You better have some serious cred if you think you have a shot at dating R&B princess Rihanna. The singer has revealed rap mogul Jay-Z has assumed the role of screening men who are interested in a date.

“I just found out from a mutual friend that guys will talk to Jay first before they try to approach me,” People magazine quoted the Umbrella singer as saying.

“Jay has my best interests in mind. If it’s a good guy I know Jay won’t shut him down. But if he’s not, Jay will be like, ‘No, no, no.’”

Rihanna told People that her preference for a man is a ‘tall guy who has a sense of humor, loves to laugh, has a good time and good conversation.’ Her ideal date is simply ‘low key, just hanging out and watching a movie.’

Rihanna has gone straight to No. 1 in the UK with her stunning new album Bad Girl Gone Bad.

The new release from the R&B singer outsold local acts Biffy Clyro and The Twang to debut at the top of the album charts.

And there is cause for double celebration for Rihanna with the news that her track Umbrella remained at No. 1 in the UK singles charts for the fourth consecutive week.

Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle has given Rihanna’s latest album Good Girl Gone Bad 3/4 stars and a glowing review. He writes:

Teen singer Rihanna has scored a summer-radio trifecta. Gyrating, guitar-tinged single Umbrella is her third midyear smash in a row, following 2005’s slinky Pon de Replay and last year’s electro-disco romp S.O.S.

Umbrella soars on its silly — but sinfully catchy — “ella-ella-ella” hook. In the past, however, the wispy-voiced singer’s full albums haven’t lived up to first-single promise.

But Good Girl Gone Bad, her third disc in less than two years, is a revelation. It’s Rihanna’s most accomplished work to date, artfully combining sexy lyrics, measured production and a smattering of clever samples.

It’s like a sparkling blueprint for pop-diva dominance.

The disc’s first half is nothing short of excellent, exploring an exciting variety of moods and tempos. Push Up on Me harks back to ’80s freestyle with its layered vocals and rat-a-tat rhythm. The only thing missing is parachute pants.

It segues directly into Don’t Stop the Music, a pulsing club cut that samples Michael Jackson’s Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ to glorious effect. There’s no need for remixes to make it a dance-floor classic.

The defiant Breakin’ Dishes is like a hip-hop cheerleader chant — dedicated to a cheating boyfriend. “I ain’t gon’ stop until I see police lights/I’m a fight a man tonight,” Rihanna promises. We believe her.

The wailing guitar of New Order’s Blue Monday intros Shut Up and Drive, which revs like a finely tuned engine. And songsmith Ne-Yo duets on the gently shuffling Hate That I Love You. He also co-wrote the somber title track, which bounces along a light guitar arrangement, and Question Existing, an even darker moment that blends a thundering snyth rhythm with commentary on fame and the meaning of life.

Timbaland — you knew he’d be at the party — is a required presence for a burgeoning pop heavyweight. He takes the helm on two tracks: the surprisingly fluid Sell Me Candy, which is largely free of his trademark techno-hop touch; and the brassy Lemme Get That, whose highlight is Rihanna’s own playful vocal.

Rehab seems a likely single, but not because of its all-too-relevant theme, which equates a bad relationship with chemical dependency. It was co-written by Justin Timberlake, who also contributes backing vocals. It’s easy to imagine J.T. crooning the tune himself.

The only time Rihanna falters is when she lapses into standard R&B pinup mode on Say It, the sole track by hip-hop producer Neo Da Matrix. It’s a repetitive drone that fails to match the rest of the disc’s inspired crackle and pop.

But it’s a minor smudge that does little to dull Good Girl’s glitter.

R&B sensation Rihanna has revealed she’s going through a rebellious phase in her career, starting from the ground up with her new look and hairstyle.

The chart topper spoke with Michelle Nichols of news agency Reuters who quoted her as saying: “I just wanted to get a little edgy and cut my hair and I didn’t really ask anybody to do it.”

“I just did it, changed myself completely, my image and everything. I just did it like a bad girl would do it.

“I just got a little rebellious — I think it’s about time. I just had to breakaway from that innocent girly image that I used to have,” she said. “Everybody rebels in their own way and this is my way of being rebellious.”

But the singer insists she wants to send a positive message to young girls who may look upto her: “I just want to lead them in the right direction,” she says.

You can read the full piece here over on the Reuters website.

Rihanna has the honor of being the first number one in the new Canadian Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

The R&B singer went to number one with her Jay-Z collaboration Umbrella, the track that is currently burning up at the top of the charts all over the world. Rihanna beat out competition from Maroon 5, Finger Eleven, and Fergie to gain the inaugural number one.

Rihanna was at the Hard Rock Cafe yesterday (June 5, 2007) on University City Walk in Hollywood, California signing copies of her new album Good Girl Gone Bad. Here are some photos of Rihanna at the event:

The stunning Rihanna revealed herself to be fitter and healthier than ever before when she performed at th MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles this past weekend.

The sexy singer says she’s been working hard to improve her figure by hiring a personal trainer.

The “Umbrella” singer told PEOPLE, “It wasn’t so much losing weight as being fit and toned and healthy. I just didn’t feel great. Now I’m working out and trying to eat healthy. That’s making me lose weight without even thinking about it. I’m not intentionally trying to get skinny.”

The stunning performer, who showed off her new physique in a Dolce and Gabbana S and M-style outfit at the MTV Movie Awards, says she has certain parts of her body that she doesn’t like.

Rihanna said, “I work with a trainer. We work on the arms. I don’t want manly, muscular arms. We work out my butt because I love my butt. [But] my legs are my main focus. I’m obsessed.”

One exercise Rihanna won’t be doing is swimming. The Barbados-born star says she is terrified of sea creatures.

She told Blender magazine, “I’m super-scared of sea creatures. Even tiny fish. One time I was in the water - and the water in Barbados is so clear you can see your feet - I saw all these tiny fish swimming around my feet, and I had a panic attack. I just froze. This man had to lift me out of the water.”

Here are the pictures of Rihanna at the MTV Movie Awards last night in Los Angeles:

Rihanna was at the MTV Movie Awards last night and jumped up on the stage to perform live.

The R&B singer was joined on stage by Jay-Z, who delivered a muscled-up version of her summertime smash “Umbrella” — all showers of sparks, power chords, synth stabs and (you guessed it) a pink umbrella or eight, with Rihanna herself heating things up in her patent-leather summer finest.

Photos of the appearance will be posted shortly.

Rihanna has topped the UK singles chart for the third consecutive week with her current track “Umbrella”.

The Barbadian-born artist saw off the challenge of former Sugababe Mutya Buena, whose debut solo single Real Girl climbed seven to number two.