9781422276273

Chapter 2:

The Road to the Top—Growing Up & Getting Educated to Gain Success

Words to Understand

corporal: a military term describing a

Growing Up & Getting Educated R ihanna was born in the Parish of Saint Michael on Barbados in 1988 under her birth name of Robyn Fenty. Her parents, Monica Braithwaite and Ronald Fenty, had a rocky relationship as Rihanna grew up, which affected her health as a child. The stress from the relationship gave her chronic headaches. She has two younger

noncommissioned officer ranking above a private first class in the United States Army, or lance corporal in the Marines, and below a sergeant or a similar rank in the armed services of other countries. debut: a first public appearance on a stage, on television, etc., or the beginning of a profession or career; the first appearance of something, like a new product. performed by an unknown singer or group, distributed to disc jockeys, recording companies, etc., to demonstrate the merits of the song or performer. discography: a descriptive list of recordings by category, composer, performer, or date of release. single: a music recording having two or more tracks that is shorter than an album, EP, or LP; also, a song that is particularly popular independent of other songs on the same album or by the same artist. demo: a recording of a new song, or of one

brothers and three half- siblings. Following her parents’ divorce, Monica went to work full time while Rihanna took care of her younger brother, starting when she was nine years old. She remembers feeling

like she had to mature quickly and become a second mother to him. Despite a rough

childhood, Rihanna grew up strong, with a thick skin and a determined personality. When she eventually left Barbados to launch her music career, she says she

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Rihanna

Rihanna

HIP-HOP & R&B