With the first single, "Russian Roulette" already screaming up the charts Rihanna's fourth studio album, Rated R (Def Jam) is without argument one of this season's most anticipated albums. And the wait is almost over. One week from today on November 23rd the record is slated for release coupled with live performances on the American Music Awards, the Late Show With David Letterman and more. But you can be one of the first to take an exclusive peak at the composition of the album here.
From beginning to end Rated R is Rihanna's most honest and emotionally mature album to date. The fashionable Pop Mistress takes a raw approach in dealing with the emotions she felt before, during and after her incident with then boyfriend Chris Brown and documents the growth that transpired as a result.
Kicking it all off is a prelude entitled "Mad House" that perfectly sets up the collection of songs about to be revealed. A "Thriller"-esque throwback intros Rihanna's refined and superior vocals which quickly take command mysteriously luring the listener in. The first track "Wait Your Turn" declares straight up that "The wait is over". The pulsing baseline interwoven between her vocals deliver a haunting feel. But make no mistake, her lyrics are at times explicit and more direct than she has produced in the past.
The track "Hard" featuring Jeezy is the first time you hear Rihanna lash out at Chris Brown lyrically saying, "The runway never looked so clear, I'm the hottest bi*ch in heals right here. No fear. And while you're getting your pride on I'm getting my fly on." She points out that she is not only on the rise but resilient. Life lessons have hardened this once naive "Umbrella" singer.
On the next song, "Stupid in Love" she softens her tone but not her message taking direct aim at setting the record straight in regards to Chris. She sings about still loving him and how she kept the "engine burning" to see what was left even after being advised by a friend she calls Katy (perhaps a reference to her good friend and supporter Katy Perry) that it was a waste of time. Eventually this hardened love criminal concludes "This is stupid, I'm not stupid. Don't talk to me like I'm stupid. I still love you but I just can't do this. I may be dumb but I'm not stupid."
"Fire Bomb" proves that Rihanna is at ease pushing the envelope within her musical genre, opening with a dramatic electric guitar intro before pulling it down to a soft piano accompaniment. The very next track mixes it up again with a hip hop, club banger type feel. "Rude Boy" is one of the catchiest and strongest singles on the album. Playful and racy banter couple dynamically with the beat to produce a sexy hip dance track. Summer anthem of 2010? If that's not it the next song is, which features Black Eyed Peas genius Will.i.am for a sad reminiscent look at her love affair. Left only with memories and photographs she grapples with what could of been and the hollowness of what remains.
"G4L" visits a colder hard hitting anthem of revenge, while on "Te Amo" and "Cold Case Love" she warms back up to the idea of love. And much like the album opens with the obvious statement that the "wait is over" she closes with a track entitled, "The Last Song". Clearly it isn't the last song she will write, sing or produce but it promises to be the last one for Chris Brown.
Rihanna continues to out do herself with Rated R. She brings the bar up yet once again with her uninhibited emotional disclosure. The ferocity of her spirit is tangible throughout and listeners are left utterly satisfied.  With this album Rihanna successfully paints a more thorough portrait of her love affair with Brown as she navigates uncharted musical and emotional territory.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
.jpg&width=115 "Thirt3en")
.jpg&width=115 "Shiest Sold Out Mixtape")