There was nothing gradual about Barbadian singer Rihanna’s rise to the top of the charts. Just a month after releasing her debut album, she began to work on the follow-up — A Girl Like Me — released in early 2006. The album including hit singles like “SOS,” and “Unfaithful” went on to sell platinum.

By her second album it was already evident that Rihanna was no ordinary pop star, but it wasn’t until the release of her third album, “Good Girl Gone Bad,” that she was catapulted into icon status. Leading the charge was the album’s groundbreaking first single, “Umbrella” (feat. JAY Z), which lived on the charts for a solid year and eventually earned Rihanna her first Grammy Award in 2008. To this day “Umbrella” remains one of the all time best-selling singles worldwide.

Her talent and individuality shined brighter than a diamond during 2011. This was readily evident on her Eminem collaboration, “Love the Way You Lie,” and “Run This Town” with Jay Z and Kanye West.

Rihanna kicked off 2012 with two major collaborations. This lending her hit-assuring vocals to Coldplay’s “Princess of China” and Drake’s “Take Care.”

Her shift in style was even further explored and perfected on her top-selling follow-up records, Loud (2011) and Talk That Talk (2012) exemplified by songs like “Skin,” “Man Down,” “S&M” and “Cockiness.”

In between recording the two albums, she also embarked the world by touring with american hip hop artist A$AP Rocky. The tour sold out ten nights at the The O2 Arena: one of largest concert venues in London. In short: the world now belongs to Rihanna.

The release of her seventh studio album, Unapologetic, that cemented her status as one of the world’s biggest and most successful artists. The album was lead by the magnificent and celebratory single written by Sia “Diamonds.” This instant pop smash went on to sell more than 7.5 million copies worldwide.
Which brings us to the present. After a year of intriguing teasers, spirited rumors and a slew of diverse and highly captivating non-album singles — from the unexpected acoustic charm of “FourFiveSeconds” (feat. Kanye West and Paul McCartney), the political charge of “American Oxygen” and the domineering aggression of “Bitch Better Have My Money” — the anxious wait for Rihanna’s eighth album is finally over.

Funky and Barbadian club theme song of last minute insta-hit, “Work” (feat. Drake), ANTI is finally here, ringing in a new chapter of her ever-inspiring career.

Alongside Drake’s attendance, SZA and Travi$ Scott also appear on the album, which is easily her most mature to date. Artistically and musically varied, it ranges from classic, melodic Rihanna pop to harder beats and the final number, a piano ballad called “Close To You,” all with the quality we expect from her. There’s even a Tame Impala cover, titled slightly different from the original “New Person, Same Old Mistakes”. The whole thing is something that must be experienced to be understood, and it was certainly worth the wait.

Queen Ri-Ri kicked off her massively-hyped world tour this February. The tour includes over 70 concerts and counting and will feature special guest Travis Scott on this spring’s North American dates, while The Weeknd and Big Sean will accompany Rihanna, as they take over Europe this summer.