Rihanna scored yet another #1 single with "Work" recently. The Drake-assisted cut borrows some island flavor and Boi-1da production to create a scintillating pop-R&B-hip-hop crossover hit.
"Work" is just another notch in Rihanna's belt full of #1 singles, an accessory she started assembling when "SOS" took the top spot in 2006. In all, she's claimed the number one spot eleven times in her career, an enormous feat for any artist. Something tells us she isn't done yet either.
Whether she's collaborating with Calvin Harris on a dance track, getting with Jay Z for a radio smasher, or riding solo to display her own artistry, Rihanna has been fucking up the charts for a solid decade now. To give RiRi her dues, this week we throw it back to her #1 singles.
"SOS"
With a beat that evokes the nostalgia of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," Rihanna scored her first #1 single in 2006 with this energetic dance-pop track. Please note the Nokia phone in the music video...the throwback is in full force.
"Umbrella" featuring Jay Z
Approach this one with caution, because we all know how damn catchy it is. A true classic of its era, "Umbrella" pairs 'Little Miss Sunshine' with boss-man Hov for a smash hit.
"Take A Bow"
Rihanna recorded "Take A Bow." for the Reloaded version of Good Girl Gone Bad. With Ne-Yo and Norwegian duo Stargate (also known for "Black and Yellow") on production, the single charted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified quadruple platinum since.
"Disturbia"
After the sultry ballad "Take A Bow," Rihanna kicked it up for her next #1 single "Disturbia," an energized return to the "SOS" vibe from her first chart-topping record.
"Rude Boy"
As a Barbadian pop star, Rihanna has always done her best to inject some island flavor/riddim into her tracks. "Rude Boy," a Jamaican slang term, was the subject of her fifth number one single that produced a video full of reggae aesthetic.
"Only Girl (In The World)"
Aaaand back to the dancefloor we go! Rihanna gets back with Stargate to produce "Only Girl (In The World)," a chart-topping single that appeared on the 2010 album Loud.
"What's My Name" featuring Drake
Rihanna and Drake have a history of magical collaborations, at least within the realm of pop music. While "Work" sits at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, let's throw it back to 2010, when the duo landed the top spot for the first time.
"S&M"
The fourth single from Loud was "S&M." Another Stargate production, the energetic track echoes many of the previous vibes heard on this list. In addition to landing at the #1 spot in America, the track hit #1 in Canada and Australia as well. It peaked in the top 5 in multiple other countries as well; it has since gone 6x platinum.
"We Found Love" featuring Calvin Harris
There was a minute there where everyone was linking up with Calvin Harris, and for good reason. The EDM producer is a monster at creating dance-pop crossovers, and this one he crafted with Rihanna may well me his magnum opus. It doubled as Rihanna's ninth #1 single.
"Diamonds"
Diamonds are forever, and so it seems is Rihanna's reign of pop music. Her tenth #1 single was "Diamonds," a track that hit #1 in five other countries besides the United States, marking one of her most popular tracks in her career.
