Rihanna

Biography

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, to Ronald Fenty of Barbados and Monica Fenty, who is of Guyanese descent.

She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty.

Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to the Combermere School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates. In 2004, she won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant and performed in the Colours of Combermere School Show.

In 2003, at the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rogers, along with his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record material in the U.S. which was sent to various recording companies. One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to Def Jam Recordings.

Rihanna cites Brandy, Beyoncé Knowles, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Bob Marley, Madonna and her Caribbean background as major musical influences. Rihanna also stated in a recent interview that former Island Def Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone whom she admired and looked up to, having a fellow artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.

Music career

2005–2006: Music of the Sun

Rihanna's debut album, Music of the Sun, was released on August 30, 2005, yielding two singles, the first being "Pon de Replay" which was released on August 22, 2005. This single became a huge success upon its release peaking at number 2 in the US on Billboard Hot 100 charts. It also became a global hit where it peaked within the top 10 across 15 countries as well as achieving top 20 chartings on 20 charts around the world. The single written by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers was described by Rolling Stone magazine as a "poppy piece of dancehall reggae with slapping, syncopated beats recalling big-band jazz." However, despite "Pon de Replays" commercial chart success, the album itself was rated 2.5 out of 5 stars by Rolling Stone Magazine and described as lacking the replay value, ingenuity and rhythm of the single with "generic vocal hiccups and frills" of US R&B inflecting upon her "caribbean charm". Since its release, the album reached the top 10 in both US and Canadian charts, gaining gold certification from the RIAA from selling 500,000 units and subsequent platinum certifications for selling 2 million units in various other countries.

The second single "If It's Lovin' That You Want" was less successful than "Pon de Replay", but it became a hit nonetheless by managing to achieve a top 40 charting in the USA reaching a high of number 36. In Australia, Ireland and New Zealand the single proved to be well-received reaching the top 10 in those countries. Overall the single became a top 40 hit on 11 charts around the globe. Despite the album not having huge promotion and only releasing two singles Music of the Sun managed to sell over 500,000 copies in the United States and 2 million worldwide.

When asked about the nature of the album by AskMen Magazine about the album itself, Rihanna noted that it was released quickly after she was discovered in her home as a means of portraying her image as a girl from a small area who had moved to a large country in line with her debut, and that her second album was released somewhat shortly thereafter to illustrate that in her time in the country she had grown up quickly enough to release another album.

2006–2007: A Girl like Me

Rihanna second album, A Girl Like Me, was released in April 2006; less than eight months after the release of her first album. The lead single, "SOS", was used in an endorsement deal with Nike. The song became Rihanna's first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also debuted at number one on the Hot Digital Songs chart. "SOS" peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the UK. The second single, entitled "Unfaithful", was written by R&B singer Ne-Yo. The song became her third top ten hit in the U.S. and in the UK. The third single, "We Ride", wasn't as successful as her previous releases, failing to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, however, it became her fifth UK top 20 single, where it peaked at number 17 on that chart and peaked at number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. Rihanna's fourth single from the album, "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul, had already climbed to number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on airplay. It was released as a digital download on February 19, 2007, which made the song jump from number fifty-two to number ten and then eventually peak at number nine. A Girl like Me's sales were significantly stronger, selling over 1 million in the U.S and over 3.5 million worldwide.

In total, Rihanna has had eleven number-ones on the Billboard charts and has had major success on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with four number-ones ("Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful", and "We Ride"). When Rihanna received an endorsement deal from Clinique, she recorded a song written by Ne-Yo entitled "Just Be Happy" as part of the deal to promote their Happy fragrance. Rihanna also recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P&G’s female deodorant Secret.

During this time Rihanna also made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, which was released on August 8, 2006.

2007–present: Good Girl Gone Bad

Rihanna went into the studio in early 2007 with Ne-Yo, Stargate, and Timbaland among others to record her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad. The album was released on June 5, 2007, features Jay-Z and Ne-Yo. Rihanna worked with Timbaland on three songs in the album. Justin Timberlake co-wrote and provides background vocals on "Rehab".

