Saint Michael, Barbados -born, Robyn Rihanna Fenty AKA Rihanna is part of a triumvirate billed to take the stage at the Staples Center in California Sunday to perform from her anticipated “Four Five Seconds” CD during the 57th annual Grammy awards.
Joining her onstage will be legendary Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney and making his return to the Grammy stage after a six- year absence is 21-time Grammy winner Kanye West.
Nominated a record 56 times for Grammy honors, West will deliver a never-before-seen solo performance as well as a world debut collaborative performance with Rihanna.
After a trial run with West on the eve of the 49th Superbowl championship in Arizona in front of some of the biggest sports fans in America, the 26-year-old pop princess will face the world’s largest music audience to debut her eighth album during the global-viewing award presentation/show.
Superbowl XLIX united West with Rihanna for a performance that invited r&b singer John Legend and his model wife Chissy Teigen, West’s wife Kim Kardashian and others in a mini-stadium last Saturday.
The Caribbean music royalty performed for a solid hour and was joined onstage by West.
She has not released new material since 2012 when she introduced her “Unapologetic” album.
Frequently described as her musical comeback, this latest performance will combine the talents of West and McCartney — two musical giants for a live debut of “Four Five Seconds.”
The new track features the British rocker on guitar while West raps to Rihanna’s vocals.
“Four Five Seconds” is now available on iTunes and is being tagged as a “catchy” track.
“Rihanna’s seriously pleased to have bagged a big slot at The Grammys and two huge names to kick off her comeback,” Britain’s Sun newspaper reported.
The English publication added: “Paul McCartney’s a Grammys regular and it will give Rihanna serious kudos to have a Beatle backing her on stage. It is going to be a huge Grammys moment.”
Last year McCartney performed during the awards alongside fellow former Beatle drummer Ringo Starr.
With 18 miniature, gramophones to his collection McCartney lends star power to Rihanna’s effort.
The 72-year-old super-star joined West last year to collaborate on a song titled “Only One” which is dedicated to the rapper’s daughter North.
That track featured the former Beatle on keyboards, while 37-year-old West sang from the perspective of his late mother.
A seven-time Grammy award winner, Rihanna is nominated in the Best Rap / Sung Collaboration category for “The Monster” a track she joined Eminem to record.
The rapper is also up for two nominations.
He is also named in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Charlie Wilson) and Best Rap Song for “Bound 2.”
This year’s honors also include appearances and performances by Madonna, AC/DC, Pharrell Williams, Prince, Ariana Grande, Common with John Legend, Lady GaGa, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Adam Levine, Annie Lennox, Gwen Stefani, Usher, Miranda Lambert and Sam Smith.
Hosted again by LL Cool J, the awards will air live Feb. 8, from 8:00 – 11:30 p.m. on CBS TV.
Contenders in the one category devoted to Caribbean music include five finalists in the Best Reggae Album category.
They include: Ziggy Marley – “Fly Rasta;” Sean Paul – “Full Frequency;” Lee “Scratch” Perry – Back on the Controls;” Shaggy – “Out Of Many, One Music;” Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate – “The Reggae Power” and Soja – “Amid The Noise and Haste.”
Catch You On The Inside!
