Rihanna’s superstardom in the music world was pretty much instantaneous. Her debut album, Music of the Sun, was a major hit, featuring massive singles like “Pon de Replay” and “If It’s Lovin’ that You Want”, both which remain popular today.
As a young girl growing up in Barbados, Rihanna got together with two of her classmates and formed a musical trio, before being discovered by American producer Evan Rogers. One thing led to another and the singer’s demo landed in front of Jay-Z, who had recently been appointed Def Jam’s president and CEO.
Since then, it’s been 8 multiplatinum albums, 11 number one singles, 250 million units sold, 9 Grammy Awards, and a net worth of over a billion dollars. Rihanna had come a long way from Saint Michael, Barbados.
From her debut album, Music of the Sun, to her 2016 release, Anti, here are the rankings for Rihanna’s first week album sales.
Anti – first week album sales
Released: January 28, 2016
Label: Westbury Road, Roc Nation
First week album sales: 16,000
Billboard 200 position: 27
Singles: “Work”, “Kiss It Better”, “Needed Me”, “Love on the Brain”
Features: SZA, Drake.
*initially released as a Tidal exclusive
Music of the Sun – first week album sales
Released: August 12, 2005
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 69,000
Billboard 200 position: 10
Singles: “Pon de Replay”, “If It’s Lovin’ that You Want”
Features: Kardinal Offishall, J-Status, Vybz Kartel.
A Girl like Me – first week album sales
Released: April 11, 2006
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 115,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: “SOS”, “Unfaithful”, “We Ride”, “Break It Off”
Features: Dwane Husbands, Sean Paul, J-Status, Cory Gunz.
Good Girl Gone Bad – first week album sales
Released: June 5, 2007
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 162,000
Billboard 200 position: 2
Singles: “Umbrella”, “Shut Up and Drive”, “Hate That I Love You”, “Don’t Stop the Music”, “Rehab”
Features: Ne-Yo, Jay-Z
Rated R – first week album sales
Released: November 23, 2009
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 181,000
Billboard 200 position: 4
Singles: “Russian Roulette”, “Hard”, “Wait Your Turn”, “Rude Boy”, “Te Amo”, “Rockstar 101”
Features: Jeezy, Slash, will.i.am
Talk That Talk – first week album sales
Released: November 21, 2011
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 198,000
Billboard 200 position: 3
Singles: “We Found Love”, “You da One”, “Talk That Talk”, “Birthday Cake”, “Where Have You Been”, “Cockiness (Love It)”
Features: Calvin Harris, Jay-Z
Loud – first week album sales
Released: November 16, 2010
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 207,000
Billboard 200 position: 3
Singles: “Only Girl (In the World)”, “What’s My Name?”, “Raining Men”, “S&M”, “Man Down”, “California King Bed”, “Cheers (Drink to That)”
Features: Drake, Nicki Minaj, Eminem
Unapologetic – first week album sales
Released: November 19, 2012
Label: Def Jam, SRP
First week album sales: 238,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Diamonds”, “Stay”, “Pour It Up”, “Loveeeeeee Song”, “Right Now”, “What Now”, “Jump”
Features: Future, Eminem, David Guetta, Mikky Ekko, Chris Brown
