The Rihanna Essentials: 15 Singles To Celebrate The Singer’s Endless Pop Reign

Upon the release of “Lift Me Up” — Rihanna’s first solo single in more than six years — GRAMMY.com rounds up 15 tracks that showcase her vocal prowess and bad gal energy.

Over the past five years, Rihanna has built a booming business portfolio — and reported $1.7 billion empire — that includes beauty, skin and lingerie/loungewear companies. Meanwhile, the singer, born Robyn Fenty, left fans eagerly waiting for new music — and the wait is finally over.

“Lift Me Up,” Rihanna’s first solo single in six years, arrived on Oct. 28, just two days after she erupted the internet with the announcement of her return.

The song is the lead single to the also highly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, and focuses on a universal need for love and tenderness.

Rihanna at the Black Panther premiere 2022

With the new song and plans to perform the halftime show at the 2023 Super Bowl, it’s natural to wonder what else may be on the way. In the meantime, take a look back at 15 essential singles that showcase RIhanna’s growth, versatility and impact on popular music — and get ready for the next Rihanna era.

Listen to all of the songs in GRAMMY.com’s Rihanna Essentials Playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, powered by GRAMMY U.

Rihanna Songbook Hero

Rihanna’s debut single offers a good-girl twist on dancehall pop as she implores the DJ to rewind her favorite song. According to The Guardian, when she was 16, Rihanna signed a deal with New York City’s Syndicated Rhythm Productions (SRP). Founders Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers put the song on a demo with her that attracted the attention of Jay-Z and music executive L.A. Reid. After she auditioned in person, she was signed to Def Jam in a joint deal with SRP.

“Pon de Replay” hit no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 within two months of its release — not bad for a first outing!

Her epic collaboration with Jay-Z and producers Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, “Umbrella” consciously traded her good-girl image for something more mature. A song about enduring friendship that lasts a lifetime, “Umbrella” put her onto a new pop music playing field with the forever stars, sitting atop the Hot 100 for 7 weeks and topping charts around the globe. “Umbrella” also earned Rihanna her first GRAMMY, winning the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2008.

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