A decade after its release, Rihanna is marking the 10-year anniversary of ANTI, the last studio album of her career so far. The project arrived Jan. 28, 2016, and reshaped her artistic legacy.
Released after years of anticipation, ANTI signaled a creative turning point for the global superstar. It rejected radio formulas and embraced mood, vulnerability and risk. Fans and critics now see the album as a defining statement of artistic freedom.
Rihanna acknowledged the milestone this week with subtle nods on social media and renewed fan engagement. While she did not announce new music, the anniversary reignited conversations about her impact.
“This album was about letting go,” Rihanna said in a past interview. “I didn’t want to chase hits. I wanted to chase feelings.”
A Risk That Redefined Her Career
Before ANTI, Rihanna was known for annual album cycles and chart-driven singles. She chose to step away from that pace. The result was an album that sounded intimate and unpredictable.
“I knew it wouldn’t be what people expected,” she said in 2016. “But it felt honest, and that mattered more.”
ANTI debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It eventually spent two nonconsecutive weeks at the top. The album later earned multi-platinum status.
Songs like “Work,” “Needed Me” and “Love on the Brain” became cultural staples. Yet the album’s deeper cuts gained lasting fan devotion.
Music critic Jon Caramanica once described the album as “defiant and inward-looking.” He said it “refused to perform pop stardom in the usual way.”
Rihanna later reflected on that shift.
“I stopped trying to explain myself,” she said. “I trusted my instincts completely.”
A Legacy That Still Resonates
Since ANTI, Rihanna has focused on fashion, beauty and business ventures. Her absence from music has only amplified the album’s mystique.
Fans continue to stream ANTI in large numbers. Several tracks regularly trend on social platforms.
“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years,” one fan wrote online. “This album still sounds like the future.”
Rihanna has repeatedly acknowledged the pressure surrounding new music.
“There’s value in waiting,” she said in a recent interview.
“I want the music to feel like it’s worth the wait.”
As ANTI turns 10, it remains both a closing chapter and an open question. Its influence continues to ripple through pop and R&B. For now, the album stands as Rihanna’s most personal statement.