. Her mother is a Guyanese of Barbadian origin and her father is Barbadian. She has two younger brothers named Rorrey and Rajad. Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to one of Barbados' Grammar (older secondary) schools, the Combermere School, 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, singing Mariah Carey's "Hero". At the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rogers, along with his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record material in the US which was sent to various recording companies. One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to Def Jam Records. Rihanna cites Alicia Keys, Beyonce and her Caribbean background as major musical influences. Rihanna also stated in an interview that her friend and former Island Def Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone that she admired and looked up to, having a fellow artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.
Music career
Music of the Sun
Rihanna's debut album Music of the Sun, which she co-wrote, was released in August 2005. The first single released from the album was the track "Pon De Replay", which peaked at number two on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart due to considerable airplay. The second single, "If It's Lovin 'That You Want", was less successful than its predecessor, peaking on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 36, and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself peaked within the top ten in Canada, and the US, and within the top forty in the UK. It has received platinum certifications in several countries, and received a Gold certification in the US by the RIAA. To further promote the album, Rihanna toured as an opening act for American pop singer Gwen Stefani. The album sold over 500,000 units in the US and over 2 million worldwide. The album features many dancehall songs that harken to her island upbringing. Because her second album, A Girl Like Me was released so soon after Music of the Sun, no more singles were released. However, a third single, "Let Me" was officially released in Japan, and peaked at number eight there.
Rihanna sultry babadian singer in green dress
Rihanna, thoughtful in green
A Girl Like Me
In 2006, Rihanna participated in several endorsement deals, including for Nike and JC Penney. She released her second album, A Girl Like Me, in April 2006, less than eight months after the release of her first album. The album debuted at number five in the US and number four in the UK. The lead single, "SOS", was used in her endorsement deal with Nike. The song became Rihanna's first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also debuted at number one on the Hot Digital Songs chart. "SOS" peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the UK. The second single, entitled "Unfaithful", was written by R & B singer Ne-Yo, and addresses the feelings of guilt that the protagonist of the song faces as she cheats on her boyfriend. The song became her third top ten hit in the US and in the UK. The third single "We Ride" wasn't as successful as her previous releases, failing to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, however, it became her fifth UK top 20 single, where it peaked at number 17 on that chart and peaked number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Rihanna's fourth single from the album "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul, had already climbed to number 45 on the Billboard 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.
In total Rihanna has had 11 different number-ones on the Billboard charts and has had major success on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with four number-ones ("Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful" and "We Ride" ). When Rihanna received an endorsement deal from Clinique, she recorded a song written by Ne-Yo entitled "Just Be Happy" as part of the deal to promote their Happy fragrance. The song can be heard on her Myspace page. Rihanna also recently recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P & G's female deodorant Secret.
Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, which was released on August 8, 2006, she also appeared on an episode of American soap opera All My Children and drama Las Vegas.
Rihanna singing on stage
Rihanna on stage
Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna went in the studio in the early 2007 with Ne-Yo, Stargate, Timbaland among others to record her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad. The album was released on June 5, 2007. It features Jay-Z and Ne-Yo as featured artists. The first single, "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z, was released on March 29, 2007 reaching number one in various countries, including the US It was produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash. Her second single, "Shut Up and Drive", was sent to radio stations on June 5, has so far peaked at # 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rihanna also stated that the album has a different feel from her previous two, with more up-tempo and mid-tempo melodies.
Rihanna worked with Timbaland on three songs in the album. Justin Timberlake co-wrote and provides background vocals on "Rehab". In interviews, many have questioned the meaning and reasoning of the album title. During an interview on UK radio station Capital FM, Rihanna explains: "Bad is not sleazy. Bad has its own term to every individual and in my case it just means I've gotten a little rebellious on the album, broken out of my shell and I'm taking risks ... Michael Jackson 'bad' kind of way. " The album title reflects the difference between the old and new Rihanna. "Bad means cool, bad means funky, bad means having an attitude, bad means being edgy. This album is definitely a great representation of who I am now, and where I am in my career," she says.
Rihanna was named 2007 Venus Breeze 'Celebrity Legs of a Goddess' by Gillette, and she insured her legs for $ 1,000,000. Rihanna is also set to be going on tour with Chris Brown and Bow Wow.
On July 7, 2007, Rihanna performed at the Japanese leg of Live Earth in Tokyo.
Starting December 6, 2007 Rihanna will tour the UK in support of the album with ten shows, it is called the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour. On Monday of last week, Chris Brown confirmed that Rihanna is going to be on his album.
