The reception "speaks a lot to the loyalty and patience of her fans," says Yahoo Music managing editor Lyndsey Parker. "It also speaks to her savviness in marketing herself." By releasing a handful of singles last year and staying active on social media, "it didn't feel like she ever went away."
With her sprawling Anti World Tour in North America, Rihanna should continue to be red-hot. Although Anti is a darker, more downbeat album devoid of club bangers, "historically, Rihanna is a singles-driven artist, so I have no doubt there will be more" after Work, says Dee Lockett, an associate editor at Vulture, who suggests Kiss It Better and Needed Me as strong possibilities.
