First lady of R&B, Rihannas sexy mix of edgy pop and smart sampling sass has made her one of the hottest stars of the past pop decade. If she were a lipstick shed be glossy, fruity and slick.
The Barbados-born beauty seemed destined for stardom when she was barely out of nappies. At the age of 15, she formed a girl group with two of her schoolmates. Then, shortly after turning 16, she relocated to the United States, recorded a demo that included dancehall pop mega-stomper Pon De Replay, and promptly got signed to Def Jam. Seriously, the girl got talent bags of it.
Rihanna has gone on to release a stream of sunny dancehall/dub-pop, hip-hop-infused club bangers (SOS, Dont Stop The Music, Shut Up and Drive) and gushy, adult-pleasing ballads (Hate That I Love You). And lets not forget the track that turned her into a megastar overnight. You know the one it rhymes with Paul Weller Eller Eller. Eh? You got it.
The leather-clad lass is now one of the two female solo artist with the most number ones this decade, with the other being High Priestess of Pop Beyoncé Knowles. And did we mention she was only 21? Gulp! Chris Brown should be running scared.