10 million albums in the US. 190 million singles worldwide.
For Rihanna, the last decade might be described as a dream come true, rising from potential one hit wonder status in 2005 to heights some might argue are iconic, now considered competition by artists she once considered heroes.
Alas, as she gears up to release her eighth studio album, the entertainer finds herself forced to push a lead single some consider to be her weakest to date, doing all of nothing to spark interest in its parent album in the way a new Rihanna single should.
So, ever keen to keep to let you know what’s been on our minds, we’re dedicating this edition of That Grape Juice A&R to Riri’s eighth studio album!
Fresh ideas below…
After watching Beyonce make a better meal out of her “bad girl” recipe, it became pretty clear that Ms. Fenty was in dire need of a new angle.
Unfortunately, while “stripped back and artistic” Rihanna seems nice on paper, it doesn’t seem all that plausible when one remembers that the ‘Only Girl in the World‘ is an excellent Pop star, only excelling when armed with the bells and whistles she now seems to be stripped of.
So, what’s a girl to do when tasked with pushing an older & wiser new era to young and excitable fans?
Offer a “braver” version of what’s already worked.
If Katy Perry’s ‘Prism’ taught us anything it’s that the same product can be sold twice pretty easily if one knows how to alter the packaging.
Indeed, when one really thinks about it, what did Perry say on the supposedly dark and daring ‘Prism’ that she didn’t say on the sickly sweet ‘Teenage Dream’?.
Ok.
So, if we were tasked with handling R8’s direction we’d place the star at the forefront of R&B with a “flavasome” LP, presenting her as a soulful gold coin in a box full of manufactured silvers.
Led by Clean Bandit-style singles, the project would see Rihanna get her ‘Velvet Rope’ on with cuts that go deeper than she’s ever gone before, pairing controversial themes with catchy melodies and seemingly PG friendly lyrics that only show their true meanings when dissected by the critics she’s no doubt eager to impress.
Peep our mock track list below.
1. Clean Bandit – ‘Extraordinary.’
2. Lana Del Rey – ‘Summertime Sadness (Reggae Remix.)’
3. Santogold – ‘I’m A Lady.’
4. Chris Brown – ‘Loyal.’
5. Stromae – ‘Tous Le Memes.’
6. Janet Jackson – ‘What About.’
7. Madonna – ‘Bad Girl.’
8. I Wayne – ‘I Need Her In My Arms.’
9. Tracy Chapman – ‘For My Lover.’
10. Everything But The Girl – ‘Missing.’
11. Adinah Howard – ‘Freak Like Me.’
12. Sting – ‘Shape of my Heart.’
13. Janet Jackson – ‘Together Again.’
Do you agree?
I agree to some extent. I do want her to have her “Velvet Rope” era and make quality music, music that will be remembered and change pop music. Without Velvet Rope, there will be no Britney, Xtina, Rihanna, etc. But at the same time, I want Rih to keep her signature sound.. easy for the ear, nice catchy lyrics, nice powerful beats, but at the same time, keep it a timeless record.. very curious as how this era will turn out to be!
All I know is that her single Sucks!
I will buy the album tho, I usually like her music.
Rihanna not failing by all means so many of our favs would love to debut with her currant number especially in the R&B world
RIHANNA HAS NO ORIGINALITY AS AN ARTIST JUST LIKE BEYONCÉ. SHE IS A MASTER COPYCAT AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT WRITING ARRANGING VOCALS OR PRODUCING. HER ARTISTRY IS GRUESOME. EVERYTHING IS HANDED TO HER SHE IS A BLANK CANVAS. ATLEAST TRAMPYONCE IS HANDS ON IN HER ARRANGING AND PERFORMING. RIHANNA DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND DESERVES TO FLOP THIS IS HER BRITNEY JEAN ERA 🙁
What’s this now? Slow news day at the tgj HQ? Well, those bills won’t pay themselves, so bring on the Riherpes posts. But no one cares what you and your tgj team thinks. Just stop with this foolishness! Give us the news, and keep it moving.
#Scared
Le struggle is real
I cannot see Rihanna doing something similar to Janet’s “What About” at all maybe ever in her career but I like the Tracy Chapman song idea.
