Pop singer Rihanna took to the stage in London, England Friday (Dec 18) and performed songs from her new album Rated R for BBC’s “Jonathan Ross” show.

After she taped the show in the U.K. yesterday she hopped on a jet and flew back over here to the U.S. to record NBC’s New Year’s Eve special today. She’s also set to tape an appearance on the “Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” this Tuesday (Dec 22).

Continue reading for a video of Rihanna performing “Russian Roulette” on Jonathan Ross.

CONTINUE READING

Def Jam’s golden girl Rihanna premiered her brand new music video for “Hard,” the latest single from her fourth studio album Rated R, in stores now. The track features rapper Young Jeezy, who also makes an appearance in the Melina Matsoukas directed video.

“Hard” is a high-gloss, expensive-looking thing, featuring Rihanna wearing a Mickey Mouse helmet (à la Gottfried Helnwein and Marilyn Manson), Rihanna striding through the desert in gigantic spiked shoulder pads (à la the Legion of Doom), tons of drill-team extras, a pink tank, plenty of explosions and an assault rifle or two. And Young Jeezy.

It’s clearly a big-budget production, but for all the expensive ephemera, what shines most about the video is Rihanna. She was born for the spotlight, to be the name atop the marquee, and in “Hard,” that’s more than apparent. She struts, she swaggers, and she’s clearly aware that this entire fantasy world has been created just for her, and so she works it for all it’s worth. If she weren’t already such a huge star, I’d call it “a star-making turn.” Instead, let’s just call it “par for the course.”

Continue reading to peep the new video! We’ve also got some new promo shots of Ri and Jeezy for the video

CONTINUE READING

Kelis, who is currently going through a very public divorce from her estranged rapper husband Nas, spoke to Honey Mag recently about a lot of hot topics, including her new life as a mother, her divorce from Nas and what she thinks about newer artists on the scene like Rihanna and Cassie “jacking her style.” And believe it or not, she really doesn’t mind which is pretty surprising.

Going back to your site, the first thing that caught our attention was your hair. What inspired the silver and gold look?
Oh, I don’t know, I just feel like an animal. I kept thinking of a wolf or a husky and that’s what they look like.

Are you the type to wake up and say “I want to switch my hair up today” or is it premeditated?
Um, it’s a little bit of both.

Is this your favorite look?
Mmm, no, it’s just for right now. Every look I’ve had is my favorite look (laughs).

In regards to you, that seems to be the consensus for a lot of today’s female artists as well. How do you feel about all these half-shaved heads on chicks like Cassie and Rihanna?
Well I was definitely the first to do it. The only other person I would give credit before me is Pepa. Other than that, I expect them to copy me. What else are they supposed to do? They’re young. God bless them.

It gets interesting though because you’ve reached a point where you can actually see the artists of Generation Kelis, yet it’s not like you’ve retired.
Yeah. At the end of the day, everyone is just waiting for someone to do something new and if it’s generally me, then I’ll take that responsibility (laughs).

For more of this in-depth interview, hit up HoneyMag.com!

Pop singer Rihanna, pictured above with her BFF/assistant Melissa, did some Christmas shopping in New York City Tuesday night (Dec 15). The “Hard” singer rocked a fur hat as she hit up Toys R Us in Times Square, Jason’s Jewelry in Union Square and she even paid a visit to the Gucci and Loius Vuitton Boutiques on Fifth Ave.

The music video for her latest single premieres tomorrow and she’s also set to perform Saturday (Dec 19) for a special concert at the Rockefeller Center.

PHOTOS: INF PHOTO

Rihanna’s new “Hard” music video is set to premiere tomorrow (Thurs. Dec 17) on MTV at 4 PM and her label Def Jam released a 30-secod snippet of the video (which will also feature rapper Young Jeezy) yesterday. Click here to check it out and continue reading for more screen caps from the video!

The preview features the singer dressed in military garb. It’s hardly a regulation uniform, though, as she’s not wearing pants and at one point pulls her green fatigue shirt open to reveal her chest (with black tape over her breasts). It’s the sort of sexy warfare motif that has been all over the artwork for Rated R (most notably the cover to the “Russian Roulette” single).

CONTINUE READING

Rihanna is really pushing her sexy/bad girl image isn’t she? The pop singer is featured (topless) on the cover of the January 2010 issue of GQ Magazine. We know you’re probably tired of hearing about Rihanna and “her story,” but this interview here is actually a good read! In our opinion out of all of the interviews she’s done over the past few months, this is the best one. She talks about being friends with her ex boyfriend Chris Brown “in ten years,” her sexy album cover shoot and more.

One thing that stood out to us was that she didn’t graduate high school because she “got really busy.”

By the way, did you ever graduate high school?
No. I wanted to. I just got really busy.

And she also cleared up those nasty herpes rumors…

When people were bringing up herpes, for instance. Saying that’s why he hurt you—
Right. And it’s not true. It’s a fucking scar. On my lip. That’s there every day of my life.

Continue reading for the FULL interview!

CONTINUE READING

International pop sensation Rihanna is busy promoting her new album Rated R and she paid a visit to Oberhausen, Germany to take the stage and perform during the finale of the popular German TV show “Popstars You & I.”

In an interview with MTV on the set of her new “Hard” music video, pop singer Rihanna had a lot of good things to say about fellow pop star Lady Gaga!

“She has a very bold, fearless image,” Rihanna told MTV News on the set of her “Hard” music video. Rihanna also admires Gaga because she doesn’t apologize for those bold moves. “I have to say, I have so much respect for original artists and artists who aren’t afraid to do what they want to do,” Rihanna said. “That’s what I respect most, so she’s awesome.”

The music video for Rihanna’s latest single “Hard” will premiere later this week, but until then you can check out a 30-second clip when you continue reading!

CONTINUE READING

Your girl Rihanna just got herself a new tattoo not too long too ago! She reportedly hit up her favorite tat parlor East Side Ink Monday night (Dec 7) and had the words “Never a failure, always a lesson.” etched across her top right shoulder.

“She came in at about 2:00 A.M.,” East Side Ink owner and artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy tells OK! exclusively. “She told me in advance she’d be coming, and then when she got there, she told me what she wanted: ‘Never a failure, always a lesson,’ but written backwards.”

The tattoo was most likely written backwards so that it would look legible in a mirror. Continue reading for more shots of the tat!

CONTINUE READING

Rihanna and her label announced Wednesday (Dec 9) that she will be taking her new album Rated R on the road in the UK! The “Russian Roulette” singer made the announcement during a press conference/photocall at Westfields in London, England. She’ll be performing in 8 different arenas in the UK, including London’s O2 Arena, beginning in May 2010.

Continue reading for the tour dates!

CONTINUE READING