Rihanna, the famous pop star, moved to the U.S. from Barbados at the age of 16, hoping to build a music career.
However, the story of her first meeting with Jay-Z, the head of Def Jam Records, was not as smooth as the public often believes.
Instead of a warm welcome, Rihanna has revealed that she was coerced and threatened throughout the process of signing with the company.
According to Rihanna, Jay-Z locked her in his office for over 24 hours and threatened her to sign a contract with Def Jam Records.
Imprisoned and Life Threatened
She was forced to choose between signing the contract or being thrown out of the window from the 27th floor of the building. These threats paint a vastly different picture from the narrative that Jay-Z was so impressed with her talent that he stayed up late to sign her.
Manipulative Tactics in the Music Industry
Not only was she coerced into signing the contract, but Rihanna also had to wait until 3 a.m. to complete the process without her lawyer present, which is highly unethical in the music industry. This seemed to be a tactic to exhaust and make her more compliant.
Pressure to Transform Her Image
As Rihanna’s career began to flourish, Jay-Z continued to pressure her to change her image to a more sensual one. If she did not comply, her contract would be terminated. The transformation from a “good girl” to a “bad girl” was not Rihanna’s choice but the result of coercion from the company. This strategy prioritized commercial appeal over the artist’s personal integrity.
Double Standards in the Industry
Rihanna was not the only one facing this pressure. Tiara Marie, another young artist at Def Jam, also faced demands to change her image. When she did not comply, her contract was terminated. Notably, Tiara’s debut album had similar sales to Rihanna’s, but only Tiara faced consequences, highlighting a clear double standard in the treatment of artists.
Regret and Reflection
Looking back, Rihanna, now a mother, expresses regret over some of the choices she made under pressure. She acknowledges that the things she did in the past were the result of manipulation and threats, largely due to Jay-Z’s influence during her formative career years.
Rihanna’s story is not just a personal accusation but also a testament to the pressures and double standards many young artists face in the harsh music industry.
News
Rihanna Shines Bright in Red Pumps and Monochromatic Leather Outfit for Fenty Hair Launch Party
Rihanna arrived at the Fenty Hair launch party at Los Angeles’ NYA Studios sporting an all-leather ensemble and a fresh natural hairstyle on Monday. The musician and beauty mogul’s new inclusive hair line, launching under her Fenty Beauty banner, is…
Beyoncé Reveals Dispute with Rihanna Over Song Collaboration Led to Scrapped Project
Beyonce revealed that she and Rihanna once had a dispute over collaborating on a song, and the project was later scrapped In a candid revelation, Beyoncé has disclosed that she and Rihanna once had a disagreement over a potential…
The Side of A$AP Rocky You Haven’t Seen: Rihanna Shares Her Enthusiasm
Rihanna has opened up about her relationship with A$AP Rocky and how he is as a dad to his son. The singer and entrepreneur, who has been dating the rapper since 2023, said she is very happy with him…
Decoding touching meaning behind 10+ tattoos on Rihanna’s body
Wҽ havҽ citҽd Rihanna as an influҽncҽ on numҽrous occasions sincҽ hҽr 2009 dҽbut with “Pon Dҽ Rҽplay” and hҽr dҽbut album Music Of Thҽ Sun. Shҽ’s taught us thҽ valuҽ of fighting for social justicҽ and bҽing kind,…
All the Famous Men Rihanna Dated Before Settling Down With A$AP Rocky
Rihanna has been in the spotlight for quite some time now, and she’s been romantically linked to several famous men since her groundbreaking career began. While some of them have just been rumors, others have certainly been the real…
The Most Iconic Rihanna Outfits of All Time
Put simply, Rihanna is an icon. Her influence spans across every major genre in pop culture, from music to beauty to fashion. When Rihanna founded her label Fenty in 2019, she partnered with French luxury conglomerate LVMH to do…
End of content
No more pages to load