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"Russian Roulette," released weeks prior to Rated R, just hinted at Rihanna's sudden desire to provoke. Even with the realization that it is metaphorical, the song startles with its hesitant gasps, spinning cylinders, and verses that are glacially paced, where a cold piano line and the slight inflections in Rihanna's voice are front and center. And then there’s an audible shudder followed by a discharged bullet -- the abrupt end to one of Rated R’s most restrained moments. It’s not the only instance where Rihanna’s rise in fame, combined with being the victim in the decade’s highest-profile felonious assault, added up to a perfect-storm scenario for a creative overhaul. Rated R is more like Good Girl Gone Evil, or Abused Girl Full of Vengeful Rage, not Good Girl Gone Bad, where the only casualties were some dishes. The closest the set gets to upbeat pop is “Rude Boy,” and by any standard it is stern; needless to say, there is quite a difference between “Can you get it up?” and “You can stand under my umbrella.” Much of this daring album is absolutely over the top, bleak and sleek both lyrically and sonically, but it’s compelling, filled with as many memorably belligerent lines -- two of which, “I pitch with a grenade/Swing away if ya feeling brave” and “I’m such a fuckin’ lady,” set the tone early on -- as a rap album made ripe for dissection. “G4L,” over a low-slung and sleek production, is the most fantastical of all, in which Rihanna leads a band of homicidal women, opening with “I lick the gun when I’m done ‘cause I know that revenge is sweet” and “Any mothaf*cka wanna disrespect/Playin’ with fire finna get you wet.” The breakup song, “Fire Bomb,” even though it is also metaphorical, is a close second in terms of lyrical extremity: “I just wanna set you on fire so I won’t have to burn alone.” Some of the breathers -- the songs that are less intense -- hold the album back since Rihanna sounds detached from them. The one exception is the wistful, bittersweet “Photographs,” a rare instance of the singer dropping her guard, but it really sticks out since it is surrounded by material that has her taking the variably authentic roles of abused lover, dominatrix, and murderer. Whether the album seems ridiculous or spectacular (or both), Rihanna's complete immersion in the majority of the songs cannot be disputed. That is the one thing that is not up for debate.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Makeba Riddick, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Saul Milton, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Future Cut, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Palazzole, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William Kennard, ComposerLyricist - Chase & Status, Producer - Beardyman, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Mykael Alexander, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tor Erik Hermansen, ComposerLyricist - Mikkel S. Eriksen, ComposerLyricist - Mikkel Eriksen, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Fauntleroy, ComposerLyricist - Saul Milton, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - StarGate, Producer - Jared Newcomb, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Parry, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William Kennard, ComposerLyricist - Takura Tendayi, ComposerLyricist - Chase & Status, Producer - Xavier Stephenson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Christopher Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Makeba Riddick, Producer - Terius Nash, ComposerLyricist - Jay Jenkins, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Giancarlo Lino, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jaycen Joshua, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rihanna, MainArtist - Monte Neuble, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Navarro, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Dennis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Sherwood, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. "tricky" Stewart, Producer - Pat Thrall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeezy, FeaturedArtist - Karl Heilbron, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Producer - Tyler Van Dalen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cedric Culnaert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sebastien Salis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer - Tor Erik Hermansen, ComposerLyricist - Mikkel Eriksen, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Shaffer Smith, ComposerLyricist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Palazzole, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Parkin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - StarGate, Producer - Ne-Yo, Producer, Co-Producer - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Christopher Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Makeba Riddick, Producer - Terius Nash, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Giancarlo Lino, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jaycen Joshua, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rihanna, MainArtist - Slash, FeaturedArtist - Monte Neuble, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Wuepper, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Luis Navarro, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Dennis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Sherwood, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. "tricky" Stewart, Producer - Pat Thrall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris 'Tek' O'Ryan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Producer - Brian "B-Luv" Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - AJ Clark, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Stewart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer - Chuck Harmony, Producer - Rihanna, MainArtist - Shaffer Smith, ComposerLyricist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jared Newcomb, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ne-Yo, Producer, Co-Producer - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Hanson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Harmony, ComposerLyricist - Mike "TrakGuru" Johnson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mykael Alexander, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jessie Bonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer - James Fauntleroy, ComposerLyricist - Brian Kennedy, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Seals, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Sean Tallman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Parkin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ghazi