Kinda/sorta, she teeters between pop and r&b. She's not a soul artist like Fantasia, or a neosoul artist like Leela James, but Rihanna is one album produces by Missy, Timbaland, and Swizz Beatz away from being considered an r&b artist. At least by the Grammy committee.
The reasoning is it makes the everything more competitive, but with cuts that R&B got neosoul singers like Angie Stone and Jill Scott stand less of a chance compared to Rihanna and Beyonce
As far Benzino trying to call out Hot 97 staff for not saying anything it goes like this:
The corprate lawyers for Emmis Broadcasting, the company that owns Hot 97, probably advised station staff (from station manager to mailroom clerk) to keep quiet. Mr Cee's lawyer has told him the same...
I doubt it, if so was there would have been some sort of "under the influence while operating a motor vehicle" charge. As far as everything else, I agree. The stories you hear when you're in the military about people getting caught up on TDY (temporary duty station) in Southeast Asian countries.
I got a funny feeling Charlemagne is only talking tough because Star & Buck and Miss Jones are now in Philly. If any one of them had a Morning Show opposite The Breakfast Club Charlemagne would've kept quiet. The is the 2nd time he's thrown at Hot 97, 1st was because of Cipha Sounds' Haitian...