The album’s second half features some of Rihanna’s most daring vocal performances. "Kiss It Better" utilizes a soaring, Prince-esque electric guitar riff provided by Nuno Bettencourt to anchor a desperate song about toxic desire. "Needed Me," produced by DJ Mustard, subverts the traditional hip-hop breakup song. Over a grinding, slowed-down electronic beat, Rihanna rejects the role of the submissive partner, delivering a cold, deadpan dismissal of an ex-lover.
Enter a rogue’s gallery of collaborators: Kuk Harrell, Jeff Bhasker, No I.D., and even an unlikely feature from Drake. The result was —a title that explicitly rejected the pop formula. The Deluxe edition, which includes three bonus tracks, offers the most complete picture of Rihanna’s artistic range. While the standard 13-track version is a tight narrative, the deluxe edition adds texture, making the Rihanna - ANTI (Deluxe) - 2016 Album the definitive listening experience.
The album and its singles garnered in 2017, including Record of the Year for "Work" and Best R&B Performance for "Needed Me". In a testament to its lasting impact, ANTI was ranked 230th on Rolling Stone‘s 2020 edition of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and 55th on Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list. Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album-
As of July 2025, ANTI is recognized as the fourth-longest charting female album in Billboard 200 history, highlighting its enduring popularity.
The deluxe version of the album adds three essential tracks that further flesh out its nocturnal atmosphere: "Goodnight Gotham": The album’s second half features some of Rihanna’s
In retrospect, ANTI (Deluxe) stands as Rihanna’s magnum opus. It is the sound of an artist breaking their own mold. It is defiant, eclectic, intimate, and undeniably cool. It remains the gold standard for the "anti-pop" movement, a testament to the power of artistic integrity over industry expectation. As fans continue to wait for the mythical "R9," ANTI remains a towering achievement—a final, flawless mic drop before a well-deserved hiatus.
Thematically, the album is centered on the complexities of relationships—ranging from the euphoria of new love to the bitter sting of betrayal, and finally, to artistic and personal liberation. Echoing the intimate narrative style of Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope , ANTI presents a Rihanna who is alone, yearning, and often disappointed by the people she trusts. She moves from the demanding independence of "Consideration" to the desperate vulnerability of "Higher," showcasing a complete emotional arc. The Deluxe edition, which includes three bonus tracks,
However, the following week, ANTI skyrocketed to No. 1 on the chart, moving 166,000 equivalent album units and securing its place as Rihanna’s second chart-topping album in the US. It was a masterclass in modern consumption, demonstrating that streaming and direct-to-fan giveaways were reshaping the music industry.
These tracks dive deep into pitch-black trap landscapes. "Desperado" features a mid-tempo, Western-noir bassline, while "Woo" (co-produced by Travis Scott) is a distorted, industrial nightmare of heartbreak and spite.
Since then, ANTI has become a streaming juggernaut. In early 2026, the deluxe version of the album reached a staggering global streams across all platforms. The album is certified six-times platinum by the RIAA in the US. Its longevity on the charts is nothing short of historic: in December 2025, ANTI became the first album by a Black female artist to spend 500 weeks on the Billboard 200. As of January 2026, that number has grown to over 508 weeks, a record that continues to expand. Upon reaching the milestone, Rihanna celebrated on social media with a simple, powerful message: "God ain't forget 'bout me!"