Meet Jay-Z's Rihanna replacement/revamp, otherwise known as Rita Ora. Born in Kosovo and raised in London, this 21-year old was signed by Roc Nation, the label famously founded by Shawn Corey Carter.
Overall, I find Rita a bit bland, but I do love her Gwen Stefani-esque quality. Nothing gets to me quite like peroxide platinum locks, red lipstick, and colorful '90s attire. Unsurprisingly, Gwen Stefani is her primary POP role model and style icon. Her song, R.I.P. featuring Tinie Tempah is bad, but thankfully, her first official single, How We Do (Party) is super fresh. It's fun, it's chill, and it's as colorful as a beach day in July. This song is everything that Rihanna's Cheers wanted to be. The perfect summer track, How We Do (Party) has all the POPpiness of a Dr. Luke production without those grating synthesized guitars he and his protege, Cirkut (not his baptismal name, I would imagine), are so fond of. Who produced it? We don't know...
I wish Rita wrote her own songs, but she didn't, and at least she's not pretending to have. Ultimately, her music is not profound in the least, but I doubt anyone will turn to her work for enlightenment. She's giving us brainless party tracks, and that's alright with me. As long as she doesn't claim to be a musical DaVinci, I'm down for any soiree she's throwing. See you there!
Unpologetically,
Gregory
