Rihanna's fighting words Jim DeRogatis: For all the talk of an edgier, angrier and more mature new Rihanna, it's hard to buy the re-emergent dance-pop singer as a towering pillar of feminine strength akin to Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Queen Latifah or Mary J. Blige. Nevertheless, "Rated R," the new album recorded in the wake of Rihanna's altercation with former boyfriend Chris Brown and arriving in stores today, is by far the best, most layered and most heartfelt effort of the 21-year-old artist's career.