& Amerie's album was actually exptional. If was far different than the last. People saying, she should stick to R&B. Then, she wouldn't be an artist. An artist is supposed to expirement, and explore new things & sounds. If she did the same R&B, sound she would be critiqued for not trying something different. So, let's not go there. I guess people liking her album is preference, so i'm not going there. As to Prince, Rihanna is the it factor. How? She looks pretty, is that the "it" factor, cause that's all she has going for her. What else can you say. Her label/stylist dress her? Her label molds her into a marketable image? She doesn't write her own songs? She sounds horrible live? She can't dance? She can't perform? Her personality is a lil bland? Is that the it factor? If so, I don't think Amerie wants this "it" factor.