic island-girl style with some of the best beats and production that the music industry has to offer. At a time in their careers when younger musicians can become jaded or restless, it is refreshing to come across a young woman who can remain so proud and confident in her abilities without even a tinge of arrogance.
Growing up in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna was no stranger to music, singing with a group of her friends at the Combermere School, an exclusive academy founded in 1695. At age 15 she won the school's beauty pageant and was crowned "Miss Combermere."Rihanna’s stunning beauty - her green eyes are a holdover from her father’s partial Irish ancestry - and exotic voice soon caught the attention of New York-based producers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers (who have also produced songs for label mate Christina Milian) and the trio soon recorded Rihanna’s first smash hit, 2005's Pon De Replay.
Pon De Replay soon proved to be one of the hottest tracks of the year, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rihanna's unique vocal style, backed by subtle synth stylings and a head bobbing bass drum beat, made this song an instant dance club anthem. Her first album Music of the Sun followed suit, with 12 wonderfully catchy and upbeat tracks that clearly demonstrate her Caribbean heritage, including the soulful If It’s Lovin' That You Want.
Rihanna soon released her second album, Girl Like Me, which somewhat eschews her Caribbean style in favor of a somewhat more mature urban influence, but proves with flagship track SOS that she is still capable of burning up the dance floor. Her third album, 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad, has proved to be her most popular yet, debuting #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and going platinum in the USA and worldwide. Good Girl Gone Bad standouts include Umbrella, an epic vocal ballad mixed with mesmerizing drum beats and a guest appearance by Rock-A-Fella superstar Jay-Z and Don't Stop The Music, an uptempo track that blends her signature vocal style with a fast paced dance groove and a distinct disco groove. As of 2008, Rihanna has begun working on her yet-untitled fourth album, slated to drop sometime in 2009.