@wilddebutante

i'll cosign that my comment may have come off a little smug (though not untrue). i like some shit that isn't exactly highbrow. however, i find VERY little artistic merit to anything rihanna does (not to mention she can barely sing live and doesn't write her own shit unlike some other pop acts). you can list off all the endorsements in the world. it still won't change my opinion. i am familiar with rihannas catalog. i own rated-r (her best album imho).

i don't have rihanna on my ipod and my musical taste is not on trial here. my main point still wasn't addressed though. popularity does NOT speak to quality and the last couple rihanna albums have been hot caca.

anyway... solo gwen and the last no doubt album were kind of a turn off for me so im not super excited, but when we get a full leak i'll give it a listen.