"Anti" is the eighth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on January 28, 2016, through Westbury Road and Roc Nation. The album's lead single, "Work," features Canadian rapper Drake, which became a commercial success and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The production of the album was marked by Rihanna's decision to depart from the upbeat and high energy music of her previous releases to pursue a new sound and direction. As a result, "Anti" features a departure from the dance-pop and contemporary R&B genres of her previous projects and incorporates a more unstructured and uncommercial composition with diverse musical elements.
Throughout the album, Rihanna experiments with various musical genres, including pop, hip hop, reggae, dancehall, R&B, electro-soul, and psychedelic music. The album includes other notable singles like "Kiss It Better" and "Needed Me".
Upon release, Anti received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Rihanna's new musical direction. The album was not only successful on a commercial level but also made a significant cultural impact. It has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and it reportedly accumulated more than one billion streams within just five days of its release.
The album features guest appearances by Drake and SZA, as well as additional vocals by James Fauntleroy and Kuk Harrell, among others. Considered a defining and transitional record in Rihanna's music catalogue, Anti displayed her creative growth and development as an artist.
