In building her empire, Rihanna continues to make history.
For beyond her colossal success on the singles chart, the Bajan belle is bulldozing barriers by becoming the first Black woman to head up her own luxury fashion house under the LVMH umbrella.
Set for a major unveiling on May 22nd, RiRi poses it up for a first look feature in the newest issue of the New York Times’ T Magazine.
In a compelling interview feature, she also confirms she’s working on a Reggae album, and waxes honest about possible collabs with Drake and Lady Gaga.
All the action after the jump…
On How The Fenty Fashion Line Came About:
I’ve been slowly evolving throughout the fashion world. First wearing it, buying it, being recognized for my style and then collaborating with brands. I never just wanted to put my name on something and sell my license. I’m very hands-on, so I wanted to take it slowly and gain respect as a designer. I already had a relationship with them after the Versailles campaign and the makeup line, so they extended the offer to me and it was a no-brainer because LVMH is a machine. Bernard Arnault was so enthusiastic; he trusted me and my vision.
On Being The First Black Woman To Launch Such A Venture:
“I didn’t even know that until months into our relationship, when Jahleel (my stylist) brought it to my attention. And I’m like, “Are you sure about that? Did you do your research? ’Cause I don’t wanna state a claim that’s [expletive].” Because I still couldn’t believe it. It made me feel proud.
On Growing From Her Party-Girl Persona:
There has been quite an evolution in that party. In the beginning, it was just my culture, my life. And now, the party, believe it or not, is at work. I do not go out. I will go to a dinner. I try to have as much fun as I can during work. And even after work, when I’m literally in my kitchen having a drink, I invite all my staff. And we work, still.
I see them more than my family and spend most of my life with them. It becomes friendship first, and then it leads into family because we lean on each other. I’m sure it’s really different from any other boss-employee relationship.
On Her Evolution:
Even within being “Rihanna,” that freedom didn’t exist for a while. “Good Girl Gone Bad” is where I started to take the reins: “I’m going to do whatever I want to do, I’m taking control of my vision, my sound, my clothes.” I also embraced change along the way — things that make me a better woman, a better human being. Like, even the way I communicate: I’m really proud of my growth on that. I’m proud to walk into any building as this person. Nothing about me makes me embarrassed about me.
On How Her Heritage Has Shaped Her Inclusive Approach To Business:
In my own household, my father is half black, half white. My mom is black from South America. I was seeing diversity. That’s all I knew. Growing up, I wanted to be darker, always. So, making makeup, it wasn’t even a thing I had to think about. I didn’t even really know how bad it was, the void in the market for dark foundation, because all I’d seen was black women put makeup on. I don’t even think 40 shades is enough! And so I added 10 more recently, and we’re not gonna stop there.
On Self-Declared “thicc journey”:
It just changed how I dress in terms of my proportions. You wear what looks good on you and that’s it. I’m thick and curvy right now, and so if I can’t wear my own stuff then, I mean, that’s not gonna work, right? And my size is not the biggest size. It’s actually closer to the smallest size we have: We go up to a [French size] 46. We’re saying we can meet you at any one drop that we put out.
ON MUSIC (!)
Interviewer: Oh, they think you’re doing a collaboration with Lady Gaga.
Rihanna: Maybe because she followed me on Instagram. It’s not in the books right now, but I’m not against it.
Interviewer: Are you going to collaborate with Drake again?30
Rihanna: Not anytime soon, I don’t see it happening. Not on this album, that’s for sure.
Interviewer: What is the album called?
Rihanna: Uh, I don’t know yet.
Interviewer: If you don’t know yet, then you probably don’t know when it’s coming out?
Rihanna: I don’t.
Interviewer: Do you have any names under consideration?
Rihanna: No, so far it’s just been R9, thanks to the Navy. I’m about to call it that probably, ’cause they have haunted me with this “R9, R9, when is R9 coming out?” How will I accept another name after that’s been burned into my skull?
Interviewer: It’s this gift to the fans who have been most hungry for it.
Rihanna: That would be cute.
**************
Great interview! Frank, too.
