It’s no secret that Rihanna’s style and personality contributed heavily to her extended reign upon Pop culture. With each album, the Bajan beaut’s style evolution and influence on fashion were quite evident. Though debatable, she even improved vocally as well. Ironically, she’s still the poster child for the ‘it doesn’t take talent to make it in today’s music industry’ argument.
Complex enlisted the 24-year-old modelesque singer for not one, but seven of their February/March 2013 covers. Each cover is a tribute of sorts to the style each album in her discography represents. Starting with Music of the Sun, Rihanna revisits the signature style of each album. She maintains her current trendy style while doing it. Who’s better to tribute you than you?
On being shady like her “Navy.” “We don’t start the trouble, but that’s how we’re defending ourselves—by saying some slick shit. That’s how I’ve always been. I was so rude when I was a little girl. I got my ass beat by my mother for that. Most of the time it was because of my mouth.”
On digging deeper with Unapologetic. “When I was making this record I had no intention except the truth. So whatever is there is real. It’s raw. That’s why the album is called Unapologetic,” she says. “I held back before. I didn’t show a lot of myself. I was very guarded. I needed to be open and free and fearless. Basically say, ‘Fuck it.’ What’s the worst that can happen? They’ll hate me? They’ve done that before.”
On “Diamonds.” “It was so inspiring and uplifting,” she says. “It was giving me hope, that song. I was tired of angry love songs. Love doesn’t always have to be about breakups, and ‘We’re never going to be together again.’ It could be sweet. It could be, ‘Hell yeah! We’re diamonds!’”
Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, Jay-Z’s best friend, reveals Jay orchestrated the controversial “Birthday Cake” remix, which features Chris Brown.
“The-Dream didn’t write it for them as a duet,” Ty Ty says. “Jay-Z and I were in the car together listening to the song, and we thought it would be a great duet. It sounds dope. It feels good. That’s how Chris ended up on the song.”