FourFiveSeconds
#1 Botswana
#1 Bulgaria
#1 Denmark
#1 Dominican Republic
#1 Ghana
.
9/11
#20 Bermuda
#27 Bulgaria
#30 Nigeria
#30 The Bahamas
#41 South Africa
.
Not at the H.IV+ paying their fave dust!! Why is 9/11 struggling harder than the pinkshit? SCRREEAAMMIINNGGGG
Self-Titled-2.1million copies US 5MILLION WW
Unapologetic-1.somethingmillion copies US 4million WW
Artflop-outsold by Beyonce’s 7 day sales US hasnt sold half of Unapologetic WW.
190 million records?! My god!
150+Million. This site is not a reliable reciept.
It been 150 for a min, records don’t saty still for 2 years. With streaming and other stuff, I’m sure it’s up there by now.
i’m sure its moved up since then thats why i added plus but do you think that in 2 years with virtually no knew music she has sold 40million plus records? Its probably like @ 160 to 170mill records.
Very true, but wasn’t the 150M counted right before her last album?
Lol @ them only mentioning US when it comes to album sales to try and make her seem small. Predictable queens
David likes her so I dont think it was shade, He even said shes sold 190 million when we all know its around 90 million.
Yeah I was about to say, David is a friend to the Navi.
I love her but yes she dose need a new era like velvet rope today artist have a long way to go if they want have a legacy like janet mariah madonna i know jlo dont sell as much as them above but shes holding on and she dose change it up cant stick to the same always its not about album sells its your body of work i hope shes surprise us well see
Screaaaaaaaaamsssssssss @Cake_like_GaGa1 posting iTunes chart positions for 7/11. Mad cause Beyonce is slaying GaGa. Post them receipts boo. We wanna see your ticket to the Born This Way Tour??? Until you can forever shut your mouth.
Oops I accidentally posted your twitter name there mate. Oops my bad
Hello @BadvokateK
CRYING at the exposure!!!!! @badvocatek is it??? Lol at your obsession over me! Hahahahaha
I didn’t see it at first but this site has a little something against rih I think. The previous article said ” here’s the single to her (delayed) album” but she never confirmed when or a name or anything?! So how is it DELAYED?!? lol! SMH. All I know is I actually like her new single. It grew on me. She actually vibing vocally on there and I dig that. Can’t wait for her future singles because at the end of the day I’m really here for her good ole hip-hop/r&b or popy edgy Music 😉 #Can’tWait!!!
Katy Perry said multiple times before the album was released that Prism wouldn’t be a dark album. Those comments were made after her divorce but when she got into the studio she took a different approach by “letting the light in her life”, hence the title Prism. It wasn’t a bad album either. Teenage Dream was full of built for radio hits, Prism had actual substance and showed growth. I think Rihanna should do an album like Prism. The first half was filled with hits but the second part of the album showed Katy as a artist. Rih can do something like that with more adult contemporary songs. My A&R tracklist:
1. Love Me Harder by Ariana Grande and the Weeknd
2. Maybe by Teyana Taylor ft Pusha T
3. Hands on Me by Ariana Grande ft A$AP Ferg
4. Nobodies Business by Rihanna ft Chris Brown
5. You Da One by Rihanna
6. Unconditionally by Katy Perry
7. California King Bed by Rihanna
8. What Now by Rihanna
9. Wicked Games by the Weeknd
10. Stay by Rihanna
11. Choose Your Battles by Katy Perry
12. Pyramids by Frank Ocean
That would of been too much research for TGJ so they mad an Half-a**statement . but at least someone knows
No dear, Katy said it was gonna be her dark album and even did a commercial where she buried the old Katy wig. Subversive queen or nah?
Damn. Another Rihanna post? The obsession and desperation is real. Those hóes hate Rihanna yet she pays their bills. Rent is due. Rihanna posts are the most popular. Data traffic must usually be off the chain because of her posts. Make that money gayjuice.
