UK Pop phenomenons JLS continue to garner endorsement after endorsement from music’s biggest stars ahead of their attempt to crack the US market next month – the latest being Rihanna. In a recent interview with The Sun, the Bajan beauty not only revealed that she’s set to work with the group, but also shared her pearls of artistic wisdom in assessing the boy’s chance of worldwide success:

“Working with JLS is something that will happen this year. Jay will make stars out of them. He has been a great mentor to me. He has been around long enough to spot real talent and he knows who will become worldwide stars. They can sing, they can dance, they look good, actually they look very good. But more importantly they look like a group. It doesn’t look like they have been put together. It looks like they are meant to be together.”

A musical masterpiece in the making, no doubt.

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: JLS, Rihanna

Antonio L.A. Reid has found himself in hot water after being accused of mishandling many of his label’s biggest projects during the last year. The Island Def Jam CEO has reportedly been facing pressure from Lucian Grainge, the new Universal Music Group CEO, following his rampant spending and the incredibly low sales of Mariah Carey and Rihanna’s recent releases. Moreover, Reid’s recent efforts to sign Jennifer Lopez (who has not had a hit  record in years) have made him the target of serious media criticism.

Reid was scheduled to answer questions  from fellow industry moguls regarding the issue at the Billboard 2010 Music & Money Symposium at the St. Regis last week but failed to make an appearance after one of his sons mysteriously fell ill. To date, Carey’s ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’ has sold just short of 500k units since it’s release in September while Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ has only shipped 2.5 worldwide compared to the 2.6 million that her ‘Good Girl Gone Bade’ album sold in the US alone.

Dear Mariah and Rihanna: Get out now! Do not pass ‘go’. Do not collect $200. Just get the heck out of Dodge!

Thoughts?

Filed Under: Mariah Carey, Rihanna

Rihanna took to the stage at the Echo Awards in Berlin, Germany tonight to perform new single ‘Rude Boy’. Check out how your favourite vocalist and mine fared above…

I actually rather enjoyed Ms. Fenty’s performance. Yes, her vocals (as always) were compromised so as for her to actually move around on stage. Yet it’s hard to deny that her swagger was in full-effect (however unjustified it is) and the stage set-up (cheeky robots inclusive) was a nice touch too. Not bad…

What do you think of the performance?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Barbados’ Next Top Model, Rihanna, turned heads as she walked the red purple carpet at Echo Awards, in Berlin, Germany a few moments ago. As is usual, the 22 year old looked stunning!

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna was spotted in Berlin, Germany yesterday. The Bajan beauty sported a spiked denim jacket to an album signing to promote her latest LP, ‘Rated R’. Check out more pics below:

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Filed Under: Rihanna

Our good friends over at Rap-Up.com recently caught up with hitmaker Sean Garret, who revealed more about Rihanna’s forthcoming album – which he has been enlisted to work on. As previously reported, the popular model is set to release an entirely new LP this summer – less than a year after the release of the relatively successful ‘Rated R’. Check out what Garrett had to say after the jump…

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Filed Under: Rihanna

A few months ago, Rihanna took part in a campaign to raise awareness for the plight of 7 year old Jasmine Anema who was dying of leukemia. Now, a month after the child has passed away, her mother, Karen Detrick, has accused Rihanna possibly of using her daughter’s illness for publicity. Check out what she had to say below:

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Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna is blazing her way along the promotional trail. This time the Bajan performed her new song, ‘Rude Boy‘, on the UK’s GMTV. The song has thus far peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #23 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

It’s safe to say that this was one of the better performances of that song date. Rihanna is slowly coming into her own as a performer and, as usual, her fashion game was on point. Her team has made solid decisions thus far with this album’s singles selections, unlike Rihanna’s idol and label mate, Mariah Carey. Timing is everything and ‘Rude Boy’ came out at the perfect moment.

Thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna was the guest performer on yesterday’s episode of ‘Alan Carr: Chatty Man’. The Bajan performed her new single ‘Rude Boy’ for the UK audience. To date, the song has peaked at #23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the UK Singles Chart. {*Video only seems to work outside the UK…ironic, huh? Will update link when new one becomes available*}

It looks like Rihanna’s gravel in a blender vocals weren’t the only things rude in that performance. She certainly looked like she was having a good time grinding her waistline for the crowd and I had no problems with that. She has a great body and although many may be offended by her microphone jerking near the end, all I saw was a young woman being in charge of her sexuality.

