Pop Pantheon

In the fourth and final installment of our Rihanna series, The New Yorker’s Doreen St. Félix joins DJ Louie to discuss the superstar’s final two albums, her transformation from hitmaking machine to critically acclaimed auteur, and her near-total retreat from music over the last decade. First, they unpack 2012’s Unapologetic, Rihanna’s first number one album, its blockbuster singles “Diamonds” and “Stay,” and the controversies surrounding her renewed relationship with Chris Brown. Then, they explore the long, messy road to 2016’s Anti, a daring, genre-defying left turn that traded Rihanna’s signature radio-ready bangers for something stranger, moodier, and more personal, ultimately becoming the most acclaimed album of her career. Finally, they consider Rihanna’s reinvention as a billionaire beauty mogul, her enduring stranglehold on pop culture despite a decade away from the album cycle, and the question that continues to haunt her fans: Will we ever get another Rihanna album? And do we even need one?

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In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Louie and Russ talk Tinashe live in Brooklyn, Jay-Z picking himself to headline the Super Bowl, rumors of Dua Lipa, SZA, and Tame Impala headlining Coachella, the success of Tate McRae's new single "Housewife" and more.

To hear the rest of the this episode plus receive weekly bonus episodes of Pop Pantheon, gain access to our Discord channel and so much more, subscribe to Pop Pantheon: All Access at the Icon Tier. You can also subscribe for the audio only directly in the Apple Podcasts app.

Note for iOS users: Subscribe using your desktop or mobile browser, not the iOS Patreon app, for cheaper rates on Pop Pantheon: All Access.
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The New York Times' Joe Coscarelli joins Pop Pantheon for part three of our Rihanna series, digging into Rih's imperial era as the biggest hitmaker in pop. Joe and Louie explore her return to bright, carefree pop following the darkness of Rated R with 2010's Loud, which spawned three #1 hits, including “Only Girl (In the World),” “What's My Name?” and “S&M.” Then they tackle her rapid-fire follow-up, 2011's Talk That Talk, which featured her biggest hit yet, the EDM era-defining “We Found Love,” and pushed her sound and persona in increasingly sexually provocative directions. Finally, they discuss Rihanna's controversial reunion with Chris Brown on the “Birthday Cake” remix and how her relentless string of hits cemented her place at the very top of the pop hierarchy.

Join us next week when we'll dig into 2012's Unapologetic, Rihanna's then-unprecedented four year hiatus from solo albums, her return with 2016's magnum opus, Anti, and the ups and downs of the decade-long drought since then.

Buy tickets to our Best Pop of 2026 Live Show on 12/1!

Buy tickets to our Best Pop of 2026 Live Show on 11/30!

Listen to our Rihanna Essentials Playlist

Tickets to Gorgeous Gorgeous Halloween on 10/30
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In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Louie and Russ take more listeners calls about the sound of the 2020s so far, generation bias, Lady Gaga's Mayhem, which Gen Z pop girl will be relevant in 10 years and MORE! Thanks to everyone who sent in mailbag questions and reminder we'll be doing a special monthly mailbag just for the QUEEN TIER. Spots in the Queen Tier tier open Nov 1!

To hear the rest of the this episode plus receive weekly bonus episodes of Pop Pantheon, gain access to our Discord channel and so much more, subscribe to Pop Pantheon: All Access at the Icon Tier. You can also subscribe for the audio only directly in the Apple Podcasts app.

Note for iOS users: Subscribe using your desktop or mobile browser, not the iOS Patreon app, for cheaper rates on Pop Pantheon: All Access.
Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and More

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Lauren Michele Jackson returns to Pop Pantheon for part two of our five part Rihanna series. Lauren and Louie dig into Rih’s blockbuster third album, 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad, which turned her from a tentative aspirant into a full-fledged diva via signature hits like the house-laced “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Umbrella." They then turn to her relationship with fellow budding pop star, Chris Brown, the domestic violence incident between them that forever changed Rihanna’s career and image, and the album that followed, 2009’s Rated R.

Join us next week, when we’ll break down Rihanna's Imperial Era with 2010's Loud and 2011's Talk That Talk.

Buy tickets to our Best Pop of 2026 Live Show on 11/30!

Listen to our Rihanna Essentials Playlist

Tickets to Gorgeous Gorgeous Halloween on 10/30
Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and More

Shop Merch in Pop Pantheon's Store

Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram

Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram

Follow Russ on Instagram
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.