Sometimes Pop has a funny away of surprising its loyal.
Whether by way of a record breaking album- Adele‘s ‘21′– or the birth of an ‘epic’ feud- GaGa v Madonna, it’s safe to say that the ‘culture’ and its ever changing plot line are anything but predictable.
Take Def Jam’s Rihanna for one.
Bursting onto the scene with dance hit ‘Pon De Play’ in 2005, very few could have predicted the teen sensation would go onto to rival the acts her very cause was styled on.
Scoring more US #1 singles in seven years than many of her predecessors have scored in twenty, Fenty’s well oiled hit machine has seen her become one of the world’s more bankable stars- raking in $90 million from her critically panned ‘Loud Tour‘.
However, for all her success, recent years have seen her brand tarnished by many a scandal.
Scandals, involving plagiarism of intellectual property, her volatile relationship with fellow entertainer Chris Brown, and more recently, baseless reports of substance addiction.
Worsened by the part she allegedly played the physical altercation between Brown and Rapper Drake Graham, the media’s coverage of her ‘troubles’ have led to fans questioning her stability, and relationship with Roc Nation boss Jay Z.
“She’s out of it”
“She’s promiscuous”
“She must be on drugs”
“She parties every night”
“She’s terrified of being replaced by Rita”.
All criticisms aimed the singer’s way.
So now we ask:
Is Rihanna budding icon with a promising future ahead of her?
Or
A deeply troubled starlet in danger of self destructing.