Check out another segment of the show below where Rihanna tried to teach Alan how to dutty wine (don’t try that at home because the neck movements have been known to kill people):

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Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna sat down with ‘Talk Asia’ on CNN recently. The trendy star discussed a wide range of topics including how she was discovered, her thoughts on her career thus far, Chris Brown and the direction she plans to take on her next studio album. Rihanna also delved into a conversation about her childhood and witnessing her father using crack cocaine. Great interview.

Thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Although it has been less than four months since the release of her Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ LP, fresh reports today are confirming that the model-turned-aspiring singer is set to release an entirely album ‘this summer’. According to insiders close to the project; after the tumultuous year the Bajan experienced during the recording period of her current LP (which was critiqued by some for being ‘too dark’), the 22 year old is keen to re-embrace a lighter-Popier sound, in the vein of previous hits ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ and ‘Disturbia’. {Source} {Source 2}

I can’t say I didn’t see this coming (a fact regular readers will know we’ve been calling out ever since ‘Rated R’ dropped). I mean granted ‘Rated R’ is probably Ms. Fenty’s best album to-date (which isn’t saying all that much), that dark (or as her folk would call it ‘edgy’) image she was trying to sell was just not cutting it with the masses – hence the so-so sales of the project despite 4 videos and an epic promotional push. I guess the current success of ‘Rude Boy’, the most playful cut on her record, has her label anxious to ‘go that route’ again. While I imagine they’re hoping it brings in the $$$, it kinda leaves me wondering still – ‘just what kind of artist is Rihanna?’ Four albums down the line and many still have not ascertained the answer to the question.

While I’m sure some will greet the news of more sheep-bleating on a CD with glee, I can’t say I share in that sentiment. Rushing through singles with the quickness and dropping a new album less than a year after the first was released (likely due to lukewarm sales) is on par with RiRi’s much critiqued re-release strategy (see: the 100 re-issues of ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’). I mean really. Saturation.com

To digest the absurdity of it all, one need not look further than Lady GaGa, who continues to enjoy chart-smashing success (BOTH ‘The Fame’ and ‘The Fame Monster’ are still in the top 10 on the Billboard 200), yet has only officially released one single since November – that being ‘Bad Romance’ – and has been on tour for the most part. I guess it goes to show folk will still buy records – if it’s worth their cash.

Still, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Your favourite Bajan model and ours, Rihanna, continues to press ahead with the promotion for her moderately well-selling ‘Rated R’ LP, most recently stopping by AOL Sessions. The 22 year old performed a range of her hits – past and present-  including ‘Take A Bow’, ‘Disturbia’, ‘Russian Roulette’, ‘Hard’, and latest single ‘Rude Boy’. Check out the entire set above…(I’ll update the post with separate performances as and when they become available).

As usual, the billy-goat bleeting was in full-effect, but on an upside she’s giving more ‘umph’ than usual these days, which must count for something, right…?

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna sat down with MTV News to talk about her plans for her next studio project. The Bajan’s latest released, ‘Rated R’, has already been certified platinum in the US and sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Check out an excerpt from the interview below:

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Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna celebrated her 22nd birthday in Arizona this weekend. The model partied with a large crowd of guests including her close personal friend, Matt Kemp. Amongst the presents the ‘Hard’ performer received from Kemp was a lap dance from little person, ‘Bridget the Midget’.

I have no words…

Thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Check out this behind the scenes look at Rihanna’s video for latest single ‘Rude Boy’ (directed by Melina). Credit where credit is due, this Bajan model was going for gold with the sass and overall confidence she exuded on this one. Granted great editing did her a lot of favours in terms of  making her mechanical whine less…well…mechanical, she gave it her all and deserves kudos for that. It’s just a shame that Ms. Fenty never seems to replicate such swagger when a mic and a live audience are given to her. Sigh…

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Rihanna

Rihanna performance of new single ‘Rude Boy’ on The Ellen Degeneres Show aired a few moments ago. Check it out above…

While, Ms. Fenty’s stage presence is improving (stiff whining and all), her live vocals are still not the business. I was a little baffled as to why she was holding the mic to her mouth instead of her nose, as her vocals were extra nasal today.

Still, as the age old saying goes, people will only believe in you, once you start belieivng in yourself; and, judging by this performance and some of her more recent showings, she’s starting to believe in her performance capabilities. Now, if only her talent would catch up with her self-belief, then we may be onto something.

What do you think of the performance?

Filed Under: Rihanna