Rihanna knew how to “Work” it in 2016.
With a new album, tour, and tons of visuals, RiRi reigned supreme each month. To close out the year, we’re sharing Bad Gal’s biggest, most-read stories of 2016, according to Rap-Up readers.
New music certainly got the Navy going. The most-read Rihanna story of the year was her Drake-assisted single “Work,” originally released back in January. The song soared, becoming the first and only No. 1 off ANTI.
Fittingly, the music video for “Work” is the second most-read RiRi story of 2016. Combining two videos, one directed by X and another one by Tim Erem, the tantalizing visual showed how heated the Rihanna-Drizzy love connection was.
The 6 God was also beside Bad Gal for her third biggest story of 2016. It was Rihanna’s Drake and SZA-assisted performance of “Work” and “Consideration” at the BRIT Awards in February. The sensual showing, which had RiRi and Drizzy gyrating and dutty wine-ing on one another, showed their on stage chemistry, which would be on display for much of the calendar year.
But Rihanna also made headlines as a cover girl. In March, her Vogue cover reveal became her fourth biggest story of the year. While she spoke on Drake (“Everything he does is so amazing”), she also discussed her perceived rivalry with Beyoncé in the mag. “They just get so excited to feast on something that’s negative. Something that’s competitive. Something that’s, you know, a rivalry,” she said. “And that’s just not what I wake up to. Because I can only do me. And nobody else is going to be able to do that.”
And you can’t talk about Rihanna’s 2016 without mentioning her “ANTI World Tour.” The kickoff recap was her fifth most-read story of the year as fans wondered what the superstar had in store for her blockbuster trek. The spectacular run would eventually become one of the year’s biggest tours, nabbing the No. 4 slot on this year’s Readers’ Choice list for Best Tours of 2016.
See a rundown of RiRi’s top stories below.
Rihanna’s 5 Most-Read Stories of 2016
1. New Music: Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”
2. Video: Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”
3. Rihanna and Drake Perform “Work” at BRIT Awards
4. Rihanna Covers Vogue; Talks Beyoncé Rivalry, Drake, & Biggest Regret
5. Rihanna Kicks Off “ANTI World Tour”