FILMOGRAPHY
Soundtrack:
SingStar Pop (2007) (VG) (performer: "SOS")
"CSI: NY" (1 episode, 2006)
- Charge of This Post (2006) TV Episode (performer: "SOS")
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (2005) (TV) (performer: "Pon De Replay")
"Veronica Mars" (1 episode, 2005)
- Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner (2005) TV Episode ("Pon De Replay")
"Entourage" (2 episodes, 2005)
- The Bat Mitzvah (2005) TV Episode ("Pon De Replay")
- An Offer Refused (2005) TV Episode ("Pon De Replay")
"Quelli che ... il calcio" (2001) TV Series (unknown episodes)
Self:
Live Earth (2007) (TV) .... Herself
... aka Live Earth 7.7.07 (International: English title: poster title)
... aka Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis (International: English title)
... aka SOS: The Movement for a Climate in Crisis (International: English title: poster title)
"The View" .... Herself (1 episode, 2007)
- Episode dated 11 June 2007 (2007) TV Episode .... Herself
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" .... Herself / ... (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
- Episode dated 5 June 2007 (2007) TV Episode .... Herself - Musical Guest
- Episode dated 8 June 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself / Musical Guest
"Planet Voice" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2007)
- Rihanna i Planet Voice (2007) TV Episode .... Herself
- Fergie, Rihanna & T-Pain i Planet Voice (2007) TV Episode .... Herself
2007 MTV Movie Awards (2007) (TV) .... Herself
"The Dome" .... Herself (1 episode, 2007)
- Episode # 1.42 (2007) TV Episode .... Herself
"Loose Women" .... Performer (1 episode, 2007)
- Episode # 11.93 (2007) TV Episode .... Performer
2006 St. Lucia Jazz Festival (2007) (TV) .... Herself
Nokia New Year's Eve (2006) (TV) .... Herself
Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2006) (TV) .... Herself
The 2006 World Music Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself
"TV total" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 20 November 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself - Performer / Winner
2006 NFL Opening Kickoff (2006) (TV) .... Herself
MTV Video Music Awards 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) (V) .... Herself
"Richard & Judy" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 7 July 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
MTV Movie Awards 2006 Pre-Show (2006) (TV) .... Herself / Host
2006 MuchMusic Video Awards (2006) .... Herself
"Last Call with Carson Daly" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 6 June 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
"Punk'd" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode # 7.8 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 27 April 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
"Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
... aka Live with Regis (USA: new title)
- Episode dated 25 April 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 28 July 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
"Best Hit USA" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 16 April 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
The JammX Kids All Star Dance Special (2006) (TV) .... Herself
"Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
- Episode dated 20 February 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 5 September 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
BET Awards 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself
"Las Vegas" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- The Real McCoy (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
"The Tyra Banks Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Couples Makeovers (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
"The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" .... Herself - Musical Guest (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode # 2.21 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself - Musical Guest
"Store studio" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Hyllest til 'Joachim Jokke Nielsen' (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
The 2005 World Music Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself / Performer
"Today" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
... aka NBC News Today (USA: promotional title)
- Episode dated 7 September 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
Hope Rocks: The Concert with a Cause (2005) (TV) .... Herself
"Top of the Pops" .... Herself (1 episode)
... aka All New Top of the Pops (UK)
... aka TOTP
- Episode dated 7 May 2006 (????) TV Episode .... Herself
Archive Footage:
"106 & Park Top 10 Live"
- Celebrity Week: Julissa and Trey Songz in the Building (2007) TV Episode .... Herself ('Umbrella' Video)
"Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show"
- Episode dated 12 February 2007 (2007) TV Episode .... Herself
Rihanna wearing a tantalising black feather dress
Rihanna wearing a tantalising black number
DISCOGRAPHY
Albums
2005: Music of the Sun
2006: A Girl Like Me
2007: Good Girl Gone Bad
Singles
2005: "Pon de Replay"
2005: "If It's Lovin 'That You Want"
2006: "SOS"
2006: "Unfaithful"
2006: "We Ride"
2006: "Break It Off" (featuring Sean Paul)
2007: "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z)
2007: "Shut Up and Drive"
2007: "Don't Stop The Music"
Tours
The Pussycat Dolls With Rihanna 2006
Good Girl Gone Bad Tour 2007
Awards and nominations
2006
THE 20th JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD 2006 - New Artist Of The Year
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best New Artist in a Video - "Pon De Replay"
Teen Choice Awards
Female Breakout Artist
Choice R & B Artist
MOBO Awards - Best R & B Artist
BMI Urban Awards - "Pon de Replay"
MTV Europe Music Awards - Best R & B Artist
Billboard Music Awards
Female Artist of the Year
Pop 100 Artist of the Year
Hot 100 Artist of the Year
Hot Dance Airplay song of the Year for "SOS"
Barbados Music Awards
Best Reggae / Dancehall Album - Music Of The Sun
Best Dance Single - "Pon De Replay"
Song Of The Year - "Pon De Replay"
Album Of The Year - Music Of The Sun
Best New Artist
Female Artist Of The Year
Best-selling Female Artist Of The Year
Entertainer Of The Year
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