What Genre Is Rihanna?
Rihanna is one of the most successful singers in the world, with a huge fan base that spans across different music genres.
No matter what genre she sings in, Rihanna always sounds amazing. In short her music can be classified as dance-pop, R&B, and reggae. Her style is unique and difficult to define though.
Let's dive into her general music genre, and how her music style developed over the years.
Rihanna's general music genre
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is one of Rihanna's main music genres. Her songs are typically upbeat and catchy, making them perfect for dancing along to.
Rihanna's music style is very versatile, and she has experimented with a variety of genres over the years. Her style is very energetic and flashy, which helps to keep audiences engaged.
Rihanna has collaborated with several big-name artists, like Eminem and Calvin Harris, to create unique dance-pop hits.
Rhythm & Blues
In addition to her dance-pop sound, Rihanna is also known for her rhythmic R&B music. She often incorporates strong drums and percussion in her.
Her slower-tempo tunes are smooth and soulful. They contain deep lyrics about love and relationships, which help to convey strong emotions.
Reggae
Rihanna is also known for her reggae-inspired music.
She often borrows elements from Jamaican culture and style, creating unique melodies that are both catchy and Caribbean-influenced.
Her reggae sound is often tropical and sunny, making it perfect for relaxing or dancing along to in the summertime.
How did Rihanna's music style develop?
Music of the Sun
Rihanna's debut album, Music of the Sun, featured a mix of pop and dancehall influences.
The singles from this album showcased Rihanna's versatility by blending elements from both music genres.
She combined her irresistible bubblegum-pop melodies with upbeat dancehall beats to create unique songs that were perfect for dancing along to.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Music of the Sun" are:
- Pon de Replay
- Here I Go Again
A Girl Like Me
'A Girl Like Me' album showed a more mature and soulful side of Rihanna, with slower tempo tunes and heartfelt lyrics.
The singles from this album blended elements of both R&B and pop music, creating songs that were radio-friendly and easy to dance to.
Overall, catchy and unique tracks.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "A Girl Like Me" are:
- SOS
- Unfaithful
Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna's third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, was a departure from previous work. This album was influenced by hip-hop and electronic music styles.
Many of the songs on this album featured heavy basslines and synthesizers, giving them an electronic music feel.
Overall, the album was very successful and helped to establish Rihanna as a credible artist in the hip-hop style.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" are:
- Umbrella
- Don't Stop The Music
Rated R
Rihanna's fourth album, Rated R, was dark and gritty.
The songs featured heavy drums and an aggressive attitude, with Rihanna exploring new musical directions.
This album demonstrated Rihanna's versatility, as she was able to successfully combine elements of R&B, pop, hip-hop, and reggae into her music.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Rated R" are:
- Russian Roulette
- Rude Boy
Loud
'Loud' was Rihanna's fifth studio album.
This album showcased Rihanna's dance-pop sound. Sunny synthpop with softer lyrics gave the music a house music feel.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Loud" are:
- S&M
- Only Girl (In The World)
Talk That Talk
Rihanna's sixth album, Talk That Talk, was heavily influenced by the electronic dance music (EDM) and dubstep styles that were popular at the time.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Talk That Talk" are:
- We Found Love
- You Da One
Unapologetic
Unapologetic sees Rihanna explore new territory, incorporating more aggressive and hip-hop-inspired sounds into her music.
Lyrically, the songs return to the dirty and sexy lyrics that Rated R had.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Unapologetic" are:
- Diamonds
- Stay
ANTI
This is definitely Rihanna's most experimental album to date. The lyrics are definitely more aggressive and explicit than what we're used to from Rihanna.
But that's not necessarily a bad thing - the album is still really catchy and worth a listen.
The most popular tracks from Rihanna's "Unapologetic" are:
Work
- Needed Me
- Work
Conclusion
Rihanna is known for her dance-pop, rhythm & blues, and reggae music genre.
She has experimented with a variety of genres over the years, and her style is very energetic and flashy.