Without question, Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty has carved a thorough little niche for herself in the world of Hip Hop. Most question Rihanna’s presence on a website that caters to rappers and producers. Why is she here you ask? The answer is: why not? Rihanna’s fifth studio album Loud might not meet the stringent standards of Hip Hop, but like most of your favorite rappers, her eye is on mainstream domination.
We first met the Bajan princess about five years ago with the syrupy Caribbean hit “Pon De Replay” (off Music Of the Sun), where we weren’t exactly sure what market she was going for. Her follow-up album A Girl Like Me was a segue toward the milestone in Rihanna’s career. A co-sign from Jay-Z drove her to new heights, especially with the colossal hit “Umbrella” off the monumental Good Girl Gone Bad. After that, RiRi’s output was consistent, charging the masses with her breathy vocals and hooking rappers up like T.I. on “Live Your Life” and the war-declaring “Run This Town” with Jay-Z and Kanye West. A hiccup in Chris Brown’s career proved that Rihanna could take a few punches and still return with the extra slick Rated R. The edgy work didn’t necessarily make a Pop impact, but with Jeezy on the aptly titled “Hard” and the eerily poignant “Russian Roulette,” it was clear that Rihanna wasn’t looking for extra exposure. She just wanted to vent.
Loud is probably the album that would have followed Good Girl Gone Bad had the CB incident never happened. It’s an extension of the abstract dancey hits Good Girl delivered like the Girl Power-charged “Only Girl In the World” and the splashy “Raining Men” 
with Nicki Minaj. However, there’s a subtle liberation on Loud that can only happen when one’s entire life becomes a tabloid billboard. It’s balls to the wall for Rihanna this time especially on the opener “S&M,” a very Lady Gaga-esque track with some interestingly graphic lines like, “Sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it.” Songs like “Man Down” and “Love the Way You Lie (Part II) (with Eminem) follow along the same vein as “Unfaithful” and “Russian Roulette” where love and death become synonymous. A cameo from her rumored former lover Drake on “What’s My Name” proves Rihanna can still take her sound back to the yard effortlessly.
While each track on Loud is an audio Polaroid of past work, there’s little evolution. It’s evident Rihanna is working her way to the top, but she’s been doing that for three albums now. Loud is perhaps the work that will put her back on the fast track, and since Rihanna is officially throwing up the Roc (another proud Roc Nation signee), perhaps she’ll make the official transition from Princess to Queen the next time around.
Love it.
Rihanna makes amazing singles and very middle of the road albums. I like her better than Beyonce though.
“like most of your favorite rappers, her eye is on mainstream domination.”
Not a single one of my ‘favorite’ rappers is mainstream, so fuck you, Kathy, and your assumptions.
LOL…
😉
It’s evident Rihanna is working her way to the top, but she’s been doing that for three albums now.”
And that’s why it’s not a 3,5/5. She repeats herself and on this album she had no personal style at all
Rihanna is like a Janet Jackson, Mariah or madonna. It’s about the singles, not the album so you really gotta give more weight to the singles. Once in a while, they come up with that classic (Good girl gone bad, rythm nation, etc.) but it’s not the norm. i give it a 5
…..and in other news,I don’t give a rats ass!!!
what’s so hiphop about this album? let some other mickey mouse site rate this.
Good musiccc, Good music!
I loved it
Yall might hate me for this but I welcome it. Rihanna as an artist can do no wrong in my eyes AND Nicki on the track… Nigga this shit get a 10 Bitch! lol
I need a website that can call shit out when they see it. But DMX can only see gold, so i’m leaving. Does anyone know of other Legit hip-hop reviewing sites?
i think rihanna is gorgeous but i don’t really care 4 this album
rated r was better
i liked this album alot in fact listening to it now
I never really followed rih rih in her early years so for me everything Rated R and up is the rihanna I like. That fuck nigga I love sex cuss on the album for no reason Rihanna lol! She sounded badass in RR so for me this album is a nice follow up. It’s like a combination between Good girl Gone Bad and Rated R.
Incredible!
im getting really sick of her lately. She is really talented and all, but every other song on the radio is by her. I was really disappointed as well when the did a love the way you lie pt. 2. Sequels are the gayest pieces of shit ever! Don’t touch the original!! It was fine the way it was.
“Loud is probably the album that would have followed Good Girl Gone Bad had the CB incident never happened.”
True, but sad. Rated R was the only album that had me interested in Rihanna outside of looks. She had a “shitty” attitude. Hopefully she’ll show it next album.
i love the album
u better run bitch im coming for your ass,wen u sleeping ima b there freddy krueger hoe
VERY GOOD ALBUM WORTH BUYING
Cant go wrong with tracks like
1. S&M,
2. Fading,
3. Only Girl,
4. Raining Men,
5. Complicated,
6. Cheers (Drink to that),
7. Man Down,
8. Skin
9. Whats my name
THE WHOLE ALBUMS IS GOOD FROM START TO FINISH WITH A DIFFERENT SOUND TO EVERY TUNE.
LOVE THE FACT SHE’S NOT AFRAID TO BE POLITICALLY INCORRECT
PEOPLE ONLY HATE YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT…GIRL’S DOIN HER THING
KUDOS. KEEP THE HITS COMIN
STILL playing this album!!!!
with the died red hair, this bitch looks like beaker from the muppots
I thought it was okay, but I wouldn’t buy it. It’s nothing compared to her Rated R album, so that’s enough said.