![Sade Shares the Official 'Young Lion' Music Video Starring Her Son Izaak Adu [Watch]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/sade-young-lion-transa-thatgrapejuice-2024-music-video-izaak-adu-464x260.jpg "Sade Shares the Official 'Young Lion' Music Video Starring Her Son Izaak Adu [Watch].")
she is pretty as a brown skin girl. with emerald green eyes…she had told drke to f*** off…why hasnt she did that with chris he is still looking at her pics on her page ..that is not his girl anymore..a pretty brown skin girl like Rhianna
QUEEN!!!
RIHANNA HAS SOLD 250 MILLION RECORDS WORLD WIDE MAKING HER THE 7TH BIGGEST SELLING FEMALE ARTIST OF ALL TIME! RIHANNA DOESN’T HAVE TO TOUR EVERY DAMN YR TO MAKE MONEY. SHE HAS HER FENTY EMPIRE! THE HOUSE THAT FENTY BUILT!!!
LOL You could also take it as a girl with not enough album selling power or talent recognized by teh industry so she has to count her sales as “records” and build a beauty business. Which honestly is way more accurate.
Giving me Janet Jackson Velvet Rope vibes
I didn’t see any confirmation that it is a reggae album!!
It’s in the full article.
I love this woman. And I’m thankful the whole Hive vs Navy thing is a bit nonexistent at the moment *knocks on wood* because there’s absolutely no reason we can’t stan and love both. BEAUTIFUL BLACK BOSS A$$ QUEENS who are running the industry. If you continue to pit them against each other, you’re trash. With that said, I’m thirsty for R9. I miss the days when Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah, Janet and were all active and dominating at the same time.
Rihanna doesn’t even care about music anymore lol her answers are short… she wants this album out the way so she can do what she loves makeup and fashion. I just hope it’s not the oversized stuff she has been wearing past couple years.
Short answers cause she has no impact in her music. They songwrite it for her. Typical from non-writers. Beyonce is the same. Mariah, Gaga, and other real songwriters will always give you long asss answers cause they were in the proccess.
I really care nothing for your opinions? I’ve told you this before. You’re not as knowledgeable in music as your delusional mind likes to think. And of course you bring up Beyonce you’re obsessed.
“I do not go out. I will go to a dinner.”
I’m not a Rihanna fan and that quote had me SHOOK. Talk about evolving and being a grown woman. I respect her growth as a businesswoman.
I love what she said about skintone. Acknowledging the beauty of darker tones and not shaming people for looking younger longer and reflecting the sun so well. She totally could’ve done a Blac Chyna and sold Skin Lightening creams.
What are ciaras beauty marks first week numbers?
I dont think she cares about doing music anymore lol. She seems so uninterested. Y’all aint ever getting an album from her now.
Sadly I agree with you. She has gotten what she wants from music the platform and the money to fund her faahion and make up empire. Smfh
Yes she has never been an artist.
Lol foreall gonna pull an Lauryn Hill
I’m very surprised to learn her mom is from South America. She never talked about her latin roots and never had that dimension in her music.
It is the same with Mariah.
Her dad is from Venezuela, or it’s her grandpa and her dad was born in the US, not sure. But she never really talked about it nor was influenced much by latin music. I wish she had a song like that on Caution.
Her mom is from Guyana, which is culturally Caribbean but located in South America.
The first pic is terrible. I don´t know if superficial pop fans are going to be with her next go round while she´s looking like this (which was all she got).
Rihanna has great vision….experience is what’s happening and seeing where it’s fitted for her…… DON’T PUT ALL OF YOUR DUCKS IN ONE HOLE!!!
SHE’S A MAJOR GAME PLAYER….CHECK-MATE
I respect Rihanna’s growth and evolution. She is doing everything she loves at once. Her “Fenty” brand is MAJOR! The music will come, but she has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Lmaooooo she’s not spilling the beans at all on this new album. I’m excited!
Please don’t name the album R9. In Canada that’s the credit rating of someone in bankruptcy!!! How about just self-titled ?
Laziness by the writers didn’t mention she is wearing pieces from her luxury brand Fenty smh
I like most of Rihanna’s singles and features, but I didn’t like anything from ‘Anti.’
Really don’t care anything for a reggae album either, so I guess I’ll have to hold out for R10.
I’m glad she has other successful things to fall back on.
YO! Something is so COOL, releasing and refreshing about this interview!