Rihanna : NPR

Rihanna Returns With First Song In 3 Years On PARTYNEXTDOOR's 'BELIEVE IT'

Rihanna accepts the President's Award onstage during the 51st NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22, 2020. Rich Fury/Getty Images hide caption

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Music News

Rihanna Returns With First Song In 3 Years On PARTYNEXTDOOR's 'BELIEVE IT'

March 27, 2020 • It's the superstar's first song in three years, after releasing a string of collaborative singles in 2017 with artists like DJ Khaled, Kendrick Lamar, Future and N.E.R.D.

From Dixie Chicks To Rihanna: Our Music Predictions For 2020

Rihanna performs with Pharrell Williams at her fifth annual Diamond Ball on Sept. 12, 2019. This January marks four years since her last full-length release. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images hide caption

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New Music

From Dixie Chicks To Rihanna: Our Music Predictions For 2020

January 6, 2020 • NPR Music's Ann Powers and Rodney Carmichael discuss albums they're looking forward to, as well as the artists they're begging to come back.

From Dixie Chicks To Rihanna: Our Music Predictions For 2020

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25 Songs We Bumped While Waiting For Rihanna's Album

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Best Music Of 2019

25 Songs We Bumped While Waiting For Rihanna's Album

December 11, 2019 • The reggae-influenced R9 could drop any day now. Prepare yourself with some of the best Afro-Caribbean jams of the year.

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All Songs Considered

The 2010s: The Globalization Of Music

October 31, 2019 • Our look back at the past decade in music continues as we examine the ways musical borders have fallen and why global sounds are more prevalent and popular than ever.

The 2010s: The Globalization Of Music

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Rosé Rising: 24 Songs For Your Summer Star Chart

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All Songs Considered

Rosé Rising: 24 Songs For Your Summer Star Chart

July 10, 2019 • Our playlist highlights each astrological sign's best and worst attributes, whether you're as meticulous as fellow Virgo Beyonce, moody as a Cancer (and Frank Ocean) or free-spirited as Bjork.

Rihanna is partnering with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton to launch a new fashion label, the artist announced on Friday. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Arts & Life

Rihanna Disrupts Luxury Fashion World, Joining LVMH With 'Fenty' Brand

May 12, 2019 • The singer will become the first woman to start a new fashion line with the luxury group, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and the first woman of color to lead one of its fashion houses.

Rihanna Disrupts Luxury Fashion World, Joining LVMH With 'Fenty' Brand

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After Coachella Premiere, Childish Gambino's Film 'Guava Island' Is Streaming

Donald Glover in a still from Guava Island, which he stars in with Rihanna. The film premiered at Coachella, where Glover's musical act Childish Gambino headlined on Friday. courtesy of Amazon Prime Video hide caption

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courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

Music News

After Coachella Premiere, Childish Gambino's Film 'Guava Island' Is Streaming

April 13, 2019 • Following a major year for the "This Is America" rapper, Guava Island is a modestly stunning — and at times unnerving — extended music video about music's power to unite amid tyranny and greed.

After Coachella Premiere, Childish Gambino's Film 'Guava Island' Is Streaming

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Turning the Tables: Your List Of The 21st Century's Most Influential Women Musicians

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The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+

Turning the Tables: Your List Of The 21st Century's Most Influential Women Musicians

November 20, 2018 • The results are in for our reader poll of the most influential women and non-binary musicians of this century. Your picks help us consider and question what "influence" can mean in new ways.

She Was Too Poor To Stay In School. Now She's An Inspiration To Rihanna

Education activist Angeline Murimirwa was given the "Diamond Ball Honors Award" by Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images hide caption

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Goats and Soda

She Was Too Poor To Stay In School. Now She's An Inspiration To Rihanna

October 10, 2018 • Angeline Murimirwa is lauded as one of the world's most influential women for her work with a charity that gives scholarships to poor girls in Africa. She herself was once one of those girls.

