- Words Laviea Thomas
As 2023 rings in Rihanna’s return to music, we’ve compiled a 10Trax of her underrated releases ahead of her forthcoming album.
“ROCKSTAR 101” by Rihanna, Slash
Taken from her 2009 album ‘Rated R’, “ROCKSTAR 101” rests amongst colossal Rihanna hits “Rude”, “Hard” and “Russian Roulette” and stands on its own two feet as one of the artist’s best underrated cuts.
“Skin” by Rihanna
This track is incredibly under-appreciated. Building an incredible tension through its erotic lyrics, “Skin” is a sultry release complete with a stunning guitar outro.
“We Ride” by Rihanna
Taking it back, “We Ride” is a track taken from Rihanna’s Def Jam days. Officially 16 years old, this single is a timeless classic and perfectly represents early 2000s R&B.
“Raining Men” by Rihanna, Nicki Minaj
You’d think that a Nicki Minaj feature would attract a lot more traffic, but Rihanna’s “Raining Men” is a track that hardly gets the recognition it deserves. The vocal chemistry between Rihanna and Nicki on this release is unparalleled.
“Princess of China” by Coldplay, Rihanna
Who would’ve thought that a Coldplay x Rihanna collaboration would work so well. A track often forgotten, “Princess of China” is an ethereal release featuring angelic harmonies.
“There’s A Thug in My Life” by Rihanna, J-Status
It doesn’t get more R&B than “There’s A Thug In My Life”. Taken from her debut album ‘Music of the Sun’, throughout this track the artist explores soft percussions and soulful vocals.
“Complicated” by Rihanna
Just for clarification, this is not an Avril Lavigne cover. Taken from ‘Loud’ the album, “Complicated” is another under-appreciated single with a gripping hook. Belting relatable lyrics, this track is a heartfelt release about the roller coaster emotions that surround toxic relationships.
“Roc Me Out” by Rihanna
“Roc Me Out” features Rihanna’s signature distorted production that’s also highlighted in hit singles such as “Disturbia” and “Shut Up and Drive”.
“Push Up On Me” by Rihanna
Taken from her ‘Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded’ album “Push Up on Me” saw the artist embrace her OG sound. Loaded with juddering beats and looping vocals, this track is a simplistic yet effective release.
“Fading” by Rihanna
A simplistic ballad with melodic beats, Rihanna’s “Fading” is a sweet release to get wrapped into. Another track taken from her album ‘Loud’ it’s clear the artist was in her sad girl era with this one.