Hourani, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Tor Erik Hermansen, ComposerLyricist - Mikkel S. Eriksen, ComposerLyricist - Esther Dean, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Palazzole, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Parkin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Swire, Producer, ComposerLyricist - StarGate, Producer - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Adams, ComposerLyricist - Allan Pineda, ComposerLyricist - Michael McHenry, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Caleb Speir, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Keith Harris, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - will.i.am, Producer, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jaime Martinez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dylan "3D" Dresdow, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jean Baptiste, ComposerLyricist - ALAIN WHYTE, ComposerLyricist - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Allen White, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Paper Boy, Producer, Additional Producer - Padraic "Padlock" Kerin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer - James Fauntleroy, ComposerLyricist - Brian Kennedy, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Milton, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Palazzole, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Parkin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William Kennard, ComposerLyricist - Chase & Status, Producer - Kevin Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tor Erik Hermansen, ComposerLyricist - Mikkel S. Eriksen, ComposerLyricist - Bernt Rune Stray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mikkel Eriksen, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Fauntleroy, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Palazzole, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Parkin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - StarGate, Producer - Neil Tucker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer - Robin Tadross, ComposerLyricist - Mike Elizondo, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Gold, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - James Fauntleroy, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Paul Foley, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Chestek, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Olga Konopelsky, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Emma Kummrow, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Gregory Teperman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Davis Barnett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Nocella, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Antonio Resendiz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Timberlake, ComposerLyricist - Igor Szwec, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Parker, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James J. Cooper III, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Friedrich, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Luigi Mazzocchi, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Montez Roberts, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Y's, Producer - Glenn Fischbach, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Campbell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Martinez, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Epcar, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer - James Fauntleroy, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Kennedy, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Seals, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Kevin "KD" Davis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Neil Tucker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Harrison, Producer, Guitar, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Marcos Tovar, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ghazi Hourani, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mykael Alexander, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
"Russian Roulette," released weeks prior to Rated R, just hinted at Rihanna's sudden desire to provoke. Even with the realization that it is metaphorical, the song startles with its hesitant gasps, spinning cylinders, and verses that are glacially paced, where a cold piano line and the slight inflections in Rihanna's voice are front and center. And then there’s an audible shudder followed by a discharged bullet -- the abrupt end to one of Rated R’s most restrained moments. It’s not the only instance where Rihanna’s rise in fame, combined with being the victim in the decade’s highest-profile felonious assault, added up to a perfect-storm scenario for a creative overhaul. Rated R is more like Good Girl Gone Evil, or Abused Girl Full of Vengeful Rage, not Good Girl Gone Bad, where the only casualties were some dishes. The closest the set gets to upbeat pop is “Rude Boy,” and by any standard it is stern; needless to say, there is quite a difference between “Can you get it up?” and “You can stand under my umbrella.” Much of this daring album is absolutely over the top, bleak and sleek both lyrically and sonically, but it’s compelling, filled with as many memorably belligerent lines -- two of which, “I pitch with a grenade/Swing away if ya feeling brave” and “I’m such a fuckin’ lady,” set the tone early on -- as a rap album made ripe for dissection. “G4L,” over a low-slung and sleek production, is the most fantastical of all, in which Rihanna leads a band of homicidal women, opening with “I lick the gun when I’m done ‘cause I know that revenge is sweet” and “Any mothaf*cka wanna disrespect/Playin’ with fire finna get you wet.” The breakup song, “Fire Bomb,” even though it is also metaphorical, is a close second in terms of lyrical extremity: “I just wanna set you on fire so I won’t have to burn alone.” Some of the breathers -- the songs that are less intense -- hold the album back since Rihanna sounds detached from them. The one exception is the wistful, bittersweet “Photographs,” a rare instance of the singer dropping her guard, but it really sticks out since it is surrounded by material that has her taking the variably authentic roles of abused lover, dominatrix, and murderer. Whether the album seems ridiculous or spectacular (or both), Rihanna's complete immersion in the majority of the songs cannot be disputed. That is the one thing that is not up for debate.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:51:46
- Main artists: Rihanna
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2009 The Island Def Jam Music Group ℗ 2009 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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