In 2014, Rihanna acquired the masters to her music and formed her own independent imprint, Westbury Road Entertainment. This business move gave her full creative autonomy. However, the subsequent recording sessions grew notoriously protracted. Early standalone singles released in 2015—"FourFiveSeconds" with Kanye West and Paul McCartney, "Bitch Better Have My Money," and "American Oxygen"—showcased wildly differing sonic directions. Ultimately, Rihanna scrapped all three from the standard album tracklist, signaling a complete overhaul of the project's identity.
Following a three-year gap—the longest of her career at the time— ANTI arrived amidst intense anticipation. The album, released via Tidal and Westbury Road Entertainment, was not aimed at immediate radio domination. Instead, it felt like an "inward-facing" project, a spiritual stock-taking that showcased Rihanna’s artistic maturity. The album’s title, ANTI , signified a rebellion against the constraints of expected pop stardom, opting instead for a gritty, often vulnerable soundscape. ANTI (Deluxe Edition) Tracklist and Review
For many fans, these three songs are not "B-sides" or throwaways; they represent the raw, unpolished, and unapologetically sexy energy that defines Rihanna’s core identity. While the standard album tells a story of heartbreak and healing (from "Consideration" to "Close to You"), the Deluxe edition adds a victory lap of hedonism. Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album-
ANTI became the first album by a Black woman to spend over 300 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. It proved that risk-taking pays off.
| # | Title | Key Credits / Notes | |---|---|---| | 1 | Consideration (feat. SZA) | Opens with a defiant, bass-heavy statement of self-possession; SZA’s guest verse adds textural depth. | | 2 | James Joint | A hazy, cigarette-tinged interlude about toxic attraction, produced by Robert Shea Taylor. | | 3 | Kiss It Better | A soaring, synth-rock-infused power ballad that later became a fan-favorite single. | | 4 | Work (feat. Drake) | The infectious, dancehall-inflected global smash that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. | | 5 | Desperado | A slow-burning, cinematic track evoking a lone outlaw in a desolate landscape. | | 6 | Woo | A brooding, industrial-tinged cut featuring writing contributions from The Weeknd and Travis Scott. | | 7 | Needed Me | A minimalist, trap-soul anthem about emotional detachment and self-worth. | | 8 | Yeah, I Said It | A sultry, spoken-word-infused track produced by Timbaland. | | 9 | Same Ol’ Mistakes | A masterful cover of Tame Impala’s “New Person, Same Old Mistakes,” reimagined through Rihanna’s lens. | | 10 | Never Ending | A melancholic, guitar-driven ballad reflecting on the persistence of love. | | 11 | Love on the Brain | A doo-wop-infused, retro-soul powerhouse showcasing Rihanna’s most vulnerable and powerful vocal performance. | | 12 | Higher | A raw, piano-led confessional, where a whiskey-soaked Rihanna delivers a devastating plea. | | 13 | Close to You | A sparse, ethereal closer, floating on minimalist production and intimate whispers. | | | | | | 14 | Goodnight Gotham | A short, atmospheric interlude built around a dramatic string sample. | | 15 | Pose | A brash, rap-sung banger celebrating confidence and self-assurance. | | 16 | Sex with Me | The standout bonus track; a playfully explicit, island-infused anthem about the joys of casual intimacy. | In 2014, Rihanna acquired the masters to her
: Unlike her earlier dance-heavy records, ANTI focuses on raw vocals and personal themes of love, loneliness, and self-worth.
A slow, sexual grind set to a trap beat. The title says it all. This track showcases the album’s sonic diversity—moving from rock to dancehall to minimalist porn-chill. The album, released via Tidal and Westbury Road
An opening manifesto where Rihanna sings, "I got to do things my own way darling," setting the stage for her newfound independence.
The “Deluxe” distinction is crucial. While the standard edition ends feeling slightly exhausted, the bonus tracks add a victory lap.
A western-tinged trap ballad. Rihanna sings about fleeing a city and a relationship with a gun in her purse. The production is sparse, allowing her voice to carry the narrative weight. It is a fan-favorite deep cut that only exists because the deluxe format allows for narrative risk.