ANTI

This review has been a long time coming and I am excited to finally share my thoughts on it. Lets begin. 

ANTI is Rihanna's 8th studio album. In a nutshell it is a body of work that is a perfect example of artistic growth and evolution. This album that was roughly 4 years in the making, showcases more so than ever Rihanna's superior vocal abilities and her very unique tone and sound. I think much like her fourth album "Rated R", Rihanna made music that Rihanna wanted to make. If you pay attention to the flow of the album and the lyrics and the messages behind each song, you will come to realize that she got very personal about certain things. She experimented with various sounds and feels to channel what was in her heart and she poured her entire being into creating a project that will live on forever as a classic. Now let's get down to the songs.

1. CONSIDERATION (feat. SZA) - I couldn't have asked for a better album opener. It's basically Rihanna telling you about the journey of her career and the impact and power she has. If you know of Rihanna, you know that she doesn't feed into the BS that society throws her way. She has always shown us who she is and on this song, she's saying it again as sort of a friendly reminder that she dances to the beat of her own drum and nothing you say or do will ever change that. "I've got to do things my own way darling" is what she says. You would think that after all these years the nay-sayers would get the message, but nope. Prior to this song I had no clue who SZA was, and I still don't. I will say that I do like her voice on the song and that she brought a vibe that added to the captivation of the song. 

2. JAMES JOINT - This godly interlude was first released to us on April 21st of 2015 as a "420" present from Rihanna to her Navy - I have been in love with it ever since then. I personally could not wait to finally have it in my library officially to loop it. This song is one of two mini love songs on the album. From start to finish it takes you on a very intoxicating journey. If you allow yourself to feel the music, you can actually catch a mean high off of it. I can't even describe it honestly, just know it's good! S/O to Fauntleroy for this masterpiece.

3. KISS IT BETTER - How do I even begin to tell you about this freaking song. I honestly can't put into words how amazing this shit is. To be quite honest, you can just put Kiss It Better on loop forever; you don't need to listen to the rest of the album - just stay right there for a good couple of months. I'm still mad about the video but whatever. 

4. WORK (feat. Drake) - Work Work Work Work Work Work *Does the butterfly* This catchy upbeat showcases Rihanna's Caribbean roots. This song has an old school dancehall feel to it and if you watched the video you get the idea of what happens when you actually play the song in the club or at a party in real life. The song talks about wanting to be given a second chance in a relationship and the willingness to put in the work. Like I said, play this anywhere and either catch or deliver the sweetest bubble. It's been over eight months and it's still playing heavily on the radio and everywhere else. Song of the year as far as I'm concerned. Somebody tell Drake fi call me. 

5. DESPARADO - DEAR DESPERADO! This song is also a favorite of mine. It has a western feel to it which is pretty cool (MY VERSATILE FAVE). It makes you want to recreate all of Rih's looks from her April British Vogue spread, find your man and recreate a desert scene from Walker Texas Ranger - or something like that. 

6. WOO  - After experiencing Rih in all her glory at the ANTI World Tour, every time I listen to this song now I picture myself on a floaty walkway in thigh high boots, strutting like my life depended on it, (If you went to the show you know what I'm talking about). Travis Scott lends his "woos" to the background and production which is more than enough.  

7. NEEDED ME - Needed Me for me is like the equivalent to Trina's Da Baddest Bitch. Like if you listen to the lyrics, my girl is laying it all out you. She says she good on her own she ain't pressed. Like you don't have to be here, you keep this up you can and will get dismissed. The ultimate anthem. The great thing about this song is that both males and females relate heavily to it. Loop this if you need some reinforcement or a lesson on savagery.  

8. YEAH, I SAID IT - One of ANTI's best hidden gems. Get into Rihanna sounding like pure ecstasy. "I want you to homicide it" - Need I say more? 

9. SAME OL' MISTAKES - They might as well scrap the original version of this song and just dub Rihanna's as the one and only. So for those of you who don't know, this is a cover of Tame Impala's "New Person, Same Old Mistakes". It's a very euphoric song (at least Rih's version is). It carries a very floaty and relaxed vibe, until that beat drops at "Feel like a brand new person......!" Aye!  I'd personally like to know why Rihanna chose this particular song to cover. 

10. NEVER ENDING - Another hidden gem on the album. This song could be talking about two different things, to me both make a lot of sense coming from Rih and the direction of the album. One talking about the concept of love and losing yourself in love and the other talking about her losing herself in the scheme of things that is her life. That's how I see it when I listen. It's one of the more personal songs on the album and one of my favorites. Get into the "Ooo's" at the end. *Chills*. 

11. LOVE ON THE BRAIN - Do I even need to explain this? Really? I'll just leave this and this right here and you can work it out for yourselves. 

12. HIGHER - THIS WHISKEY GOT ME FEELING PRETTY! I feel song this in my spirit. I picture myself outside in the rain belting this out in front of some lover's house - like I'm in the One Wish video, just pitiful. 

13. CLOSE TO YOU - Another hidden gem! "Stay" part 2 in a sense. The perfect end to this complicated love story.  

DELUXE EDITION

14. GOODNIGHT GOTHAM - Us stans know this interlude as "A Night" from way back when. The general public might have heard this from Dior's 2015 Secret Garden IV campaign with Rihanna. It's a sample/cover from Florence + The Machine's "Only If For A Night". Apparently there's a full version of Gotham that we'll never hear. It's sound is a lot darker and more dramatic than the original song, which I like. It's almost a little sinister. 

15. POSE - YAAAAHAHASSSSSS BITCH! This is as trap as the album gets. A filler song some may propose, but those of us who know good things recognize this beauty for what it is - a semi ratchet gem. 

16.  SEX WITH ME - Sex with me is so amazing = I've got the Illest Na Na, period. I'm sure she ain't letting us know she got "Da Sauce" for nothing. That shit is true! One of thee best songs on the album. Three minutes and twenty six seconds of pure greatness; I love it. 

FAVORITES - EVERY. SINGLE. SONG. Ain't no skips bih! However, my standouts are (in no particular order), 

James Joint, Sex With Me, Close To You, Never Ending, Love On The Brain, Desperado, Same Ol' Mistakes and Woo. 

ANTI is my favorite album of 2016 and It's neck and neck with Rated R for the spot of favorite Rihanna album. My favorites off the album are the slower songs - there's nothing like a good ballad to me. Rihanna most certainly did not disappoint; as a matter of fact she outdid herself one hundred percent. There is so much growth in this album and I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeves for her next projects. ANTI is diverse and deep as hell. You might not notice the deep part but it's there. It's roll out was pretty rocky in the beginning but in the end it didn't matter because the music spoke for itself and is still speaking - The good sis ANTI was on the Billboard 200 Top 10 for 32 straight weeks. Longevity. And it's not going anywhere, we will still be jamming to this album for years to come, that I'm sure of. Congratulations to Rihanna for this masterpiece of an album and I will see you again for R9.