“The Monster” (Ft. Eminem)

This song is a deep dive into the exploration of inner demons, fame, and personal struggles. Allegations going around popular social media platforms say this song may secretly be about her escape from popular music artist, Diddy, and how Eminem helped in her rescue. This song easily became a chart-topping success and showed Rihanna’s versatility as an artist.

“Umbrella”

A symbol of loyalty, support, and unconditional love. That is what Rihanna carried through the lyrics of this outstanding song. It is an iconic collaboration between her and Jay-Z, and it transformed Rihanna from a rising star to a global phenomenon.

“Shut Up and Drive”

Released as part of Good Girl Gone Bad, The high level energy of this song gives a sense of confidence and freedom. Even drawing parallels to taking control of your own life. The track this song was released with solidified her transformation into a more confident, edgy persona.

“Breaking Dishes”

Breaking Dishes is a bold song about a tumultuous relationship, helping to capture the feeling of breaking free, and the empowerment that comes with it. While not a major chart-topper during its time, it is currently going viral on many social media platforms, like Tik Tok.

“Only Girl (In the World)”

A declaration of passion is the right way to describe this song, as Rihanna expresses through the song about feeling like the center of someone’s universe. Released during the era of electro-pop dominance, this song marked Rihanna’s embrace of dance and EDM influence.

“SOS”

A song about a desperate plea for help in a falling relationship. The lyrics and pace give this feeling of urgency and emotional depth. This song was Rihanna’s first major hit in the U.S., and started to introduce her blend of reggae and pop influences. The success of this song marked her breakout into mainstream American music.

“Rude Boy”

A playful, confidence booster track about asserting control in a relationship. Mixing dancehall with mainstream pop, this track has further solidified Rihanna’s Caribbean roots, while still keeping appeal to international audiences.

“Disturbia”

This is a darker, haunting song about the feeling of being overwhelmed by internal and external forces, even blending in horror elements. Released as a standalone single, “DIsturbia” showcased Rihanna’s ability to take on a more eerie, edgy sound.  “Disturbia” became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“S&M”

“S&M” pushed boundaries of what was considered mainstream pop for the time. It can be seen as a provocative, fun exploration of pleasure and pain within the song. It was extremely controversial for its theme, yet the playful attitude resonated widely. Rihanna was seen as a very bold woman after this song came out.

“Where Have You Been?”

A song about the thrill of being swept up in a passionate relationship, with a driving beat and a sense of longing. In the lyrics, she commonly says lyrics asking where have you (her man) been all of her life, as in why couldn’t he have been there for her sooner. This song is another dance anthem that did well on international charts.

“Pon De Replay”

Released in 2005, this song marked the beginning of Rihanna’s career and introduced her to many global artists. “Pon De Replay” is an energetic dancehall-inspired track about living in the moment and having fun. It became an instant hit, peaking in multiple countries and earning her a spot on the international music scene.

“We Found Love”

A euphoric yet melancholic song, “We Found Love” is about finding love in such a chaotic world, blending themes of joy and heartache. The song’s collaboration with Calvin Harris ushered in Rihanna’s move into electronic dance music, one of the biggest genres of the time.

“Work”

A fun, Caribbean-inspired song about a playful, flirtatious relationship with minimal fuss and maximal attitude. As this song features Drake, it marked Rihanna’s long absence from dancehall-infused pop. “Work” became a commercial success and a cultural moment, topping charts globally and becoming a viral hit. 

“Diamonds”

This song is a ballad about finding strength, beauty, and resilience in the face of love. Rihanna uses metaphors of diamonds representing enduring qualities. “Diamonds” is a departure from her usual upbeat tempo found in many of her songs. This song highlighted her vocal range and emotional depth. A massive commercial success, it was one of Rihanna’s most critically acclaimed tracks and earned her multiple awards.

“What’s My Name?”

Another collaboration with famous music star, Drake, “What’s My Name?” is a seductive, playful song about exploring a relationship with excitement and confidence. It was an international chart-topper and one of the most successful collaborations of her career.