You know what I’m really happy for all the success Rihanna has she might not be the most talented female artist out there but the girl has done her thing you can’t take that away whether you hate her or not the girl has build a legacy of her own while I’m not a fan of her I liked some of her songs she makes good fun club pop music and I don’t see why tgj is always throwing shade at her everytime they get a chance yes we know Beyonce is great and talented and extremely successful but gosh do you guys really need to bring her out in every single post like seriously you can’t report a story without mentioning Beyonce like the insecurities is for real and the constant shade you guys throw at other artist like Rihanna is not cute and very immature nevertheless congrats Rihanna for all the success she’s has she has has a great Career long 10 years in the making.
Lol at @cake like lady gaga calling me a f** on twitter when he wets himself over black guys with tattoos from PMB. Gurl get your ever lasting life.
Well , to Correct TGJ on Katy , The dark and deeper thoughts she experienced was when she first recorded prism and after she finished recording she said it was too dark and scrapped those songs because she was past that. I honestly think that Rihanna Is not throwing out all the big guns (single worthy songs) right out the gate to build buzz about those songs that people want to hear so basically you’ll have to wait a little longer to see.
LOL at the deletion of my comment!!! I actually got TGJ pressed because I called them out on their obsession for rihanna! Undercover Navy
Story of my life searching for Beyonce’s album sales
But RIAA certifications keep avoiding me
Sorrow in my soul cause it seems like BB200 loves Beyonce more than it loves me
And i know that she slays me in concert tickets and it kills me inside to know that i only slay in single sales
I can see me flopping
I dont wanna do this anymore
I dont wanna be known as a model with a mic
Every time she hits the stage
she sets the standard even more high
I dont wanna be embarassed anymore
I wanna be a stage slayer eh eh eh eh
so just pull the trigger as my Album sales flash before my eyes im wondering will i ever see another multiplatinum album
@Badvocatek, I mean @barb-wire, get off my d*** 😀 why are u dedicating entire essays to me? Dead at u being perched on my twitter account rather than being perched at Musica to buy the Pinktrash which is flopping harder than 9/11.. CRYING
both are doing better than fartflop
I didn’t know so many South africans were on tgj.. Yasssss at my impact 😀
shut your aged infected p**** mouth ass up
no b**** you shut your a*** infected hermophorodite uggly t***** beyonce looking ass up. your a disgrace and you stan for a b**** that likes d*** in her mouth 24/7 just like the camel’s prostitute. dont ever address me again.
How are you going to call anyone a hermaphrodite when Manly Gaga has both male AND female genitalia????
King David better slay me with his ideas. She could do a VR but she’s not really an artist so would probably stop promoting if the singles didn’t sell.
Then tag @BadvocateK boo. Scared he’ll drag you in front of his 8000+ twitter followers??? I doubt Katlego even knows you exist. And I’m hollering at you showing me that basic unclear pic of GaGa. Is that your receipt??? *insert laughter emojis* Gurl what phone did you use to take that pic? A Nokia 3310, an Alcatel??? #LetAGurlKnow I doubt you even have a car when you can take struggle @ss pics like this. I dare you to Twitpic your car.
new entertainment blog about music/tv/film, click and support.. x
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I’ll give you one for Rita Ora. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jiodh6XzMdU
She just shot her her own foot trying to kick off this era, trying to be a boss like Beyonce and starting her own label. She lost all of the bells and whistles and benefits that came with her former label.
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Beyonce sent Kanye to sabotage Rihs strategy this era by getting in her ear telling her this single would be the perfect choice. Yet it hasnt even topped Billboard yet! Their Joint tour will FLOP to hell!
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Ciara is sneaking up on that ho3, so she better be prepared to have whats left of her edges snatched, Just like @LB’s a***-elasticity!
*Anall-Elasticity*
Oh b****. You would know about elasticity seeing as that LOOSE bottom hole of yours hasn’t had any in years. S***!
Nice try troll, There is only ONE pressed Tinman stan that comments here….. BYE
Katy Perry>>>>>>>>>T********* RiWhoreanna Ladycaca
Katy perry can sing better dance better and has better record sales than all of these washed up flops. she will win a grammy this year. and let me not mention that amazing superbowl. far better than t*********’s thats why she remains the only girl from this generation in the superbowl club. katy album sales scalp all 3 of those thots and she scalps caca and t********* in #1 singles and is soon coming to snatch whoranna’s crown as singles queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurricane Katy just wont let up
Scrying at the Katy cats acting though she didn’t act like Prism was gonna be ha dark era.
