Posts Tagged Rihanna

Rihanna-LUI-magazine-rihanna-37207512-1440-900
By Sesali B. • 8 years ago

How Rihanna is Making ‘Single’ Cool Again for Black Women

When Rihanna dropped the double feature music video for her new single “Work” featuring Drake, one of our awesome columnists wrote a great piece about how the video was a prime example of Rihanna’s embodiment of female autonomy. Rihanna used this video as an opportunity to operate beyond a masculine gaze and literally “work” her body for her own pleasure and joy. It’s something that Rihanna does effortlessly and often. It’s why I “love/adore/volunteer my edges” to her, to use Jacqui’s own words. But I want to be even more specific about one of the ways I see Rihanna giving life and snatching wigs in the name of Black female sexuality: her unapologetic singleness.

When Rihanna dropped the double feature music video for her new single “Work” featuring Drake, one of our awesome columnists wrote a great piece about how the video was a prime example of

rihanna
By Jacqui Germain • 8 years ago

Drake Who? Rihanna’s “Work” and Female Autonomy

February has been a jam-packed month for Black musical artists. In the midst of a welcome flurry of new singles, videos, entire albums (Frank, come on, fam) and stunning performances, Monday saw the release of both of Rihanna’s music videos for her rhythmic iffiancehall single, Work.

February has been a jam-packed month for Black musical artists. In the midst of a welcome flurry of new singles, videos, entire albums (Frank, come on, fam) and stunning performances, Monday saw the release of both of Rihanna’s ...

holytrinity
By Sesali B. • 9 years ago

The Holy Trinity Explained

If the internet is good for nothing else, it can be relied upon for it’s witty references and smart euphemisms. So if you’re a regular on Tumblr, then you’ve seen Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj referenced collectively as the Holy Trinity

If the internet is good for nothing else, it can be relied upon for it’s witty references and smart euphemisms. So if you’re a regular on Tumblr, then you’ve seen Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj referenced collectively ...

rihass
By Sesali B. • 9 years ago

4 Reasons to Love Rihanna 10 years later

If you’re like me, you recognize that Rihanna has been the shit ever since she killed the choreography in the video for her breakout hit “Pon de Replay.” Single after single, album after album, power move after power move, I have found myself sending affirming head nods across the world in support of “bad gal RiRi.”

If you’re like me, you recognize that Rihanna has been the shit ever since she killed the choreography in the video for her breakout hit “Pon de Replay.” Single after single, album after album, power ...
By Sesali B. • 10 years ago

Let them live: Josephine Baker, Maya Angelou, and Rihanna as erotic and holistic

Last week when I wrote about women telling their boyfriends to “check their bitches” my ending bio included an exasperated “Maya Angelou didn’t die for this shit.” And I meant it. When it comes to black women, the “shit” I’m referring to  goes beyond the defense mechanisms of scorned lovers on Love & Hip Hop. The “shit” is the continually devaluing of black women and the rejection of their sexuality and bodily autonomy. She didn’t die for us to uphold false dichotomies about the character and worth of black women.

When Rihanna shut the CFDA Awards down in her dazzling sheer gown by designer Adam Shelman, I was expecting some thot shaming. We all know how everyone ...

Last week when I wrote about women telling their boyfriends to “check their bitches” my ending bio included an exasperated “Maya Angelou didn’t die for this shit.” And I meant it. When it comes to ...

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