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Rihanna Releases ‘Anti’ with the Numbers Still Coming In

by Ryan Gallow
| February 11, 2016 12:23 am CST

When Rihanna’s ANTI mysteriously leaked via Tidal streaming service on Jan. 27 (before being removed and ultimately reposted the following day), it was deemed a more-than-fitting resting place for the runaway train of promotion that’s been carrying the record for almost four years. Rihanna’s last release, Unapologetic, saw the singer set a new standard for her career arc, and left fans clamoring for more. But between smash hits like last year’s “FourFiveSeconds” (which doesn’t even appear on the album) and cryptic video clips of late, expectations slowly morphed into a conundrum waiting to be solved; nobody had any idea what Ms. Fenty was actually cooking up. But it felt big.

True to its name, ANTI is markedly unlike any of the pop princess’ previous releases. That fact appeals to some listeners while underwhelming others, who most likely had their mouths fixed for a Rihanna sound they could recognize. Either way, the album is RiRi’s second No. 1 and currently sits atop Billboard’s 200 Charts, though that also accompanies a bit of controversy; between Tidal’s exclusive rights and ultimately botched release, and a Samsung promotion that saw a million free download codes distributed to consumers, the official count of ANTI’s sales remains a point of contention.

Nevertheless, Rihanna has done again what she somehow manages to do with almost unrivaled ease–gotten people talking (and listening). If you haven’t heard ANTI yet, get on the ball. With releases from the likes of Kanye and Drake on the horizon, you’ll be up to your neck in albums to digest in no time at all.