'It's about getting past any drama and just being happy to be alive,' says Sean Garrett of track he wrote for pop star.
By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna
Photo: PictureGroup/ Evan Agostini

After her more morose turn on her 2009 release, Rated R, Rihanna has promised that her follow-up disc will be "more energetic." And hitmaking producer and songwriter Sean Garrett is one of the people helping to spruce up Rihanna's edgier sound.

"I got a record on Rihanna's new album," Garrett tells Rapup.com. "She's got some surprises. The record I gave her was very, very positive, very big. It's a f---ing smash."

The track, he says, is "a humongous radio record," more in tune with her previous releases like "Umbrella" and even her latest single, "Rude Boy." "It's just so infectious. It's about getting past any drama and just being happy to be alive," he explained. "It's an encouraging record. It feels great, and it's got great tempo. I made sure that it was bulletproof.

"It should be a single unless something crazy happens," he continued. "It's hot as f---. I think it's a record that's gonna stay on the radio for a long time."

Garrett, like some fans and critics, was surprised about the dark material on Rated R. — and not in a good way. "Whenever I think of Rihanna, it makes me happy. To be honest, I wasn't really that excited about hearing her in a dark zone," he said. "I love Rihanna for being that girl. ... She's like the lil' fantasy chick — nice brown skin, beautiful woman with a Caribbean swagger that's ridiculous."

Are you looking forward to Rihanna's next album? Tell us in the comments below!

• Rihanna
• Sean Garrett

'We're all inspired by similar elements and it came together in that way,' Melina Matsoukas says of comparisons to M.I.A.'s 'Boyz' clip.
By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna in her video for "Rude Boy"
Photo: Def Jam

As soon at Rihanna's new colorful, sassy video for "Rude Boy" hit the Internet, fans and music lovers couldn't help but compare it to M.I.A.'s video for "Boyz." However, that reaction isn't one that the star or the video's director, Melina Matsoukas, had even considered while they were shooting the clip.

"I mean, you know that the video lends from a lot of Rasta culture and '80s Atari vibe and that's what we went with too," Matsoukas said. "And then afterward I was like, 'Oh, this sucks. They tore down my video.' And her video's great too. It definitely wasn't trying to rip anybody off at all — it was just our approach and the animation stuff, it had a similar vibe. We've seen that before with Grace Jones and Andy Warhol, so I don't know if anybody can lay claim to anything. We're all inspired by similar elements and it came together in that way."

With nods to Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, the pop-art inspired video is a far cry from the pair's work on "Hard" — but as soon as they wrapped the latter, they knew they had to work together again.

"I mean, 'Hard' was our first time together," the director explained. "[Rihanna] will try anything, which is always great because you have a lot of artists who won't do what you need them to do. She'll go there and I definitely wanted to bring that part of her out — that fun side."

Rihanna's daring fashion sense is also exhibited in the video. "She loves crazy outfits! She loves the fashion. The stylist was actually my best friend. And Rihanna's one of the only artists that will take it there and wear it and wear it well," Matsoukas gushed. "That part is always fun. Nothing looks bad on her, so that's even more fun. She goes with it and she really challenges you to take it a step further with the status quo."

• Rihanna

'It's cool because she looks beautiful in the video,' Diplo says.
By Hillary Crosley

Rihanna in her video for "Rude Boy"
Photo: Def Jam

Recently Rihanna dropped the pop-art video for her single "Rude Boy" — and at least one person has commented on what he feels are similarities between it and M.I.A.'s "Boyz" and its video.

"Riri is lookin soo damn hawt in this video but its super boyz boyz boyz #howmaydere ? yahmsayin?," Diplo tweeted earlier this month. The next day, the producer recorded and tweeted a mash-up of "Boyz" and "Rude Boy" onto the web via his Twitter account. Still, Diplo says he's a RiRi fan.

"I downloaded Rihanna's album as soon as it came out because I was interested in seeing the pop world's take on dub-step [musical style], because that's what they were supposed to do," Diplo told MTV News. "It was pretty weak except for 'Rude Boy,' which is one of my favorite songs of the year thus far. I'm glad it came out as a single, but when I saw the video I was like, 'This is a total rip-off of M.I.A.'s "Boyz" video, with a little bit of Santigold as well.' But it's cool because she looks beautiful in the video. I just thought it was funny."

With three albums released between them, M.I.A. and Santigold — Diplo has produced tracks for both artists; his collaborator Switch produced "Boyz" — rule the genre-bending space of alternative R&B, reggae, dubstep and rock. M.I.A.'s influential single "Paper Planes," from her Kala LP, dropped in 2007, and then the track was sampled by Kanye West for T.I.'s 2008 single "Swagga Like Us" featuring Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and West — a very pregnant M.I.A. joined the team for a performance during last year's Grammy Awards.

