This is an unpopular opinion, but even though RR has some great songs in it I don't like it as an album. The dark elements feel a bit too try hard. I consider Rihanna a cool and edgy figure as she is, I don't think she needs to get out of her way to achieve that. As a result I think it's the album that has aged the worst outside of A Gal Like Me.

Rated R babe… Are you ok?  

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

 

rated r it is x

Rated R was such a power move, so RR > Loud for me

 

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

 

Rated R is her magnum opus. But we been knew this 

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs  Skin (both masterpieces 

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

 

 

Rated R but Loud is my 3rd favourite Rihanna album while rated R is up there with GGGB

 

Loud has raining men. 

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

I know RR is one of her most critically acclaimed and beloved bodies of work, but Loud wins for me. 
 

that era brings back so many memories and (to me) feels more Rihanna (fun, flirty, pretty but with an edge)

 

While Rated R tells more of a story, you can tell she was so angry at the time and it's so representative of that darker time in her life that it's hard to revisit sometimes.

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

 

Rated R wins track-by-track, has better singles (with the exception of Only Girl from LOUD), and has a more appealing cover to me (I prefer the dark tones over the bright red).

Edited April 3, 20251 yr by JackOfHearts

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

Rated R is so much better than what you'd guess by its awful singles. Loud is overall better though.

 

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

5 hours ago, lillavend3r said:

Rated R feels more like a body of work. Loud is just a collection of singles imo

Umh yeah, because Wait Your Turn, Russian Roulette, G4L, Rude Boy, ROCKSTAR 101, Photographs are really cohesive 

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

 

8 vs. 3

Rated R it is!

21 minutes ago, Losing my ground said:

Umh yeah, because Wait Your Turn, Russian Roulette, G4L, Rude Boy, ROCKSTAR 101, Photographs are really cohesive 

That's why I said imo 

Quote

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World)

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)

I find Rated R to be a better album, overall, but I prefer the singles of Loud. Of course, I also prefer Loud's album cover.

Mad House vs S&M

Wait Your Turn vs What's My Name?

Hard vs Cheers (Drink to That)

Stupid in Love vs Fading

ROCKSTAR 101 vs Only Girl (In the World) 

Russian Roulette vs California King Bed

Fire Bomb vs Man Down

Rude Boy vs Raining Men

Photographs vs Complicated

G4L vs Skin

Te Amo vs Love the Way You Lie (Part II)