Rihanna

Growing up in Barbados, Rihanna was exposed to a blend of Caribbean music and American hip-hop and R&B. At 15, she formed a girl group that caught the attention of American producer Evan Rogers. After recording demo tapes, she was introduced to Jay-Z, then president of Def Jam Recordings, who signed her at 16 .

Rihanna’s debut single, “Pon de Replay” (2005), showcased her Caribbean influences and marked the beginning of her international success. Her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), propelled her to superstardom with hits like “Umbrella,” “Disturbia,” and “Take a Bow.” She continued to evolve artistically with albums such as Rated R (2009), Talk That Talk (2011), Unapologetic (2012), and Anti (2016), each reflecting different facets of her musical and personal growth .

After a hiatus from music, Rihanna returned with the single “Lift Me Up” in 2022, featured in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. She also headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023, marking her first live performance in five years . As of 2025, she is working on her ninth studio album and is expected to headline major festivals .