The album so far has yielded five hit singles, including the world-wide number one hit "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z. In addition to reaching number one in various countries, "Umbrella" was the number one single in the UK for 10 consecutive weeks, making it the longest running UK number one single since Wet Wet Wet's single "Love Is All Around", back in 1994, and the longest running number one by a female artist since Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which also topped the chart for 10 weeks in 1992. By the end of the year, "Umbrella" was ranked second on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart in the United States;^[24] however, due to the song's world-wide chart dominance it was named the most successful song in the world for 2007, getting 8,160,000 points on the United World Chart.

Her other singles, "Shut Up and Drive" and "Don't Stop The Music" were able to mirror the success of "Umbrella", with "Don't Stop the Music" reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna's seventh top ten single and her fourth top five hit, while peaking at number one in various countries, including the United World Chart. The fourth single (third single in the US and UK) "Hate That I Love You", featuring Ne-Yo, was able to peak at number seven in the U.S.

Rihanna premiered a new single, "Take a Bow", on KIIS-FM's On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The song was backed by the re-issue of her third album, titled Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, which was released on June 17, 2008. It peaked at number one on the Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart, as well as numerous other countries. Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded also includes Rihanna's duet with Maroon 5, "If I Never See Your Face Again" and her newest US single, "Disturbia".

By: Marjorie A. Cornillez

The Radio Industry Vs. Music Gadgets

By: Ma. Anaflor A. Residuo

"Apple bottom jeans and boots with a fur.. fur.. the whole club is looking at her.. " A famous lyric from the song (Get) Low by Flo Rida.

Where did you first heard that song? And where do you repeatedly listen to that music?

There are so many ways and means of listening to different kinds of music depending on our choice preference. Basically, new music is released and being featured to leading radio stations and is aired from time to time. It can also be shown on TV Stations especially those channels catering for music. The Internet is also a venue for new music release, music trends, and music updates. But the famous, the latest, and the most chosen of them all is through the hype of the New Technology-- the music gadgets.

Wherever you look, you will see people with earphones, banging their heads or having different emotions. And what they have is their Mp3 and Mp4 players and their Ipods wherein their favorite sounds and music is downloaded and stored. This is the easiest way of getting at hand and listen to your favorite music any time you wish to. It is indeed a very, very great invention.

But didn't you know that it negatively affects the Radio Industry. Studies have shown that majority of the listening audience especially the teenagers prefer to listen to their type of music through their Ipods and Mp3 players rather than tuning in to radio frequencies and wait for their favorite music to be played on air.

These results cannot deny the fact that radio stations is having a hard time formatting and re- formatting their program per se just to achieve a higher listening rate. And it is sad to know that people patronize only their type of music and music artists neglecting the existence of great disc jockeys and radio talents.

In the fast growing of technology, do you think that there will still be a place for radio stations in this world?... The answer lies within you.

Remember this: "Music appreciation is not just listening to it, but knowing the story behind it."

And different radio programs can help you achieve total appreciation. So why take for granted what is beneficial?..

Eraserheads, ONE NIGHT ONLY!

By Ardielei Jessicca D. Lopez

"Magkahawak ang ating kamay, at walang kamalay-malay na tinuruan mo ang puso ko na umibig ng tunay..." Does this line ever ring a bell? Of course, who else could probably forget this song? It's the song "Huling El Bimbo" made by four music geniuses namely, Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro. They are the members of the most influential band of the 20th century, The Eraserheads. They had captured the hearts and minds of the Filipino people with their good style of music and unique lyrics. They are one of the greatest Pinoy bands of all time!

The four minds of this band worked as one to serve the people with heartfelt lines. Their music has been etched in the lives of many. Eraserheads is the band behind the hit songs Toyang, Alapaap, and Huling El Bimbo. They released the most sought after albums like Cutterpillow and Ultraelectromagnetic jam during their reign in the Philippine airwaves.

Their talent brought them to the pedestal of their dreams. You can hear them everywhere you go. It's more of like an epidemia made by these geniuses. But the journey to success was not that easy for their band. Because at that time there were also other bands emerging in the music industry. But they outdo these bands and remained no. 1 in our hearts.

But unfortunately, for every journey made, there's the end of the road. After years of making quality music, this band disbanded in 2001. The four members had gone their separate ways and they belong to different Pinoy band nowadays. Ely is now on Pupil, Raymund in Sandwich and Pedicab, Buddy in The Dawn, and Marcus in Markus Highway. But still, the legacy they had made continues.

