Nov
10
Rap Radar’s “Rated R” review

RapRadar.com had the presure to listen to Rihanna’s latest album! Here’s what they say:

“So this afternoon along with a selected handful of critics, YN got to sit in Antonio Reid’s plush office and listen to Ri-Ri’s new album out of his Genelec Speakers. My BB and Iphone stayed in my pockets and I had to go hand-to-hand with my notes. So forgive me if the future proves my observations wrong. Here we go.

Mad House
Intro interlude. Slow plodding. Brief. No lyrics. Dark. Sets tone for record which is really cohesive.

Wait Your Turn
Sounds good through L.A.’s speakers.

Hard
Sounds really good through L.A.’s speakers.

Stupid In Love
Wonder who this one’s about? Finger snapping groove. Mid-tempo. First verse, she goes “Don’t treat me like I’m stupid”. 2nd verse something about her being an idiot. Her friends have told her he is not one. 3rd verse, she talks about him “actin’ like a jerk”. Something about a “dunce cap”. Hook goes: “I may be young but I’m not stupid. I’m not stupid in love”.

Russian Roulette
Can’t believe some of y’all are still frontin’ on this.

Rockstar
Features Slash on guitar. “I told you baby”. She’s in full swag mode. Talkin’ about clothes she’s rockin’. She’s at a party with her girls and everyone’s clockin’. Got her “middle finger up”. She talks about the “big city. bright lights”. All she’s “missing is a guitar”? She’s a shit talkin’, six-inch heel wearer. Something about bra and panties. Hook goes: “Baby, I’m a rock star. Hey baby, I’m a rock star”.

Fire Bomb
First joint I’m not feelin’. This one actually has heavier guitars and more of a rock element than “Rockstar”. Heavy car metaphor throughout. There’s references to “lovers need to clear the road” and “where we’re goin’ we don’t need no breaks”. Ambulance talk. Gasoline. Revved up engines. One big flat tire if you ask me.

Rude Boy
Back to the fun Ri-Ri. She’s out on the town lookin’ for a new man. A rude boy who can “take it, take it”. Slightly different vocal tone in first verse. “Giddy up. Give it to me baby. Give it to me harder. Buckle up.” Yup a lot of car references. “I like the way you pull my hair”. Woah. Ok, I’m blushin’. Think she says “muthafuckin’”. Really potty mouth on this disc. She’s such a fuckin’ lady.

Photographs
A true collabo with Will.i.Am about missing past lovers. Hook goes: “All I got are these photographs. All I got is nothin’ without you”. Acoustic in the intro. Heavy bass. First verse she says, “It could’ve been you and me”. Drums kick in 2nd verse real BEP style. Will’s vocals come in on bridge addin’ a lil male perspective on the matter. He reminisces on he and a special lady on her “grandma’s sofa kissin’”. Ah, young love.

G4L
The title stands for “Gangsta For Life,” which takes a long time to reveal itself. This begins the real dramatic soap opera side of the CD. She sings about “guns in the air” . “I’m ready to roll”. “We don’t play that shit nigga”? Um, ok? Dramatic outro at end she purrs, “Revenge is sweet”.

Te Amo
Cute but cheesy. It’s real Mama Don’t Preach. “Don’t let love hurt you,” a wise woman warns her. She repeats the title plenty and often.

Cold Case Love
This is the Justin contribution. He does his best Timbaland impersonation with a overly-produced and arranged wall of electronic sounds. She’s on a “dark and burning road”. She’s most angry here. This is the big FU CB tune. “What you did to me wasn’t right?” Now that’s an understatement. “We lost in love”. Quality lyrics but too damn long.

The Last Song
I can’t stand this clunker. “Time to turn off the last song,” she keeps repeating. And I wish I coulda done just that. More wailing guitars. A bad ending to a good album.”

credit: RapRadar.com

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      45 Comments

      1. FIRST!!

        Comment by HATER PWNER — November 10, 2009 @ 7:26 am

      2. What was that about Te Amo? I dont understand

        Comment by HATER PWNER — November 10, 2009 @ 7:27 am

      3. I read the review & It’s sounds REALLY cool and all that, but I don’t enjoy reading about Rihanna swearing, sayin “ni*ga” and I’m getting the ANTI-MALE wibes here :(

        Am I the ONLY ONE who don't like ANTI-MALE & SWEARING???!!!