Like M.I.A., Santigold's work has been a critical favorite but hasn't sold in large numbers in the states. Both ladies continue to fly under the pop-culture radar, but Diplo says their work seems to move the needle of the music industry.

"I'm here recording in Jamaica with Santigold and producer Switch, who's part of the group Major Lazer with me — we always come with really progressive ideas," Diplo said. "Even with our Major Lazer single, 'Pon De Floor,' after a year of the record leaking, now it's become the single for the labels to follow even though it's old for us. A&Rs want a record like that now, but we offered that record to all of those people a year ago."

The producer said he's happy that his work is appreciated, but he has to work extra hard to gain recognition for his ideas.

"People at the major labels always seem to be a bit slow to catch on to stuff that's trend-setting," he added. "Like M.I.A.'s single 'Boyz' was so cutting-edge, crazy and hyper-fast that it was scary for people when we made it, but now that type of music is digestible for people because M.I.A.'s already blazed a trail for alternative reggae urban music so we made it safe for Rihanna to do cutting edge things. I'm not mad at ["Rude Boy"], especially because Rihanna looks super hot in the video and it looks amazing, better than "Boyz." I'm used to getting our sh-- ripped off. We're paving the road so that other people can drive on it."

At press time, a rep for Rihanna had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment.

• Rihanna
• M.I.A.

The pop stars will take the stage at the Nickelodeon awards show March 27.
By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna and Justin Bieber
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

Justin Bieber and Rihanna have been announced as performers for this year's Kids' Choice Awards, according to People. The news comes just a week after nominations for Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and more were revealed.

Nickelodeon is offering an all-access sweepstakes with Bieber to give fans the chance to see the pop star perform at the show. The winner will get a trip for four to Los Angeles, tickets to the show, an invitation to walk the orange carpet, access to Bieber's pre-show rehearsal and a private meet-and-greet with him. Fans will be able to enter the contest at the Kids' Choice Awards Web site March 3-10.

Nickelodeon's 23rd annual Kids' Choice Awards will go live March 27 on Nickelodeon at 8 p.m. ET. and will be hosted by Kevin James. "In short, I guess you could say hosting the Kids' Choice Awards completes me," James said about taking over the gig that went to Dwayne Johnson last year.

Last week, it was announced that the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and "Twilight" were the leading contenders at the show. Fans can start voting for their favorites on Nick.com starting Thursday. Cyrus, who is up for four awards, will compete with recent awards-show favorites Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift in the Favorite Female Singer category. Swift is also up for Favorite Song for "You Belong With Me." In the Favorite Male Singer department, Jay-Z fights it out against Sean Kingston, Mario and Ne-Yo.

A rep for Nickelodeon confirmed the announcement to MTV News.

Are you excited to see Justin and Rihanna take the stage? What should they perform? Tell us in the comments!

• 18th Annual Kids' Choice Awards

• Justin Bieber
• Rihanna

She's also interested in starting her own fashion line: 'It's another way for me to be creative.'
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by MTV Asia

Rihanna
Photo: MTV News

Rihanna only released her last album, Rated R, a few months ago, but the singer already has plans for what she'd like to do next: She wants to develop a clothing line and explore film opportunities.

"I would love to get into comedic movies," Rihanna said. "As well as action. I love action. I would love to play a badass one day."

She has only one movie credit under her belt from a cameo in the third installment of "Bring It On." Rihanna called that experience "weird" but said she had a lot of fun on set.

While Rihanna doesn't have a leading man in mind, she did reveal that she's hooked on Sacha Baron Cohen flicks. "I love him," she said. "I watched 'Brüno' and 'Borat' 50 million times."

Aside from her Hollywood ambitions, Rihanna also said she would like to start a career in couture. "I always wanted to do a fashion line of my own, because I love fashion," she said. "I love fashion, and it's another way for me to be creative."

She displayed her creative side recently in her new video for "Rude Boy." In the clip, which Rihanna described as "pop art," the singer is outfitted in various designs, from colorful numbers to a slinky black-and-white body suit. She said "Rude Boy" was one of her best video experiences ever.

"It's a fun video," she said. "Probably the most fun video we've done so far."

What do you think of Rihanna's acting ambitions? Would you rather see her in an action movie or a comedy? Let us know in the comments below!

• MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year: #3 Rihanna

• Rihanna

'It's really colorful, really energetic,' singer says.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Rihanna in "Rude Boy"
Photo: Def Jam

Rihanna is returning to her Caribbean roots on her latest single from Rated R, "Rude Boy."

The Barbados-born singer's earlier songs, like "S.O.S." and "Dem Haters," were tinged with island appeal. But since her breakout hit "Umbrella," Rih Rih has leaned toward pop fare. Now with the release of "Rude Boy," she's returning to a familiar sound and created an accompanying visual she describes as one of her best.

