From a factual standpoint Alicia Keys is more global than Rihanna. "Songs In a Minor" for instance sold 6 million in the US and sold another additional 6 million OUTSIDE of the US, her follow up albums did the same besides her last one..
Beyoncé is not as local as some ATRLers would choose to believe. She can tour the world and gross over $300 million in one year doing so. We haven't seen Rihanna do that.
Whitney Houston's 'The Bodyguard' era was more global and more successful than Rihanna's entire career.