        Comment by TK-75523 — November 10, 2009 @ 7:34 am

      4. I actually love Te Amo, and he says it's one of the worst on the album. So I guess the album can't be that bad. The Last Song doesn't sound good at all. That Will.I.Am. track sounds pretty cool! I think this review is pretty honest..

        Comment by ElectroSkies) — November 10, 2009 @ 7:35 am

      5. I mean come on!!! Rihanna DON'T need to swear to have swaggar, be hot n edge!!!

        Comment by TK-75523 — November 10, 2009 @ 7:36 am

      6. I can't wait to hear G4L LOL

        Comment by chick — November 10, 2009 @ 7:36 am

      7. lol there are clean and explicit cds remember,dont front!

        sounds really raw,maybe its not his taste of wine,lol

        i cant wait to buy it though!!

        she's gonna kill it

        Comment by connor — November 10, 2009 @ 7:40 am

      8. I STILL DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT SHE WENT SO ANGRY ON THIS ALBUM…BUT I GUESS

        Comment by Ray — November 10, 2009 @ 7:41 am

      9. I can't to hear this album

        Comment by chick — November 10, 2009 @ 7:41 am

      10. I think Good Girl Gone Bad was perfect.

        She still covered herself, and made great music.

        It was a complete success!

        Her music is different, it's good in a different way.

        But her look is a bit too much for me. (=

        Comment by ElectroSkies) — November 10, 2009 @ 7:43 am

      11. TE AMO's CHANGED!!!!!! OH F****** GOD! CAN"T WAIT ANYMOOOOOOREE!

        Comment by star — November 10, 2009 @ 7:44 am

      12. …can't wait to hear the album!!!…

        Comment by Lu — November 10, 2009 @ 7:46 am

      13. Rated R obviously reflects where Rihanna is at this point in her life. She has gone through some stuff that would make any person angry.

        Comment by TakeABow2 — November 10, 2009 @ 7:46 am

      14. My be this album is for her to say what she been wanting to say for the last 8 months and her next album will be about her having fun and more pop and R&B songs she we need dance songs not all these sad love songs. I know ya'll are gonna yell at me for this but I hope she drops anther album next year because I hear there was suppose to be more songs but there isn't there is only 13 songs my be another album next year 2010 would be good just like reloaded but some songs that she recored this time but didn't get on the album and some songs that she will record for the next album next year. I hope after she does the world tour drop anther album.

        Comment by lilly — November 10, 2009 @ 7:58 am

      15. CANT WAIT TO BUY IT!!!!

        Comment by MARSH — November 10, 2009 @ 7:59 am

      16. You know what? to hell with RAP RADAR whatever…all i know is that RIHANNA is the best and her new album will be excellent i love russian soulette, wait your turn and Hard and i will love all her other singles

        Comment by Caribbeanboi — November 10, 2009 @ 8:02 am

      17. so what does mean that the average isi the album fire or he didnt like it,,?

        Comment by rihannito — November 10, 2009 @ 8:03 am

      18. Gangsta for life, really rih rih?

        Comment by Hope — November 10, 2009 @ 8:31 am

      19. I posted it .. but I can't write a comment on this !! .. This is a fucking game and I digged like really deep .. to see that happen !! ..

        Comment by HaHa — November 10, 2009 @ 8:32 am

      20. EFF what everybody else gotta say, I'm luvin the new HARD RIRI.

        Comment by virginia's fine — November 10, 2009 @ 8:38 am

      21. I saw on the other post that he rated it 8 out of 10. That's pretty damn good. :)

        Comment by TakeABow2 — November 10, 2009 @ 8:48 am

      22. That reviewer seemed like a dick/hater no offense.. I dont think people should take his reiews seriously..Lets just wait till the ablum comes out and then make ou own perfences..

        Comment by Jerry — November 10, 2009 @ 8:48 am

      23. He said 11 out of 13 songs were good to great. He wasn't feeling 2 of the songs. To

        me thats a great review. And I look forward to november 23rd. Thats the same kind of

        review I had heard about GGGB, and that turned out to be a classic record.

        Comment by maison martin margie — November 10, 2009 @ 8:50 am

      24. Sorry 8 out of 10* Thats excellent guys. :-) I'm som happy it is getting good

        reviews!!

        Comment by maison martin margie — November 10, 2009 @ 8:55 am

      25. Guys, let your own ears be judge on the 23rd. This is just one man's opinion. What I like you may not like.I know were all anxoius but let's not make assumptions until we actually hear it.

        Comment by nikaries — November 10, 2009 @ 9:04 am

      26. lol why are people overreacting. rapradar isn't a respectable review site but besides this is actually a really good review.

        although it's less of a review, and more a brief description.