"It's really colorful; it's a pop art video," Rihanna told MTV Korea. "We shot it all on green screen. Everything was done in post-production. It's really colorful, really energetic. It was really inspired by my Caribbean roots. I love reggae music. ['Rude Boy'] is a Jamaican term, so our costumes are 'dancehall-queen-like. It's a fun video. Probably the most fun video we've done so far."

The video recently premiered online and immediately drew comparisons to M.I.A.'s "Boyz" clip and Neneh Cherry's "Buffalo Stance." With its mix of dashing color and feisty attitude, the homage is apparent.

The "Rude Boy" video and track also may be a preview of what Rihanna's next album might sound like. She's won critical praise for Rated R, the dark and deeply personal collection inspired by the aftermath of her assault by Chris Brown and subsequent breakup.

For her next project, however, Rihanna said she hopes to keep the production tempo of her latest offering but mix it with more upbeat songwriting.

"Rated R — I love the sound of it, in terms of the bass," Rihanna explained. "I really like the bottom, the grime of it. But if I were to combine that with more energetic, uptempo pop records, then I think that will be a happy marriage. And that's where we'll probably go next."

• Rihanna

Singer wants to combine the 'grime' of Rated R with more up-tempo pop for her next effort.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by MTV Korea

Rihanna
Photo: MTV News

Rihanna has had a difficult past 12 months in the aftermath of her assault by Chris Brown. But the "Hard" superstar has endured, by being both outspoken about her experience in hopes of helping others and by channeling her experience into Rated R, her most rounded effort to date. She told MTV News last year that she "vented" on the project.

Don't expect her next album to be as dark as Rated R, though.

Rihanna said the follow-up, which has no timetable set yet, will be less intense. "Rated R, I love the sound of it, in terms of the bass," Rihanna explained to MTV Korea. "I really like the bottom, the grime of it. But if I were to combine that with more energetic, up-tempo pop records, then I think that will be a happy marriage. And that's where we'll probably go next."

Rated R was inspired mostly by Rihanna's ordeal in the wake of her and Brown's breakup. The singer was the subject of media headlines worldwide. She kept away from the spotlight after a brief reunion with Brown following their altercation. But when Rihanna returned, she had an album that chronicled her months away from the glare.

"This album is an expression of all those feelings that I went through in the last eight months, just different emotions," she said shortly after Rated R's release. "All of it isn't angry, all of it isn't dark and sad, 'cause I didn't go through that the whole time. That was part of it. It was really a roller coaster, and you get that when you're listening to the album."

• Rihanna

Rude Boy

• Artist: Rihanna
• Label: Def Jam, SRP
• Director: Melina
• Album: Rated R [Edited]

Lady Gaga, Rihanna, More Love Alexander McQueen Fashion

• Lady Gaga
• Rihanna

Video is a colorful romp in the world of pop art and Caribbean style by 'Hard' director Melina Matsoukas.
By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna in "Rude Boy"
Photo: Def Jam

Rihanna's new video for "Rude Boy" is a colorful departure from the dark fare previously released from her Rated R album, like "Russian Roulette" and "Hard." In it, Rihanna writhes around in a kaleidoscope of prints and colors, embracing her roots in Caribbean dance-hall-inspired costumes.

The singer told Carson Daly on his Amp Radio show that the pop-art-inspired video was shot by Melina Matsoukas, who also worked with the pop star on her equally sexy "Hard" music video. In the new clip, she goofs around and gets sexy with a male extra, a zebra, a motorcycle and a stuffed lion in between whaling away on a drum kit.

The video, which premiered on PerezHilton.com on Wednesday night, appears artistically influenced Andy Warhol's pop-art vibe as well as Keith Haring, thanks to its funky graffiti room. Rihanna once again shows off her fashion sense in the video, with lots of tight-fitting hot pants, a gold catsuit paired with a long wig and another catsuit echoing the print in the Haringesque room.

Rihanna also manages to throw in a little humor when she sings the line "Babe, if I don't feel it, I ain't faking," giving an all-telling wink to the camera about the song's tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

"[It's] completely different from any other video I've shot before," she told Daly, describing it as "pretty freakin' cool." "A lot of my videos are really dark and edgy and tough. 'Rude Boy' is more playing along the lines from my roots. We used a lot of color, but also the costumes were very Jamaican dance-hall-queen type," the singer said.

Have you seen Rihanna's video for "Rude Boy"? What do you think of it? Let us know in the comments below, or upload a video to Your.MTV.com!

• This Week's Biggest News

• Rihanna

Victoria Beckham, Sandra Bullock also fans of the late designer's edgy fashions.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga in the "Bad Romance" music video
Photo: Interscope/Universal

Alexander McQueen's avant-garde designs left an indelible mark on the worlds of pop culture and pop music. His couture styles decorated the famous bodies of Rihanna, Madonna and Lady Gaga, to name a few.