Hear Cat Power's Stirring Cover Of Rihanna's 'Stay'

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New Music

Hear Cat Power's Stirring Cover Of Rihanna's 'Stay'

September 18, 2018 • A revered songwriter in her own right, Chan Marshall takes a generous, thoughtful approach to reworking beloved songs. This cover of Rihanna's hit comes from Cat Power's forthcoming album, Wanderer.

Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician

Rihanna performs on stage at the BRIT Awards in 2016. Photo Illustration: Ian Gavan/Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration: Ian Gavan/Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+

Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician

August 15, 2018 • For much of this century's first two decades, there has been at least one Rihanna song on the pop charts. If she is not seen as taking musical risks, it's only because so many of them have paid off.

Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician

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The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (80-61)

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Music Features

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (80-61)

July 30, 2018 • This list tackles history in the making, celebrating women and non-binary musicians whose songs are redefining genres and attitudes and changing our sense of what popular music can be in this century.

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (40-21)

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Music Features

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (40-21)

July 30, 2018 • This list tackles history in the making, celebrating women and non-binary musicians whose songs are redefining genres and attitudes and changing our sense of what popular music can be in this century.

Single & Sauced: Swipe Right In 30 Songs

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All Songs Considered

Single & Sauced: Swipe Right In 30 Songs

June 13, 2018 • Single for the summer? Embrace your freedom with a confident, funky, sexy and savage soundtrack.

Spotify's Most-Streamed List Is Free Of Surprises

Ed Sheeran performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2017. Spotify reports Sheeran is the most-streamed artist of 2017. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia hide caption

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The Record

Spotify's Most-Streamed List Is Free Of Surprises

December 5, 2017 • Ed Sheeran, Rihanna and Luis Fonsi take top spots in Spotify's year-end roundup of streaming stats.

Pharrell's N.E.R.D. Is Back, And Rihanna Is Here To Help

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All Songs Considered

Pharrell's N.E.R.D. Is Back, And Rihanna Is Here To Help

November 1, 2017 • "Lemon" features Rihanna spitting bars over crisp and spare production that wouldn't be out of place on an early Neptunes joint.

Lady Gaga performs "Til It Happens To You" on stage at the 88th Oscars on Feb. 28, 2016. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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All Songs Considered

Songs That Say 'Me Too'

October 17, 2017 • Women have posted the phrase on social media to raise awareness of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment. Here is a list of songs in which artists said "me too."

Listen to the Story

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All Songs TV

Kendrick Lamar And Rihanna Prove Their 'Loyalty'

July 28, 2017 • DAMN.'s most pop-worthy song gets a video of epic proportions

Just What Is An Album? In 2016, That Was An Open Question

Rihanna poses at the album artwork reveal for ANTI in Los Angeles. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Westbury Road Entertainment LLC hide caption

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Best Music Of 2016

Just What Is An Album? In 2016, That Was An Open Question

December 14, 2016 • This year, major pop artists changed the definition of an album with unconventional releases. NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen joined host Audie Cornish to discuss this phenomenon.

Just What Is An Album? In 2016, That Was An Open Question

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Rihanna Launches College Scholarships For Foreign Students

Rihanna performing at the Coachella Festival in California in April 2016. Christopher Polk/Getty Images hide caption

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The Record

Rihanna Launches College Scholarships For Foreign Students

May 10, 2016 • The Barbados-born singer is offering scholarships to Caribbean and South American students who want to pursue higher education in the U.S.

Is Tidal Changing How Fans Talk About Music?

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The Record

Is Tidal Changing How Fans Talk About Music?

February 29, 2016 • Technological innovations like streaming are shifting how music gets released today — but artist exclusives are also changing the way fans process today's most popular tracks.

Is Tidal Changing How Fans Talk About Music?

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Bard Ylvisaker (L) and Vegard Ylvisaker of Ylvis perform "The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)" in September. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

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Best Music Of 2013

Top 10 Top 40 Of 2013

December 23, 2013 • At the end of a year in which pop songs were a constant, provocative part of the national conversation, NPR Music critic Ann Powers sifts through the 100 most popular songs of the year to highlight 10 pure pop pleasures worth remembering.