The Rundown: Rihanna, Unapologetic

A track-by-track take on the superstar's new album.

Rihanna, Unapologetic - Rihanna—or her songwriters, at least—addresses her roller-coaster relationship with Chris Brown head on with her most personal work yet. She experiments boldly with dub-step, pop balladry and electronica, but still manages to deliver a focused, consistent album, possibly her best.  (Photo: DEF Jam Records)
"Phresh Out the Runway" - Rihanna reminds us immediately that she’s often been one of music’s most forward-thinking superstars over this downright weird pop take on trap-rap. She adapts Future's atonal Auto-Tune delivery, practically rapping at points. Playful ratchet-ness combined with high-fashion diva — it’s a fitting opening for a Rihanna album. “How could you be so hood, but you so f--king pop? How could you be so fun, and sound like you selling rocks?” she asks herself. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
"Diamonds" - Listeners should be familiar with this song by now — it currently sits at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the context of the deeply personal Unapologetic, it stands out for its similarity to her past two albums, Loud and Talk That Talk: That is, it's obviously pop song by committee, much like "We Found Love." Still, it's hard to deny the track's aspirational, earworm-y optimism, fueled by one of the best vocal performances of her career.  (Photo: Patrick Hoffmann/WENN.com)
8. "Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem feat. Rihanna - Two very different stars came together under the banner of confronting abusive relationships — something they both know plenty about — topping the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and grabbing five Grammy nods in the process. (Photo: Aftermath Records)"Pour It Up" - Rihanna's much-Instagrammed strip club dalliance with Meek Mill finds its sonic representation on "Pour It Up." It's basically Rihanna's version of "Bands a Make Her Dance" (sure enough, Mike Will Made It produced both songs), and proof positive of her ability to co-opt existing trends and transform them into her own new ones. R&B for Styrofoam cups and strip clubs? Yes, please.  (Photo: WENN.com)

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"Phresh Out the Runway" - Rihanna reminds us immediately that she’s often been one of music’s most forward-thinking superstars over this downright weird pop take on trap-rap. She adapts Future's atonal Auto-Tune delivery, practically rapping at points. Playful ratchet-ness combined with high-fashion diva — it’s a fitting opening for a Rihanna album. “How could you be so hood, but you so f--king pop? How could you be so fun, and sound like you selling rocks?” she asks herself. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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