For Lady Gaga's game-changing video for "Bad Romance," the pop star took to the screen covered literally head to toe in McQueen designs, crawling across the set in his infamous lobster-claw heels.

But Gaga isn't the first pop star to showcase McQueen's work — Madonna has been a fan of his for years, wearing the designer's handiwork to the 1998 Video Music Awards. And in 1997 David Bowie wore a McQueen Union Jack coat on the cover of his Earthling album. Recently Rihanna has graced red carpets and made television appearances in McQueen, most notably at the London premiere of "Inglourious Basterds" last summer and later that year during an appearance on "It's On with Alexa Chung."

	Lady Gaga, Rihanna, More Love Alexander McQueen Fashion

Fashionista and fashion designer Victoria Beckham rocked a graphic McQueen cocktail dress at an event last spring, and Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow have also been photographed in McQueen's daring designs.

Oscar nominee Sandra Bullock showed her love for McQueen on the red carpet at the premiere for "The Proposal" last summer. "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge accessorized her 2009 Grammys outfit with a purse by the late designer. And Ashlee Simpson showed that you can still be edgy and fashion-forward even as a mom-to-be, wearing a flowy gown by McQueen during her pregnancy in 2008.

• Lady Gaga, Rihanna, More Love Alexander McQueen Fashion

• Lady Gaga
• Rihanna
• Madonna

Rihanna, Justin Bieber, More Perform At Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam

• Rihanna
• Justin Bieber
• Nick Cannon
• JoJo
• Timbaland

Timbaland, JoJo also perform at show in Miami; Justin Timberlake appears via video.
By Gil Kaufman

Rihanna performs at the Super Bowl Jam on Thursday
Photo: Getty Images

Leave it to the good people of Miami to fire up the tailgate grills four days early for Sunday's Super Bowl. The city that rarely sleeps got its party on way in advance of the Colts-Saints matchup on Thursday night, when VH1 kicked off the weekend with the one-hour "Super Bowl Fan Jam 2010" concert featuring Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Young Jeezy and Timbaland.

	VH1's Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam 2010

Timbaland opened the show, performing a virtual duet with Justin Timberlake on "Carry Out," the latest single from Tim's solo album, Shock Value II. Though the song was bangin', unlike last Friday at Timbaland's show in Hollywood, Timberlake did not join his frequent collaborator live onstage for the raunchy food-as-sex-metaphor-heavy tune, but instead was beamed in on a giant video screen.

Tim wasn't lonely for long, though, as his second song featured the all-grown-up JoJo strutting the stage in a shimmery silver tank top and gray leggings for the funky "Lose Control," during which she dropped some salty language that got her bleeped.

Next up was the seemingly indefatigable 15-year-old Justin Bieber, who appeared at Monday's "We Are the World" recording session and Sunday's Grammy Awards and rocked the stage with his candy pop hit "Baby," slapping hands with shrieking female fans, dozens of whom were corralled behind a glass wall on the stage for a closer look at the Canadian cutie.

Also fresh from the Grammys was Rihanna, who emerged from a smoke-filled hole in the stage wearing a black bra under a sexy asymmetrical space-age jumpsuit missing one leg and the opposite arm, and wielding a curved, sword-shaped mic stand as she sang a hard-rocking version of "Wait Your Turn." With crunching rock guitars and booming drums, she segued into the T.I. collabo "Live Your Life," which slid into a pop-punk take on "Disturbia."

And she wasn't done yet. RiRi closed the show by coming back out seated in a white armchair and crooning the gothy "Russian Roulette" before bringing Young Jeezy out for her crunching current single, "Hard." Wearing all black, the rapper spit his bit and ended up center stage, with Rihanna's arm draped around him. As the credits rolled, Rihanna gave them one more, grinding her way through the bouncy "Rude Boy," leaving the crowd pumped up for another three days of pre-game parties.

• Rihanna, Justin Bieber, More Perform At Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam

• Rihanna
• Justin Bieber
• Young Jeezy
• JoJo
• Timbaland

The 2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet

• Lady Gaga
• Katy Perry
• Taylor Swift
• Britney Spears
• Green Day

Rihanna's Rockin' New Year's Eve Performance

• Rihanna

Hard

• Artist: Rihanna
• Label: Def Jam, SRP
• Director: Melina
• Album: Rated R [Edited]

Rihanna: 'Hard' Video Shoot

• Rihanna

MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year

• Rihanna
• Susan Boyle
• Beyoncé
• Britney Spears
• Miley Cyrus

Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, More At The VEVO Launch Party

• Rihanna
• Lady Gaga
• Taylor Swift
• Adam Lambert
• 50 Cent

Rihanna Runs New York's Hammerstein Ballroom

• Rihanna