If Rihanna's first two albums and her first handful of radio hits were her polite introduction to the world, then "Good Girl Gone Bad" saw her unapologetically busting down doors to let people know exactly who she was. It's this defiant era that transformed Rihanna from a sweet charming island girl to a fierce badass who defined her next chapter on her own terms. The "Umbrella" effect, as some put it, reintroduced Rihanna with a brand-new sound to match her sleek look (remember when she cut and dyed her hair without consulting her label?), a signature she's since stuck to with the rest of her album releases. But "Good Girl Gone Bad" as a whole signalled experimentation unlike we'd never seen before. The gamble on Rihanna's third studio offering paid off: thanks to its success, not only did it set the tone for her future artistry, it proved that she could never be put into a box.
Best Songs:
- "Umbrella" feat. JAY-Z
- "Don't Stop the Music"
- "Breakin' Dishes"
- "Shut Up and Drive"
- "Hate That I Love You" feat. Ne-Yo
- "Rehab"