Rihanna to release Rated R

The wait is "ova" for one of the most hotly anticipated new albums in recent history, as multi-platinum, award-winning Def Jam recording artist Rihanna announces the completion of her fourth original studio album, Rated R, scheduled to arrive in the physical and digital marketplace on November 23rd.

Rated R's first single pick is "Russian Roulette" and the video, directed by Anthony Mandler, will premiere in prime-time on ABC. The soaring ballad follows a woman on the verge of taking a turn at the suicide game: You can see it thorugh my chest/That I'm terrified/But I'm not leaving/I know that I must pass this test/So just pull the trigger. The song, which eerily ends with a gunshot.

"Russian Roulette" was written and produced by fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo, whose long track record with Rihanna includes the #1 hit "Unfaithful" (2006, from A Girl Like Me), their Top 10 duet "Hate That I Love You" (2007, from Good Girl Gone Bad), and #1 pop/ #1 R&B "Take A Bow" (2008, from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded). In addition to Ne-Yo, other producers and writers on Rihanna's new album include the team of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, Chase & Status, Stargate, Justin Timberlake and more.

Rated R is the long-awaited follow-up to Good Girl Gone Bad (May 2007), which contained the non-stop string of hit singles that began with the MTV VMA and Grammy Award-winning global #1 hit "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z), then "Shut Up and Drive," "Hate That I Love You" (featuring Ne-Yo), and "Don't Stop the Music." Good Girl Gone Bad spent 98 total weeks on the Soundscan chart, earned cumulative sales of more than 36-times platinum in at least 20 territories around the world, and spun off the CD+DVD package Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (January 2009) - which continued the string of hits with the #1 "Take A Bow," and the #1 "Disturbia."

Good Girl Gone Bad was the third album release in less than two years by the 21-year old Barbados native Rihanna. It followed-up 2006's RIAA platinum A Girl Like Me, which contained the back-to-back hits, "S.O.S." and "Unfaithful"; and her RIAA gold debut from 2005, Music Of the Sun, featuring the world-wide smash, "Pon De Replay."

Rihanna biography
Singing sensation Rihanna first appeared on the scene in 2005, with Her summer smash "Pon De Replay" which quickly became an anthem of hot fun and sweaty nights. Since then, Rihanna has become the new face of COVERGIRL, Venus and won a plethora of awards for her chart topping hits. (Please see 2nd page).

Now releasing her third disc in two years, Barbados native Rihanna unveils Good Girl Gone Bad and the evidence of her growth in those two short years is overwhelming and is reling on her art as a song stylist to commutate her message. ON first listen to Good Girl Gone Bad, one should realize that the girl of Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006) doesn't exist anymore.

The twelve songs that make-up Good Girl Gone BAD are all cutting edge material that puts Rihanna in a different league than the other divas on the block.

Beginning with the hypnotic hotness of "Umbrella," which recently won MTV VMAs for "VIDEO OF THE YEAR" and "MONSTER SINGLE OF THE

YEAR," Rihanna brilliantly captures the makings of a musical icon.

The head nodding beat was crafted by Tricky Stewart. In addition, Tricky makes a second appearance with the equally danceable "Breakin' Dishes."

One of the songs Rihanna bought to this groundbreaking project was the rock-out of "Shut Up and Drive." With the power of a rock goddess, this track will surprise many.

Pulling-out the big beats, Rihanna has recruited music man of the year Timbaland. Tim contributes three powerful tracks to Good Girl Gone Bad. Using his trademarked electro soundscapes, Tim's fractured beats and futuristic sensibility fuels his collaborations with Rihanna.

Beginning with the wild ride of "Sell Me Candy," Timbaland's art of funky noise mixes well with Rihanna's maturing vocal palette, along with the Justin Timberlake penned "Rehab" and "Lemme Get That".

Teaming once again with label-mate," Ne-Yo, who is known as much for his stellar songwriting skills, (he penned her # 1 hit, "Unfaithful"), the two talents share the microphone on the heart-wrenching duet "Hate That I Love You," produced the Stargate. Ne-Yo also lends his writing hand to the Shea Taylor produced "Question Existing" and the bombastic title track.

Good Girl Gone Back is Rihanna's first masterpiece. Never falling back on old moves, Rihanna has crafted the finest disc of her short career.

Good Girl Gone Bad is the kind of music that builds longevity, and now there's no looking back.



"Rated R" by Rihanna - release date: 11/23/09..