Rihanna is no stranger to feminism and empowering women, but it’s these five videos/songs that truly show just how influential and important she is to feminine society.
“I was good on my own, that’s the way it was”
The DJ Mustard produced track’s opening lyric is a direct view of Fenty’s growth since her previous album and its breakout hit “Stay“. On 2013’s Unapologetic, the Barbadian songstress struggled with heartbreak, and mixed emotions when it came to men; But the Rihanna of the “ANTi” era is almost a complete opposite. On “Needed Me”, she creates a “don’t hate the player, hate the game” anthem as she fights back against her previous suitors disinterest in her love, letting listeners know that she herself is “wearing the pants” now. She boasts about the personal power she’s gained and how her backbone, as well as her new outlook on love, leaves the bad guys in the dust, begging for more.
2. Sledgehammer
When fans heard that Sia had penned a track to be sung by Rihanna for the Star Trek Beyond soundtrack, the world went crazy imagining a “Diamonds” 2.0. However, the tone for the raspy duo’s latest collaboration took fans by complete surprise. Tapping into her new and improved vocals, Rihanna delivered a powerful ballad about overcoming adversity and heartbreak, once again destroying the walls of misfortune built up by negativity within her life.
“I hit a wall, I thought that I would hurt myself / Oh I was sure, your words would leave me unconscious / And on the floor, I’d be lying cold, lifeless / But I hit a wall, I hit em’ all, watch the fall / You’re just another brick, and i’m a sledgehammer”
March 26th, 2015, Riri digitally released the controversial BBHMM (audio), lending a female voice to the rising “Trap Music” wave brought in by artists like Kodak Black, Lil’ Yachty, Lil’ Uzi Vert, Travis $cott, and more. Giving the ladies their own trap vibes to jam to. The song’s lyrics give a glamorous glimpse into the fast paced, “Rock and Roll” lifestyle of the ‘Good Girl Gone Bad‘ herself, letting women know that they can be just as much of a boss as the men can!
On July 2nd, 2015, she finally released the highly anticipated 7 minute video which drew even more controversy than the song itself, turning eyes all across the world. In the visual, she and her minions kidnap her crooked accountants wife, and hold her hostage (presumably for ransom). During the voyage with their captive, Rihanna and her minions party out of control all while still sticking to the songs narrative which is also their mission. Getting their money!
Instead of using her platform for gimmicks or sales, Rihanna channeled her stance against police brutality, sexism, racism, homophobia, and just about every other social issue known to date into her ground breaking song and video “American Oxygen”. The song itself was inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s “Made in the U.S.A.”, and it details the journey of the ‘American Dream’. Riri’s kaleidoscopic view of said dream makes her the perfect singer for this song, lending her voice to the many communities she’s apart of. Speaking from the perspective of women, immigrants, African-Americans, the poor, and the rich; Robyn Fenty steps onto the front lines as our very own ‘Statue of Liberty.’
“Oh say, can you see, this is the American Dream / Young girl, hustlin’, on the other side of the ocean”
The video itself is bold, triggering, inspiring, and even emotional as historical images and clips depicting America’s many trials and tribulations flash behind a headstrong Riri as she dances with the American flag. The clips are each in their own right daring and informative as they show clear views of racism, drug trafficking, and war. Rihanna herself even crawls across the tattered ground with an open parachute on her back; symbolizing her journey against adversity as a representative of the communities described earlier on…
“I didn’t mean to end his life, I know it wasn’t right, I can’t / even speak my mind, can’t get it out my mind, I need / to get out of sight, fore’ I end up behind bars”
The video opens with Rihanna shooting her attacker at a train station, before flashing back to the previous day which was the day of her (or her character’s) attack. After dancing around with her attacker at a party, the man follows her from the club to an out-of-sight shed where he sexually assaults her before she flees home to get her gun. Critics may not agree with her way of raising awareness to sexual assault and victim blaming, but Rihanna did what she had to do for the sake of her fellow island women to shine a light on the haunting issue. The harmonic cracks in her Barbadian tone express emotions and pain, showing listeners the internal damage that rapists inflict on their victims. Her appearance in the video also showed her in a new light, she went for minimal makeup, as well as an ‘ordinary’ feel to her clothing, as she portrayed herself as a typical island girl instead of “Rihanna”. She taught her audience that sexual assault has no labels and can happen to anyone.
These aren’t even half of the examples of Rihanna being the badass feminist she is. Hopefully as 2017 begins, we can count on Riri to continue to empower women everywhere.
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