It’s officially been 10 years since Rihanna dropped “Anti” on Jan. 28, 2016. It’s one of the highest charting albums in history and her most recent project to date. But even after a decade, there’s still so much to unpack from one of the most memorable albums of 2016.
Suggested Reading
The Bajan singer built her empire by pushing boundaries and knowing exactly when to switch things up, and “Anti” was no exception. From breaking out of the constraints of genres to pushing limits with jaw-dropping visuals, “Anti” is proof of what can happen once you stop performing for the public gaze.
On this “Anti”-niversary, we’re diving deep into everything you likely didn’t know about the album inspirations and drama surrounding it. So buckle up and let’s get to work — pun definitely intended!
All About the Album Cover
In October 2015, Rihanna revealed the cover to officially launched the “Anti” rollout. It featured an oil painting of a young Rihanna, but the details surrounding the cover often go unnoticed by causal listeners.
It was designed by an Israeli artist named Roy Nachum. For “Anti,” a childlike RiRi has her eyes covered by a crown that’s clearly too big. Nachum explained to InStyle this “represents man’s blindness caused by displaced values and desire, while the balloon embodies the possibility of escape and signifies the human need to transcend physical reality.”
The artwork also included a poem “If They Let Us,” which was written by Chloe Mitchell and translated to Braille. “My work tends to experiment with human perception, and working with Braille allows me to extend communication to people who are blind and become a vehicle for sighted viewers to confront their own existential apprehensions,” Nachum continued.
Drama with SZA
“Consideration” featuring SZA opens up “Anti.” For many, SZA’s cameo marked her first introduction into the mainstream music industry. But while the first track is a fan favorite, most don’t know it almost didn’t make the cut.
SZA originally wrote “Consideration” for her own project, “Ctrl.” She even shot a video for the record, but somehow Rihanna’s team fell in love with the record and wouldn’t let it go. Extensive negotiations resulted in “Consideration” landing on Rih’s project. It’s a decision SZA later revealed haunted her.
“I cared so much,” she said during a 2023 Variety interview. “I was so, just, frustrated. And I felt like, ‘I’ll never have anything this cool again.’ I’ll never make anything this cool again, and that was so crazy and so wrong.” As we all know, SZA has since gone on to give us plenty of other hits… But back to Rihanna!
Surely you can understand why Rih fought hard to win over “Consideration.” On the song, the Bajan singer asks the public for consideration and understanding. Given the rest of the album, there was arguably no better song to introduce the whirlwind of genre-bending and boundary pushing which “Anti” presented. So thanks, SZA!
The Real Meaning Behind Anti
Rihanna herself has always stepped outside the box when it comes to music, making her one of the most innovative of her generation. “Anti” is yet another blatant rebellion. The project is anti-genre, anti-establishment, anti-colonialism and anti-societal expectations. It’s Rih’s response to feeling misunderstood– a concept she’s faced since the start of her career.
Ten years later and “Anti” is still making history! It’s gone platinum six times and became the first album by a Black female artist to spend 500 weeks on Billboard 200. With songs like “Work” and “Kiss it Better,” the replay value is undeniable, and after a decade, it’s still holding down Rihanna fans starving for new music.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.