Rihanna
Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
DOB: February 20, 1988
Where: Saint Michael, Barbados
Genres: R&B, pop, dancehall, reggae, hip hop, dance
Occupations: Actress, recording artist
Years Active: 2005-present
-Known famously as just Rihanna, she is a Barbadian recording artist.
-Moved to the US at age 16 to pursue a career in music.
-In 2005, she released her debut album, Music of the Sun. This album features the #1 hit "Pon de Replay". I love this song!!
-In 2006, she released A Girl Like Me, featuring the track "S.O.S"
-In May 2007, she released her Good Girl Gone Bad album, which included the tracks "Umbrella", "Don't Stop the Music", "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia".
-In 2010, she released her Loud album, which featured the tracks "Only Girl(In the World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M", "We Found Love".
Bio
-Born to Monica Braithwaite, a retired accountant and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor for a clothing factory.
-Her mother, a native of Guyana, is Afro-Guyanese, and her father is Barbadian and Irish descent
-She is the oldest of 3 siblings, 2 brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty. Also has 2 half sisters, and a half brother from her father's side.
-Rihanna grew up listening to reggae and began with music at age 7.
-Her childhood was deeply scarred by her father's addiction to crack cocaine, alcohol and marijuana. Her parents divorced when she was 14.
-She grew up in a 3 bedroom house in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father at a street stall
-When she attended the Combermere High School, she and 2 of her classmates formed a trio. She was an army cadet in a sub-military programme that trained with military of Barbados and fellow Barbadian singer Shontelle was her drill sergeant.
-Rihanna was found in her home by Def Jam Records producer Evan Rogers. He asked Rihanna to come to his hotel room, where she performed versions of Destiny's Child's "Emotion" and Mariah Carey's "Hero".
-On August 22, 2005, her single, Pon de Replay, hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles.
-Because of her Caribbean accent, her music was marketed with reggae music
-In 2007, she wanted to head in a new direction after 3rd studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad. This album has tracks on it such as: "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z. Her other singles, such as "Don't Stop the Music", "Shut Up and Drive", "Hate That I Love You" were able to be as successful as "Umbrella".
-Her single "Disturbia" managed to get to #1 in the United States and New Zealand.
-In 2011, Rihanna was the highest selling singles artist, overtaking British soul musician Adele by a sales number of 6,000 units.
-With songs like "Shut Up and Drive", her music got more into the world of rock music. Her music is a variety of things. "S.O.S" is similar to Soft Cell's "Tainted Love"
-She listed Madonna as her music influence, and she said she wants to be the "black Madonna". Her other music influences are Bob Marley, Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani, and Brandy.
