Critically, it was a revelation. Pitchfork gave it a 7.7 (later naming it one of the best albums of the decade). Rolling Stone ranked it at #119 on their "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. For an artist previously known for singles over albums, proved she could craft a cohesive, challenging body of work. Why You Should Listen to the Deluxe Edition in 2026 A decade later (nearly), ANTI remains Rihanna’s most personal statement. Since 2016, she has not released a follow-up studio album (focusing on Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and motherhood). This absence has frozen ANTI in time as her final musical will.
Available on all major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal) and high-resolution vinyl reissues. Search for "Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album-" to experience the full, uncut masterpiece. Have you listened to the full deluxe edition? Share your favorite deep cut—"Sex with Me" vs. "Higher"—in the comments below. Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album-
If you have only heard the singles (“Work,” “Needed Me,” “Love on the Brain”), you know 30% of the story. The Deluxe edition adds the grit, the bonus tracks add the swagger, and together, they form the definitive Rihanna record. Until (or if) R9 ever arrives, ANTI (Deluxe) remains the throne she sits upon. Critically, it was a revelation
In the pantheon of 21st-century pop music, few moments felt as seismic, as confounding, and ultimately as brilliant as the release of Rihanna’s eighth studio album. Officially titled Rihanna - ANTI (Deluxe) - 2016 Album , this project was not just a commercial release; it was a cultural declaration of independence. When it dropped in January 2016 (via Westbury Road Entertainment and Roc Nation), it defied every radio-friendly expectation set by its predecessors ( Loud , Talk That Talk , Unapologetic ). This article dives deep into the making, the music, and the legacy of the ANTI (Deluxe) edition. The Road to ANTI: A Calculated Rebellion To understand the 2016 Album , one must understand the frustration that birthed it. After dominating the charts for nearly a decade with dance-pop anthems (“We Found Love,” “Only Girl (In the World)”) and club bangers (“Where Have You Been”), Rihanna hit a creative wall. She scrapped an entire album’s worth of material initially titled R8 because it sounded too “safe.” For an artist previously known for singles over
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. Track-by-Track Breakdown of the Deluxe Edition The deluxe version of ANTI comprises 16 tracks (including the intro and bonus songs). Here is how they reshape the listening journey. 1. "Consideration" (feat. SZA) The album opens not with a bass drop, but with a snarling synth loop and a young SZA (then an unknown TDE artist). Rihanna’s voice enters raw and unpolished: “I got to do things my own way, darling.” It is the thesis statement for the entire 2016 Album . No sweet hooks; just defiance. 2. "James Joint" A 78-second R&B-cigarette dream. Written by James Fauntleroy, this interlude feels like a vinyl crackle. It separates the aggressive opener from the massive lead single that follows. 3. "Kiss It Better" Arguably the best pure rock ballad of Rihanna’s career. Drenched in reverb and a Prince-inspired guitar riff, this track was criminally under-promoted. The Deluxe context highlights her vulnerability—singing about a toxic lover with a rasp she rarely uses on radio singles. 4. "Work" (feat. Drake) The behemoth. The 15-week Billboard Hot 100 #1. However, in the context of the Rihanna - ANTI (Deluxe) - 2016 Album , "Work" is not a club banger; it is a patois-laden confession of emotional labor. Drake’s verse fits the album’s theme of push-and-pull. Without the deluxe edition’s slower moments, "Work" might feel out of place, but sequenced here, it acts as the commercial anchor. 5. "Desperado" A western-tinged trap ballad. Rihanna sings about fleeing a city and a relationship with a gun in her purse. The production is sparse, allowing her voice to carry the narrative weight. It is a fan-favorite deep cut that only exists because the deluxe format allows for narrative risk. 6. "Woo" The most aggressive track on the album. Distorted bass and a cold, detached vocal delivery. Rihanna sounds menacing. In the Deluxe flow, "Woo" is the hangover after "Desperado"—the moment you stop running and start fighting. 7. "Needed Me" A cultural reset. Over a DJ Mustard beat, Rihanna dismisses a lover as nothing more than a “needy one.” It is icy, empowered, and savage. The 2016 Album used this track to redefine breakup anthems for the late 2010s. (The music video, where she shoots her lover in a motel, is iconic). 8. "Yeah, I Said It" A slow, sexual grind set to a trap beat. The title says it all. This track showcases the album’s sonic diversity—moving from rock to dancehall to minimalist porn-chill. 9. "Same Ol’ Mistakes" A stunning cover of Tame Impala’s “New Person, Same Old Mistakes.” This is the wild card of Rihanna - ANTI (Deluxe) - 2016 Album . Kevin Parker’s psychedelic rock structure is kept entirely intact, yet Rihanna makes it her own. It proves she is not a pop star; she is a curator of vibes. 10. "Never Ending" A melancholic acoustic guitar ballad. At this point in the standard album, the pace would drag, but the deluxe edition uses it as a calm before the storm. 11. "Love on the Brain" The showstopper. A doo-wop/rock ‘n’ roll hybrid where Rihanna unleashes her inner Tina Turner. For the first time in her career, she belts for real—no Auto-Tune, no layering. The 2016 Album peaks here with raw, bruised vocal cords. 12. "Higher" Recorded in one take while Rihanna was reportedly drinking Hennessy. The audio quality is intentionally lo-fi; you can hear the bottle clinking. She slurs, “This whiskey got me kinda crazy.” It is ugly, real, and brilliant. 13. "Close to You" The standard album closer. A piano ballad that whispers rather than shouts. It feels like a lullaby after a bar fight. The Deluxe Bonus Tracks (Why They Matter) The “Deluxe” distinction is crucial. While the standard edition ends feeling slightly exhausted, the bonus tracks add a victory lap. 14. "Goodnight Gotham" A 2-minute snippet that mashes up Florence + The Machine’s “Only If For a Night” with a Rihanna vocal loop. It is atmospheric and pointless in the best way—art for art’s sake. 15. "Pose" A brash, trap-house anthem. “Pose for the cameras, fuck what they think.” This track belongs on the deluxe version because it is too unpolished for the standard. It feels like a mixtape cut, celebrating the chaos of fame. 16. "Sex with Me" The viral smash. Built over a sample of “Work,” this track became a meme and a classic. “Sex with me is amazing.” It is confident, boastful, and sexually frank. Closing the Rihanna - ANTI (Deluxe) - 2016 Album with this track leaves the listener smiling rather than melancholy. Commercial Performance and Critical Legacy Upon release, the ANTI (Deluxe) disrupted the industry. Rihanna famously gave the album away for free via Tidal (sponsored by Samsung), resulting in 1.4 million downloads in 24 hours. Despite that “free” giveaway, it still went on to be certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 (later, after Tidal corrected its reporting).