Videos After The JumpMTV UK Reports
Rihanna was in London last night to kick off the promotion for her eagerly awaited new album Rated R.
Thanks to Nokia, the gig was broadcast online to a global audience and marked the first time Ri had performed tracks from her brand new album in front of a live audience.
It was quite a star-studded affair with celebs including Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Daisy Lowe and X Factor’s Jamie Archer all in the crowd to see the lady herself.
MTV News were lucky enough to attend the special one-off gig at the Brixton Academy which saw Rihanna strutting her stuff on the stage, sporting fishnet tights, lace blind-fold and a tight little black number.
The set was impressive in itself, decorated with smashed up TV’s and the odd mannequin as Rihanna opened her set with a haunting pre-recorded message stating: “Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who are easily frightened, we suggest you turn around right now.”
She added: “For those of you who can take it, we say: Welcome to the mad house.”
As the dark message echoed around the venue, Miss. Fenty started her set with the explosive new tune Mad House as Rihanna invited the screaming crowd to ‘Come on in’.
Rihanna then belted out new single, Wait Your Turn as the audience joined in chanting the line ‘the wait is over’ before the daunting sound of Russian Roulette filled Brixton Academy.
The Barbadian beauty then sat seductively on stage in a throne that even the Beckhams would be proud of to belt out the ballad.
Rihanna delivered the eerie chorus, much to the appreciation of her audience and mimed pulling a gun trigger before the venue fell into darkness.
The R n B star then launched into some of her well-known hits including Please Don’t Stop The Music, Take A Bow and Disturbia before US rapper Young Jeezy joined her on stage to perform a new track from Rated R called Hard.
This was then followed by a subtle medley of hit singles SOS and Unfaithful courtesy of her band, before Rihanna emerged dress in a black leotard after a quick costume change.
The familiar beats of the T.I.hit, Live Your Life filled the arena before Rihanna began singing the massive Jay-Z and Kanye West collaboration, Run This Town.
After much speculation to whether the man himself would join Ri, the highlight of the night was when Jigga appeared on stage with his protégé to perform his verses of Run This Town which of course, led nicely into Rihanna’s biggest hit to date – Umbrella.
As Jay made his brief appearance, glitter fell from the ceiling as Rihanna belted out the well-known chorus, echoed by the audience’s cries of ‘Umbrella-ella-ella-a’ as Fenty waved to her adoring fans before confidently striding off stage.
It seems the wait is finally over for all Rihanna fans out there after an impressive show, giving us a 40 minute insight to what we can expect for Rated R and we can’t wait!
Rihanna "Russian Roulette"
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