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Unapologetic

by Rihanna

Released: November 19, 2012

Pop, synth-pop, R&B

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Unapologetic" is the seventh studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna, released on November 19, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. The album was recorded between June and November 2012, while Rihanna was still promoting her sixth studio album, Talk That Talk (2011). Unapologetic blends pop, synth-pop, and R&B with influences from hip hop, EDM, dubstep, rock, and reggae, merging the sounds of her previous albums Talk That Talk, Loud (2010), and Rated R (2009).

Inside the Recording

As the executive producer, Rihanna enlisted a mix of familiar collaborators such as The-Dream, David Guetta, Chase & Status, and Stargate, as well as new contributors including Parker Ighile, Mike Will Made It, and Labrinth.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

Before the album's release, Rihanna promoted Unapologetic with…

Before the album's release, Rihanna promoted Unapologetic with the 777 Tour, a seven-date promotional tour where she performed in seven different cities across North America and Europe in seven days.

She also embarked on her fourth worldwide concert…

She also embarked on her fourth worldwide concert tour, the Diamonds World Tour, to further support the album.

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Essential Tracks

Diamonds

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Explore the Album

Rihanna - Unapologetic

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Reception

The album produced six singles, including the international hits "Diamonds" and "Stay." "Diamonds" became Rihanna's twelfth number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Madonna and the Supremes for the fourth most number one songs in history. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 238,000 copies, marking Rihanna's first number one album and the best-selling debut week of her career. Despite the mixed reception, Unapologetic won the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2014 ceremony, and the single "Stay" was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Unapologetic" is the seventh studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna, released on November 19, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. The album was recorded between June and November 2012, while Rihanna was still promoting her sixth studio album, Talk That Talk (2011). As the executive producer, Rihanna enlisted a mix of familiar collaborators such as The-Dream, David Guetta, Chase & Status, and Stargate, as well as new contributors including Parker Ighile, Mike Will Made It, and Labrinth.

Unapologetic blends pop, synth-pop, and R&B with influences from hip hop, EDM, dubstep, rock, and reggae, merging the sounds of her previous albums Talk That Talk, Loud (2010), and Rated R (2009). The album received generally mixed reviews, with some critics praising its adventurous production, while others criticized its lyrical content and rushed feel. Despite the mixed reception, Unapologetic won the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2014 ceremony, and the single "Stay" was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 238,000 copies, marking Rihanna's first number one album and the best-selling debut week of her career. It also reached number one in the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland, and was the ninth best-selling album globally in 2012, with 2.3 million copies sold that year. As of December 2014, Unapologetic had sold over four million copies worldwide.

The album produced six singles, including the international hits "Diamonds" and "Stay." "Diamonds" became Rihanna's twelfth number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Madonna and the Supremes for the fourth most number one songs in history. Before the album's release, Rihanna promoted Unapologetic with the 777 Tour, a seven-date promotional tour where she performed in seven different cities across North America and Europe in seven days. She also embarked on her fourth worldwide concert tour, the Diamonds World Tour, to further support the album.