The 10 Best Rihanna Songs

Robyn Rihanna Fenty. No introduction needed. So let’s jump right in to the 10 best Rihanna songs to date. Actually, there’s a quick bio first, just to make sure we appreciate her mind-boggling story.

 

The Bio

Born in Barbados in 1988 and raised in the capital of Bridgetown, Rihanna encountered a healthy dose of adversity at an early age. Her father’s drug addiction, his abusive behavior towards her mother, and an eventual divorce were together embedded in her foundational years.

If music was meant to be an escape, it clearly worked. She left the island of 281,000 at age 16 after demo tracks and auditions landed her a deal with Def Jam Recordings.

In 2005, she released her first album, Music of the Sun, whose first single “Pon de Replay” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

And from that point on, there was no looking back. Eight albums later, she finds herself in a highly select group of musicians—one that includes Michael Jackson, Madonna, and the Beatles—that can lay claim to over 250 million records sold.

Musically, she has proven herself to be remarkably versatile, at ease dabbling in a Caribbean sound, pop, R&B, hip hop, an occasional ballad, and, of course, electronic dance music. That versatility explains why she has been able to collaborate with giants of the industry—including the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, Eminem, Paul McCartney, Calvin Harris, Shakira, Coldplay, and DJ Khaled—and land a gig at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show.

Beyond music, Rihanna has found success in several other arenas, making a splash in the nonprofit world, the cosmetic industry, the fashion industry, and even a handful of movies.

All told, her net worth is in the range of $1.4 billion.

And, by the way, she’s a mother.

 

The Songs

Given that Miss Fenty has 14 songs that have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, over 30 songs that have been in the top 10, nine Grammys, and the aforementioned potpourri of collaborations, selecting the 10 best Rihanna songs is a bit like drawing straws out of a hat. As such, this list is completely subjective and, as always, up for debate. Included are songs in which the Barbadian singer had a prominent role, regardless of how the artists are listed.

 

“Umbrella” (2007)

Featuring Jay-Z, the opening track off Rihanna’s third album netted her a Grammy—her first—and left naysayers with very little material.

 

“Run This Town” (2009)

In a subsequent joint effort with Jay-Z, the pair teamed up with Kanye West for another Grammy winner.

 

“Only Girl (In the World)” (2010)

The lead single from Rihanna’s fifth album is a classic dance track that showcased her vocal chops and, yes, won a Grammy.

 

“All of the Lights” (2011)

Rihanna had a big role in this jam by Kanye West, which—you guessed it—won some award.

 

“We Found Love” (2011)

Teaming up this time with Calvin Harris, Rihanna helped create yet another timeless dance track (which got a certain award for its video).

 

“Diamonds” (2012)

With this power ballad from her seventh album, Rihanna showed that her voice was more than capable of being the center of attention.

 

“Stay” (2012)

Speaking of ballad, this one featured Mikky Ekko and again displayed Rihanna’s musical flexibility.

 

“The Monster” (2013)

This high-profile collaboration with Eminem—one of several—earned another one of those awards.

 

“Love on the Brain” (2016)

On this track from her most recent album, Rihanna went with a little soul, executing it to perfection.

 

“Wild Thoughts” (2017)

And finally, a partnership with DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller that sampled a riff by Santana, letting everyone know that RiRi had plenty left in the tank.

 

Feel free to set things straight in the comments below.