Setting the scene for 'Loud' is the first lead single, “Only Girl (In the World),” which went to radio and clubs September 7. The uptempo track is produced by Stargate, the Norwegian team whose career has been intertwined with Rihanna's since 2006, and you can listen to it here.
Earlier this spring, the RIAA double-platinum “Rude Boy” (the fifth multi-platinum certified song of Rihanna’s career) hit #1 on a slew of charts - including Billboard’s Hot 100 and Hot 100 Airplay, and MediaBase’s Pop, Hot Dance Radio, Hot Dance Clubs, Rhythm, and Urban charts. With “Rude Boy”’s success, Rihanna became the first female artist of the past decade to chart six #1’s on the Hot 100 - and tied Madonna for first place with seven #1’s on the Hot Dance Airplay chart.
Prior to “Rude Boy,” 2009’s “Russian Roulette” also made chart history for Rihanna - as her 12th Billboard Hot 100 career hit, placing her second (after Beyoncé) among female Hot 100 artists in the decade since 2000. After “Rude Boy,” Rihanna was back on the charts as featured artist on Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” - which hit #1 on the Pop Songs Radio Airplay chart, and tied Rihanna for the most #1’s (six) on the chart, with Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
