Early Life and Career Beginnings
Robyn Rihanna Fenty (Rihanna) is a Barbarian recording artist, actress and fashion designer who was born in Saint Michael, Barbados. Rihanna has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and two half-sisters and one half-brother from her father’s side. She grew up in a three bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father on a stall, in the street. Her parents are called Monica and Ronald. Rihanna’s childhood was deeply affected by her father’s addiction to cocaine, alcohol, marijuana and her parent’s rocky marriage, which ended when she was fourteen. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere High School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates. Rihanna was an army cadet in a sub-military programme. Although she initially wanted to graduate high school, she chose to pursue a music career instead.
Her career started when she met Evan Rogers, a record producer, through mutual friends in 2003. She recorded demo tapes under Evans guidance. Her demo tape was sent to several record labels, and she later signed a contract with Def Jam Records, after auditioning for its president, rapper Jay-Z.
2006-2005 – Music of the Sun and A Girl Like Me
In 2005, Rihanna released her first single “Pon De Reply”, kicking off her first debut album “Music of the Sun” which peaked at No. 2 Billboard’s Hot 100. She then toured with Gwen Stefani to promote her album, which sells more than 2 million copies worldwide.
Eight months after her release of her debut album, she releases her sophomore album “A Girl like Me”. The album boasts Billboard’s Hot 100 chart-toppers “S.O.S” and ”Unfaithful”, and earns her four Billboard Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year. But the success has paired with gossip that Rihanna is romantically involved with her mentor Jay-Z who is dating pop-star Beyoncé.
2007-2010 – Good Girl Gone Bad and Rated R
March, 2007, she releases a new single ‘Umbrella’