Just recently, there are rumors spreading that these four legends will be having a reunion concert. There are speculations on when and where this event would take place. But these were cleared when Ely confirmed it on national television. They will be having a reunion concert, a ONE NIGHT ONLY concert on the 30th of August in the CCP Open Grounds and the tickets are free!

But then again, there are rumors that the said event will not be pushed through because one of the sponsors ( Philip Morris) withdrawn their sponsorship in the concert. Then just days before the big day, an email coming from Raymund was released telling that the concert will happen. Marlboro Philippines took over the responsibilty. The concert now has the tag of ONE BRAND, ONE BAND, ONE NIGHT ONLY... THE ERASERHEADS REUNION CONCERT!

Unlike the first announcement that Ely made, this time, the tickets are no longer free. For those who want to have it free, have to register in the official website of Marlboro Philippines and needs to pass an ID to prove that you are in the right age and wait for the company's confirmation.

Raymund also added that for those minors and non-smokers who wants to avail it, the age limit is 12 years old. But the thing is, you're not going to wait for any confirmation coming from them. It would be much easier for them to get tickets. For further inquiries, they will be releasing information in the radio, tv and print so the fans just have to wait and see.

With all these information released in the internet about the concert, everyone's excited to see them perform together once more. Eraserheads will once again capture the hearts and minds of their Filipino fans. August 30, their ONE NIGHT ONLY concert will be surely legendary!

Rap Songs!

Are there still Filipino who patronizes rap songs?

From adolescent to middle adult they still enjoy to this kind of music because it makes them feel alive, distresses them from the current situation they are into, be it in the jeepneys, videoke bars, sidewalks and from their own vehicles.

Some though doesn’t want this kind of music because it interrupts them with their present activities that they are doing like their religious routine (praying the rosary while in the cab), while taking a nap and reading something. It’s not pleasing to the ears because it”s a loud music and most of the lyrics of these kind of music is nonsense and scandalous.

What is Pinoy rap? Pinoy rap in my own definition pinoy rap is a kind of hip hop music that originated in the Philippines, Pinoy rap started early 1980 when Dyords Javier release Na Onseng Delight, then followed by Vincent Dafalong release nunal. Early influences on the genre included American hip-hop icons Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, The Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Run-D.M.C., Ice T, KRS-ONE & Boogie Down Productions and Eric B. and Rakim among many others then pinoy rap history start.

The genre developed an underground following in Metro Manila during the 1980s. In late 1989, former DJ and breakdancer Andrew E., or, as he was then called, Rap Master Fordy, introduced two of his friends from the mobile DJ group Rock All Parties Crew, Norman B. and Andy “Luv” MD, to J “Smooth” MC, an acquaintance from Andrew’s breakdancing days. Pinoy rap right now has taken again the mainstream here in the Philippines like several camp or independent record label is been producing quality pinoy rap music like 6000 goonz will be releasing 9 albums this years, Time, Space, Rhythm and Stars, Hi-C album, Beatmonx, Syke album, Untouchables, Apokalipsis are some titles the 6000 goonz will be releasing this year. I think the main man of pinoy rap this year are dice, gloc 9, a-m-b-i-t-o, god’s will, broc, don-g, mike kosa, nimbusnine they are the people that are sure will be hitting the record bars again for there new album and future big hit event.

History of Pinoy Rap:

I - How Pinoy hip-hop started (late 70s-1980s)

From The South Bronx to the streets of Metro Manila

The Philippine hip-hop scene is one of the oldest in Asia. It is hard to tell when hip-hop started here and how did it start, but I would like to make several points on how the culture was brought to this country.

The Philippines was a US territory until the country gained independence in 1946. American culture left a strong influence in The Philippines. Filipinos listened to American music, watched American movies or ate American fastfood like MC Donalds or Pizza Hut presents. Rap records/cassettes or reading materials with hip-hop issues can be one of those presents.