        Comment by Ri — November 10, 2009 @ 9:11 am

      27. i can't wait to get the whole body of work in my hands and have it blasting out of my speakers and then i will tell rap-up whats cooking..

        Comment by bodacious. — November 10, 2009 @ 9:15 am

      28. @ maison when i see your name i feel like i am right at home at a cook out in the back yard ..

        Comment by bodacious. — November 10, 2009 @ 9:16 am

      29. Yup, I agree. Definitely more of a description than a review..but they said it was an overall good and cohesive record, so thats good to hear.

        Comment by Kat — November 10, 2009 @ 9:18 am

      30. Hi guys!! I'm a producer on the album (can't reveal my name) but some of the stuff he/she said isnt true. Wait until billboard or rolling stone reviews. I will post my review of the album later tonite.

        Comment by TRUTH-TELLA — November 10, 2009 @ 10:00 am

      31. looks interesting, and yeah it's more a description than a review the things i see is:

        te amo was remastered and i can't wait i love that song

        i expected fire bomb to be a club banger a dance track looks like not and also looks like it's gonna be shut up and drive 2 of course much edgier

        photographs is gonna be like boom boom pow, i just hope way better and great lyrics

        cold case love i knew it was gonna be the timberlake collabo LOL i think this is rehab part 2 but again edgier

        and i just can't wait !!!!!!!

        i'm just SO anxoius love her new style both fashion and musically and who cares about the swearing and nudity? SHE'S FEARLESS AND WILL DO HER THING

        THAT'S WHY I LOVE HER

        Comment by RtA — November 10, 2009 @ 10:03 am

      32. This review reconfirms what she's been saying all along- she used this album to vent and as her therapy for all the stuff that happened. Can't wait until 11/23. The wait is ova!

        Comment by amanda hearts ri ri — November 10, 2009 @ 10:03 am

      33. @ amanda hearts ri ri…hey …wasup…

        …yup,that's exactly ….

        Comment by Lu — November 10, 2009 @ 10:06 am

      34. @Lu- Hey!!!! I'm good. Took me awhile to fall asleep last night. Trying to come down off my Rihanna high. lol. Yesterday was one of her best days ever!

        Comment by amanda hearts ri ri — November 10, 2009 @ 10:37 am

      35. its funny to me 'cause i remember someone saying some — or a lot — of her "core" audience was not going to like this album because its gong in a more hip-hip-ish direction, i hope not.

        PPL DO NOT BE AFRIAD OF THE CRUSES…lmao, they will not harm u. ur a Rih fan, u need to man the hell up! lol

        but seriously, its a good album… non man hating… she is just 'bigging' up herself on this album.

        Comment by eagle. — November 10, 2009 @ 10:55 am

      36. @amanda hearts ri ri…yeah i'm pretty sure it was a special night for her…

        Comment by Lu — November 10, 2009 @ 11:09 am

      37. i am pretty sure you mean PLEASURE not PRESURE which isn't even correct spelling sorry to be a pain in the ass but i want this site to be perfect! you understand :)

        Comment by deliciousexquisite — November 10, 2009 @ 11:27 am

      38. ANY RIHANNA STANS WANNA DEFEND RIH ON MEDIATAKEOUT, CL, AND YOUTUBE W ME 2MORRO???

        Comment by Teamorihanna — November 10, 2009 @ 11:51 am

      39. AHHH Just saw the preview for 20/20 this Friday! RR video premiere and they will talk about the impact of her speaking out!

        Comment by Avery — November 10, 2009 @ 1:06 pm

      40. @Avery…will the video premiere on 20/20?..

        Comment by Lu — November 10, 2009 @ 1:28 pm

      41. The review seems honest…

        I have a question, will there be clean copies of the CD available?

        Comment by Gaggan — November 10, 2009 @ 1:59 pm

      42. seriouisly cant wait 2 here it

        im getting the excplicit version

        but i just dont like the nigga word :)

        Comment by chrisstiaan88 — November 10, 2009 @ 2:03 pm

      43. I cant waitttttttttttt :)

        Comment by AnaLovesRihanna — November 10, 2009 @ 4:18 pm

      44. @ Gaggan

        Yup.

        Comment by HATER PWNER — November 10, 2009 @ 6:13 pm

      45. I'm excited…sounds like the guy likes it except 2 songs…my first rihanna album….awwwww!!!!

        Comment by starryiis — November 11, 2009 @ 8:44 am

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