Ranking Rihanna's Albums

Following her modest debut in 2005, Rihanna has gone on to become a bonafide superstar. In just ten short years, she has released seven studio albums and has achieved ten #1 singles as a leading artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Since the Barbadian singer has rightly earned her place in the pantheon of music icons, it should be no surprise that fans are waiting with bated breath for her follow-up to the Platinum certified Unapologetic.

In anticipation of her eighth studio album, this entry takes a look at her studio releases thus far and ranks them from worst to best.

07. Music of the Sun (2005)

Singles: "Pon de Replay," "If It's Lovin' that You Want"

While her debut effort may have been kicked off with the club hit "Pon de Replay," much of Music of the Sun is tragically bland and relies heavily on presenting Rihanna as a distinctly Caribbean artist. The songs themselves are all fairly tame and were appropriate for the then-teenage singer. There are a few catchy tracks like "Music of the Sun" and "That La, La, La," but it's really no surprise as to why Rihanna hasn't performed any material off of her freshman album since her Good Girl Gone Bad Tour.

06. A Girl Like Me (2006)

Singles: "SOS," Unfaithful," "We Ride," "Break It Off"

Much like its predecessor, A Girl Like Me is heavily influenced by reggae and Rihanna's Barbadian heritage. That said, it diverges in its pop sensibilities and mature subject matter. The lead single "SOS" brilliantly samples the '80s classic "Tainted Love," turning the infectious pop hit into a modern club track. Meanwhile, the album's second single "Unfaithful" presented Rihanna as more of a risk-taker by tackling the subject of infidelity in a mostly orchestral power ballad. The song reached #1 in Canada and was certified Platinum in the United States, thus becoming her signature ballad until the phenomenal "Stay" was released in 2013. Still, the album's strong singles merely buoyed the otherwise recycling of Music of the Sun's sound.

05. Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)

Singles: "Umbrella," "Shut Up and Drive," "Hate That I Love You," "Don't Stop the Music," "Rehab"

Armed with an edgy makeover and the Grammy Award winning lead single "Umbrella," Rihanna propelled herself into the stratosphere with her third album Good Girl Gone Bad. A marked improvement over its predecessors, the album featured a more radio-friendly on pop hits like "Don't Stop the Music" and the rock-tinged "Shut Up and Drive." Non-single tracks like the sassy "Breaking Dishes" and the titular "Good Girl Gone Bad" proved that Rihanna was a multi-faceted singer worthy of her stature. Unfortunately, Good Girl Gone Bad is sunk by an overabundance of forgettable filler.

That said, it's worth mentioning that the album's re-release helped Rihanna score two additional #1 hits with "Disturbia" and "Take a Bow." It's just too bad the tracks weren't on the initial release.

04. Talk That Talk (2011)

Singles: "We Found Love," "You da One," "Talk That Talk," "Birthday Cake," "Where Have You Been," "Cockiness (I Love It) Remix"

In many ways, Talk That Talk is quintessentially Rihanna. It masterfully blends the genres of pop, R&B and reggae in a series of sultry tracks that showcase her unique vocals. From the maddening ear candy that is "We Found Love" to the cleverly written "Cockiness (I Love It)," Rihanna delivers one of her strongest and most cohesive works with the album. While the album will perhaps be overshadowed by the overwhelming success of its lead single, it is refreshing in its lack of filler and should be appreciated for its stirring ballads "We All Want Love" and "Farewell."

03. Rated R (2009)

Singles: "Russian Roulette," "Hard," "Wait Your Turn," "Rude Boy," "Rockstar 101," "Te Amo"

Released in the wake of her highly publicized split from Chris Brown, Rated R offers a wide range of edgy rock-tinged tracks that tackle the difficult subjects of abuse and love gone awry. Songs like "Russian Roulette," "Stupid in Love" and "Cold Case Love" are dark ballads, driven by raw emotion and mature lyrics. As its title would suggest, Rated R gave fans a glimpse of a much darker side of the superstar's life and presented her as a true artist, free from the strings of her record label. 

Despite its nearly overwhelming haunting atmosphere, Rated R is diversified by the presence of the dance club-friendly "Rude Boy" and the homoerotic "Te Amo." This helps to prevent the album from dragging, creating a more well-rounded approach to what would otherwise be considered a concept album.

02. Loud (2010)

Singles: "Only Girl (In the World)," "What's My Name?," "Raining Men," "S&M," "Man Down," "California King Bed," "Cheers (Drink to That)"

Eschewing the rock-tinged sound of its predecessor, Loud is a celebratory and colourful masterpiece that embraces Rihanna's status as a popstar. From the club-thumping "Only Girl (In the World)" to the insanely infectious "What's My Name?," the album is light on filler and heavy on catchy hooks. Loud showcases Rihanna's confidence as a vocalist and a performer, giving birth to three #1 singles. 

It should really be no surprise that the album was nominated for the prestigious Album of the Year award at the Grammys.

01. Unapologetic (2012)

Singles: "Diamonds," "Stay," "Pour It Up," "Loveeeeeee Song," "Right Now," "What Now," "Jump"

From its provocative cover to its lyrical content, everything about Unapologetic is brash and defiant. It is musically ambitious, blending just about every genre Rihanna has ever toyed with into one album. From the David Guetta-helmed opening tack "Phresh Off the Runway" to the reggae-influenced "No Love Allowed," Unapologetic plays like a best of compilation. It includes many memorable gems like the powerful rock ballad "What Now" to the haunting "Love Without Tragedy / Mother Mary," as well along with the career-defining monster smashes "Diamonds" and "Stay." 

Unapologetic became Rihanna's very first number one album and earned her two Grammys, including Best Urban Contemporary Album. If this album proves anything, it's that her follow-up has a lot to live up to.