Influence

New York was still the main influence for most of the early Filipino rap artists when it comes to beats, flow and style; though California was also important. Some of the early influence were from Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Boogie Down Productions, RUN-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice-T, Salt-N-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest and Rakim. The earliest Pinoy Rap tracks contains samples or styles influenced by these artists. An example is Rapasia's track "That's The Way Love Is" which was influeced by A Tribe Called Quest's track "Bonita Applebum". Another example is Andrew E.'s early style. His style in the track "Ize Batayojan" is influenced by Rakim. The fashion style of Bass Rhyme Posse is similar to RUN-DMC and so on.

Pinoy rap is influenced by two main categories whether it may be East Coast (Madd Poets, Pamilya Dimagiba, Ghetto Doggs, etc) or West Coast (Death Threat, Sun Valley Crew, etc.). But despite these influences, local styles are fused such as the use of the Filipino language and rapping about local subjects and culture. Traditional Filipino music and culture are also fused to the music especially the beats and instrumentals.

II - Some Important Events in Pinoy Rap

The first rap recordings in the Philippines were by Dyords Javier and Vincent Dafalong. Dyords Javier recorded "Na Onseng Delight" (which copied the style of Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight") while Vincent Dafalong recorded "Nunal".

The Golden Age of Pinoy Rap

A former breakdancer with name of Francis Magalona released an album called Yo! which became the first rap album in The Philippines. "Mga Kababayan" (My Countrymen) became the first rap track recognized by many Filipinos.

Months later, Andrew E. who was a DJ in a popular disco in Makati released an album called Humanap Ka Ng Panget challenging Francis M.'s dominance in Pinoy Rap. A movie with the same title was also released and it was one of the first movies in the Philippines.

By: Marjorie A. Cornillez

Must Haves!!!

Must-Haves!!!

By: Grechell Ann Silvestre

These are the Top 20 Songs you should have in your Ipod! You’ll surely love to hear these songs playing 24/7 whenever and wherever you are!

1. Bust it Baby Part 2 – Plies feat. Neyo
2. Disturbia – Rihanna
3. Booty Music – Deep Side feat. T-Pain
4. This is Me – Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas
5. All I See – Kylie and Mims
6. Superhuman – Chris Brown and Keri Hilson
7. I Kissed A Girl – Katty Perry
8. So Much Time – Boyce Avenue
9. Vulnerable – Secondhand Serenade
10. Handa – Miguel Escueta
11. Very First Time – Sophia
12. That’s What You Get – Paramore
13. In the Ayer – Flo Rida
14. Sexy Can I – Ray J feat. Young Berg
15. I f I Never See You Again – Maroon 5 feat. Rihanna
16. Forever – Chris Brown
17. Love Remains the Same – Gavin Rossdale
18. Sweet and Low – Augustana
19. Doctor, Doctor – Frankie J
20. Daylight – Kelly Rowland

Silent Sanctuary - Gig sched

GIGSKED

AUGUST
[09] Will's Attic
[15] 19 East
[23] Greenhills GStrip
[25] Mayric's
[27] saGuijo
[30] Glorietta 3

SOAPDISH’s next album: In the Making

By: Grechell Ann Silvestre

It was years ago when they released their debut album. . They gave us the soundtrack of our lives and love through their hits: “Tensionado”, “Ewan Ko” and “Pwede Ba”, the songs that talked about fighting, denial and love.

Now, sit back, relax and watch out for these guys! According to their manager, Kerwin Rosete, they are now getting ready and into recording for their next album “Goodluck, Goodbye” which is targeted to be out around November.

For now, just catch Jeff and the rest of the guys to different bars all over the metro as they give you the songs you have loved for years! And watch out for Soapdish’s “Goodluck, Goodbye” and prepare to rock your hearts out as these guys offer you the new soundtrack of your lives!

Silent for a Moment

By: Grechell Ann Silvestre

The first OPM Rockestra band Silent Sanctuary is keeping it tight and steady. While their song “Kundiman” is still hitting the airwaves, the band is now preparing the songs for their next album ready to set out January on the next year.

So while you guys are waiting for their next album entitled, “Mistaken for Granted”, keep on listening to Sarkie’s romantic voice through their first album, “Fuschiang Pag-Ibig” which offers the hits “Rebound”, “Ikaw Lamang”, “Ingat Ka” and “Kundiman”.

“Mistaken for Granted” is definitely an album that you surely have to have! Silent Sanctuary’s “Mistaken for Granted” is an album that will make you fall in love all over again!