R8 // Rihanna
From the fateful day Rihanna’s Instagram featured a studio shot back in October 2014, R8 has been the buzz word on everybody’s lips. Notably, Rihanna has utilised the greats in her industry, employing the music skills of Kanye, Sir Paul McCartney, Sia, Florence Welch and Natalia Kills to name just a few of the plethora of stars involved in the album’s production. Already featuring raw, soulful vocals in ‘FourFiveSeconds’, and providing a feast for our eyes in the visually stunning yet graphic ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’, the morsels released have generated a hungry appetite for its release, paving the way for what many have dubbed album of the year.
The internet sphere has been abuzz, and we can expect the album to be filled to the brim with new genres and experiments for Rihanna. One such genre is that of dancehall, popularised in Jamaica and the Caribbean, suggesting that she is looking to her roots to develop her new sound. Interestingly, the album marks a pivotal stage within her career, in which the transition between international pop star and infamous superstar must be bridged. Although a collaboration with the holy trinity (Rihanna / Beyoncé / Nicki Minaj) seems unlikely, the album promises to deliver a star-studded line-up, golden R&B hits and, most importantly, RiRi at her all-time best.