By Angelique Fullwood
“I’ve got to do things my own way darling. Will you ever let me? Will you ever respect me? No.”
These lyrics from the opening song “Consideration” provides context of the overall theme of Rihanna’s eighth studio album “Anti”. While she has persistently rejected the idea of being a role model, the way she confronts the conditions of her autonomy in the music industry and in her relationships is nothing short of inspirational.
After delivering an album every year since her debut “Music of the Sun,” fans waited four years for a new project after her last album, Unapologetic, released in 2012.
During her brief hiatus, she didn’t leave her Navy too thirsty- releasing songs like the politically charged “American Oxygen,” surprising us with “FourFIveSeconds” featuring Paul McCartney and Kanye West, and of course the 2015 summer banger “BBHMM” which had some folks speculating if it was an anthem championing equal pay for women or reparations (while others felt it was problematic).
Highly anticipated and anti-pop, “Anti” is Rihanna’s way of delivering a classic album that will define her career. Thanks to a deal with Samsung and exclusive release on Tidal, it was downloaded more than 1.4 million times in 14 hours and became certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Racking up unanimous praise, this album is sonically brilliant from start to finish- exemplified through the creative collaborations with folks like James Fauntleroy, Timbaland, Travis Scott, Sia, and DJ Mustard and featuring the rawest vocals we’ve heard from Rihanna yet. The “Bad Gyal” from Barbados embodies what it means to be unapologetic by being more personal and intimate with her music in a way she’s never done before.
With the exception of her cover of Tame Impala’s “New Person/Same Old Mistakes” titled “Same ‘Ol Mistakes”, Rihanna has writing credit on every track.
Decimating any notions that she is just an “exotic” Pop Princess from the Caribbean, RiRi demands respect as an artist with tracks drawing from a range of music genres. From “Kiss it Better” and its epic rock ballad guitar riffs, or the dark and edgy “Desperado” to the doo-wop inspired “Love on the Brain,” each song on Anti has its own uniqueness while still functioning collectively as a cohesive body of work.
Her lead single “Work” is a mid-tempo dancehall joint featuring Drake that shows her roots, saturated in West Indian vibes and Patois (not gibberish, which some people ignorant of Caribbean culture has criticized it as) became an instant hit. The success of “Work” is just an example of how “that Rihanna reign just won’t let up!” by spending five weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, making it her 14th number one song, tying with Michael Jackson for artist with the third most number ones.
What makes “Anti” such a special album is its ‘realness’ factor. The emotions feel genuine, the cultural nuances are authentic, and the content is relatable. I give this a 5/5 because Rihanna shines, making “Anti” worth the wait.
