Whatcha Say: Rihanna, Kanye West & Rita Ora Got Our Readers Talking

Bianca Gracie | January 29, 2016 8:00 pm
Rihanna's 'ANTI': A Track-By-Track Album Review
We break down Rih's most cohesive LP to date.

We’ve finally reached the weekend, Idolator readers! The past few days were filled with major music moments, which kicked off with Kesha giving fans an update on her court hearingSelena Gomez also made her debut on Saturday Night Live, performing three of her REVIVAL singles.

Madonna made Ariana Grande her latest “bitch,” Kanye West was accused of booty play and — drum roll, please — Rihanna finally (& messily) dropped her ANTI album.

On Idolator’s end, we interviewed Shift K3Y, premiered BlondFire‘s “True Confessions” video, gathered a gallery of new & old Grease castmates, did two Pop Perspectives (one for Rihanna and Drake‘s “Work” single and Zayn Malik‘s “Pillowtalk”) and reviewed these albums: Rih’s ANTISia‘s This Is ActingSt. Lucia‘s Matter and Charlie Puth‘s Nine Track Mind.

And of course, our readers spoke their minds on the going-ons in the frantic music world. Read some of the best and shadiest comments below!

:: James had questions on Rihanna’s ‘ANTI’ Single “Work” Feat. Drake Isn’t The Banger We Were Hoping For: Listen: “It took 8 writers to write this crap?”

:: CA_Dreamin felt very strongly on Rihanna’s ‘ANTI’ Album Is Officially Released On TIDAL: See The Full Tracklist: “rihanna literally represents everything I hate about pop music.”

:: …And on Kanye West Just Ethered Wiz Khalifa On Twitter as well: “Both of these men, no scratch that, BOYS, are illiterate idiots. These tweets are a damn mess, and not even the hot kind. With this kind of ignorance coming from these “adults”, and huge ‘role models’, no wonder our society is in trouble. Wiz, Kanye, and the entire Kardashian gene pool (sans Rob) can fall under the ocean and drift away. Thanks.”

:: Leonardo Valladares asked this on Grammys 2016 Performance Duets Include Tori Kelly, Ellie Goulding, Sam Hunt & More: “Tori lacks hits, but she still manages to be everywhere.
Why is she relevant?”

:: And Ronnel Smith swiftly replied: “Because she can actually sing in a sea of talent less vocalists… Would you rather Selena Gomez be everywhere although her songs are more “relevant”?”

:: Nate Lyless was one of the rare fans on Rihanna’s New Single “Work”: Review Revue: “Am I the only one who gets the vibe and the sense of this song? I’m not one of her die hard fans, but I think this song totally relates to ANTI…it’s anti-expextations, anti-banger everyone was waitin for, I mean it’s totally the opposite in every way of what everybody was expecting ..and I love it! I love its idgaf vibe”

:: Jay made us chuckle on Grammy Awards 2016: Justin Bieber, Pitbull Join Lineup Of Performers: “I had no idea Pitbull was even up for a Grammy. That’s…..interesting.”

:: He also shared this bit on Timbaland Has Some Kind Words For Selena Gomez: “She’s Gonna Be Big”: “I feel like with each album Selena Gomez gets better. The same can’t be really said for some of her peers. If she keeps at it, people will eventually come around. Is she a great singer? No. But obviously being a good singer isn’t a requirement.
As for Zendaya. I loved “Replay” but her first album was a bore. I guess we will see”

:: NAME NICKNAME had an LOL moment on Rita Ora Is Topless On ‘Lui’ Cover: She Frees The Nipple In New Terry Richardson Shoot: “I thought i was lesbian.. maybe i was wrong…. #eww”

:: Lee Yasir shared my own sentiments on Rihanna’s ‘ANTI’: A Track-By-Track Album Review: “I’m so glad we have a writer who didn’t white wash their review of “work”. So sick of reading mostly white men complain about how they “can’t understand” her, or how she’s “slurring” and “not speaking English”. If you don’t like it that’s fine, but don’t downplay and demean the cultural influences. Thanks Bianca!”

:: And Mark stated this: “This is nothing short of a terrific, career-defining album. Regardless of its messy release, and the somewhat mixed reactions it is receiving (leaning more to positive tho) this is a beautiful, cohesive piece of work and an important contribution to music coming from a “pop star.” There is a genuineness here, a real vulnerability, that makes you question everything you thought about her, and by that extension, celebrity and manufactured artifice more generally. I have never been a full member of the Navy, but I tip my hat off to Rihanna on this one.”

Have some thoughts about pop to get off your chest? Be sure to chime in with your own two cents in our comments section!