You thought you were getting Jagged Little Pill but instead she gave you Kidz Bop for Dumies.
katy is the queen other b****** bow
I’m here & I’m Leaving!! Ri~Whine~A voice continues TO SUCK GOOD DAY!!!:)
i swear Janet WHAT ABOUT was definitely on my list….such an underrated song….Rih could use and deliver a song like that with honesty I think
I didn’t read any of that but just came to say Sam needs a man, a life, some d*** and an S** test. You’re not s*** Sam for posing as me in that Rihanna post. You need to get your priorities together, thirsty queen.
The irony coming from you
“Offer a “braver” version of what’s already worked”
————————-
Well, TGJ, I agree.
PRISM is nothing grounbreaking but I appreciated the fact that Katy Perry stayed true to her cartoon queen image.
I can’t even watch the whole video of four five seconds of wtf. Like, are they really mad that they have to make it till the end of the week?
Rihanna, I don’t even fucxx with you like that but girl it’s okay to be a Very Important Puppet, like Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. As Katy says, “This is no big deal!”
Let The-Dream, Polow and Ester cook hits for you while you smoking on your yatch. If you rather have an emotional album, go back to Ne-Yo and get back together with Drake. No more of that fourfiveseconds of waste of time.
Hummm…. I agree with her aiming to get her velvet rope but I disagree with your opinion on how. I think this song had epic potential. I am a member of the Carter Clan but I love the game of musical entertainment. Unlike ever before Ri has garnered up a buzz around her music and upcoming album. I’m shockbut about this too.lol I’ve always supported her but can’t say I’ve ever been excited about her releasing an album. The sound and feel of this song was an awesome way to start. I work in corporate America and Ri has middle age white people talking about and LIKING this song. AT THE VERY LEAST she has young black Urbana talking about this song. WHat she needed to make black Urbana buy into this was an awesome video. That’s where her team dropped the ball. This video isn’t bad but to capture the true potential of this cut she needed a video with the same feeling. I like the stripped look but the video needed a story kick. This kick off to her new ear reminds me of Beyonce Siasha Fierce era…. If I Were a Boy. Bey had that same natural look but the video had a cool story line. I think if Ri would’ve kept this look but tackled a controversial topic in the video it would have been amazing and put her onto her velet rope ish.
Ex: with ppl hoping for this KanyeRi tour I wish she wudda played up on the big bro, Lil sis relationship and tackled a topic like… A chick dating a very attractive guy who’s also attracted to men. Kanye cudda played the typical big bro in the video… Looking out for his sis. Ri cud have kept the whole raw…very little make up on vut hellas s*** chick look.. Denim, boots, plaid and such.. Who is dating this adonis looking white guy from the west… On the ranch…. small town….. Who has to potential to be on his Broke back mountain ish… But he’s actually faithful to her
However, throughout the video his getting love interest gifts from an unknown person who later turns out to be a guy..Ri does the typical jealous girl thing…fuss.. Gives attitude..competes and at the end actually wins/keeps her man. What that visually looks like us up to the creative dir of the shoot. Oooo.. That wud be some good ish! A play and mix up on all kinds of stereotypes and current issues. Ri has the open minded tough persona that cud pull that off. This song is good…bruh. A step into a more mature and classic sound… Expansion in audience and so forth. We just need more creativity mixed with preservation of her authenticity.
Gawd Sam has something against Rihanna and I’m sure she doesn’t even know your mad ass! You never miss a chance to drag her name… Pssssh I can’t with you. You got no luxury of trashin’ her ’cause you can’t also hold a not yourself. The album is not delayed because she never said the release date. Do your research and stop trashin’ Rih all day. I’m sure you part of the HIVE because you f*****’ bais when it comes to Yonce.
I was thinking the same s***!. then had the nerve to throw wackonces name in the post lol petty af. yall know damn well beyonce last album was a straight copy of rihannas album. yeah Bey looked great but she is too old for that imag. It was corny to me