Does Rihanna Write Her Own Music?

Rihanna is a highly acclaimed billionaire superstar who has a special style of music. While she is also known for her successful business ventures (i.e Fenty Beauty & SAVAGE X FENTY) as well as her charitable work, it is her impeccable sense of style and chart-topping music that many remember.

But how many of these timeless hits were actually penned by the superstar? Does Rihanna write her own music? Read on to find out.

Does Rihanna Write Her Own Music?

Does Rihanna Write Her Own Music?

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According to Post Vine, Rihanna does in fact write some of her songs, however, she does not write the majority of them (though she often has a hand in the creative process). It should, however, be noted that not all popular acts pay for songwriting, as you are probably aware by now. 

There are a lot of popular musicians who don't compose the songs that they perform. In today's music industry, most musicians admit openly that they do not write any of their songs themselves.

What Are Rihanna’s Top Hits?

There was no one who could have ever predicted that the young Barbadian girl who sang “Pon de replay” would become an international sensation, selling out stadiums for her concerts and shutting down events around the world. 

There are more than a hundred singles that Rihanna has released to her name and each of the singles has made it to the airwaves. Here is a review of her ten most popular songs;

We found love (ft Calvin Harris):

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This is a song that was released in the year 2010. Although she did not write the song, many others had already covered it, her version transformed it into an international hit, topping the Billboard 100 for nine weeks. She got different reactions to her song from so many popular acts because it was such a great song.

Umbrella (ft Jay Z):

Despite the fact that it was released in the year 2017, Umbrella is still one of the most popular songs of the year and it still turns up the party to this day. With the song crossing multiple genres of music, Rihanna has taken her to a whole new level, not only making the Billboard 100 but also receiving so many awards and nominations.

As a result of this song, she went on to win her first-ever Grammy Award, however, the thing about this song is that she did not write it. It was written by The Dream, Kuk Harrell, and Tricky Stewart.

Four Five Seconds (with Paul McCartney and Kanye West):

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He has done a song with Michael Jackson in the '80s, so Paul McCartney is not new to the music industry. As far as the music industry is concerned, Kanye West is not a new name either. This sensational hit jam was the result of all of them working together, although Kanye West was the one to oversee the whole project as he was working on her album.

Diamond:

Despite its popularity, the song remains one of her major hits that cannot be quickly forgotten. As one of the most talented acts in the world, Rihanna can fit into pretty much any genre; in this song, she switches to a sweet power ballad written by Sia, another great artist. She received so many accolades both at home and abroad, and was even listed on the Billboard charts.

Is There a Reason Rihanna Doesn’t Write Her Own Music?

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As well as singing, she enjoys acting as well. Even though she does not write all the lyrics for her songs herself, it is her melodious voice that makes all the difference. There are some songs that she wrote on her own, although originally scripted by others. 

It must be noted that there are some songs on Rihanna's album that were originally written by others but were sung by her. As well as composing Sia's “Diamonds,” Rihanna was also given the song in exchange for her collaboration with her.

Is There a Reason Why Rihanna Hasn't Released a New Album in Six Years?

Is There a Reason Why Rihanna Hasn't Released a New Album in Six Years?

It was no secret that the pop superstar had a long and successful career, putting out hit after hit. 

It was six years ago on Jan. 28, 2016, that she released what many consider her artistic peak with the album “Anti.” After that, Rihanna mostly disappeared from the music scene. In 2017, she released “Wild Thoughts” with DJ Khaled and “Loyalty” with Kendrick Lamar, but it's been six long years since she dropped an album of her own.

Rihanna is now grinding in beauty and fashion as much as she was once grinding in music. Her Savage x Fenty lingerie line was launched in 2018 after the launch of Fenty Beauty in 2017. Forbes reported last year that Robyn Rihanna Fenty became the world's richest female musician after her companies turned her into a billionaire. Her success goes beyond music now that she's a certified mogul.

How Much Is Rihanna’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $1.4 billion, Rihanna overtook Kim Kardashian as America's youngest self-made female billionaire in July 2022.

It was announced in August 2021 that Rihanna had become a billionaire! As a result of her shares in Savage x Fenty and Fenty Beauty, Forbes estimates her worth at £1.2 billion. A big YAS, Queen.

In 2019, Rihanna was the world's wealthiest female music star, according to reports! A Forbes magazine report estimates her net worth at $600 million (£472 million), beating her fellow female musicians. In 2020, she maintained this title, according to Vents magazine.

It's not because she focuses on profits that she's so successful, but rather that she's passionate and works on what she believes in. “Money happens along the way, but I'm doing what I love, what I'm passionate about,” she told The New York Times.

Top 3 Popular songs Were Recorded By Rihanna But Written For Other People?

  1. Umbrella (Originally Written For Britney Spears)

Despite being in the spotlight for reasons other than music, Britney Spears was ready to return to the spotlight in 2007, thanks to a track by The Dream – ‘Umbrella.' But Britney's management rejected the track, and Mary J. Blige passed it along to Rihanna before it came into her hands. Rihanna's career has been impacted greatly by the song. Could Britney have achieved the same results?

  1. Disturbia (Written By & For Chris Brown)

In giving the song to his once girlfriend, Breezy said, “It's fun to be creative and even if you have a concept in your head, you can write it and give it to someone else because it might not personally align with you, but it might be an idea you have.”

  1. S.o.S (Written For Christina Milian)

Rihanna's first number one song, ‘S.o.S.', was rejected by Christina Milian. While Milian has not had a hit since 2004, who knows if ‘Dip It Low' would have had the same impact if it came from someone else?

Alicia keys songwriting masterclass poster
Alicia Keys invites you into her studio to share her process for creating music built from authentic emotion.

Breaking down anthems like “Fallin',” Alicia shows you how she writes lyrics, crafts melodies, and explores sonics so you can discover the music!

About Author

Arielle P

Arielle P

Songwriter | Music Producer | Engineer.

With a background in music production and a strong passion for education, Arielle is dedicated to helping emerging artists navigate the music industry. She has worked with a diverse range of artists, from indie rock bands to well-known hip-hop and grime artists. Arielle's unique approach to teaching focuses on empowering artists to take control of their brand, ensuring they retain creative ownership throughout their journey. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with new sounds in her home studio and sharing her insights through music production tutorials and workshops.

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