Rated R

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Rated R was released on 20 November 2009 on Def Jam and is Rihanna's fourth album. Recording began in March 2009 in, among other places, New York, London, Paris and Los Angeles. Her previous record, Good Girl Gone Bad, had been a great success, and after the assault by her then boyfriend in February 2009, everyone wondered whether the new songs would be about it. Producers included Chase & Status, Stargate and The-Dream. Slash plays guitar on Rockstar 101.

The sound is darker and more menacing than before: pop, hip hop and R&B with rock influences and a touch of dubstep. Rude Boy comes from dancehall and Te Amo has a Latin colouring. She sang The Last Song in the final twelve hours before the album had to be finished. Critics praised her mature performance and called the record her most layered and sensitive work.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Mad House1:35Apple Music ↗
2. 2Wait Your Turn3:47Apple Music ↗
3. 3Hard (feat. Jeezy)4:11Apple Music ↗
4. 4Stupid in Love4:01Apple Music ↗
5. 5Rockstar 101 (feat. Slash)3:59Apple Music ↗
6. 6Russian Roulette3:48Apple Music ↗
7. 7Fire Bomb4:18Apple Music ↗
8. 8Rude Boy3:43Apple Music ↗
9. 9Photographs (feat. will.i.am)4:46Apple Music ↗
10. 10G4L3:00Apple Music ↗
11. 11Te Amo3:28Apple Music ↗
12. 12Cold Case Love6:05Apple Music ↗
13. 13The Last Song4:17Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