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Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of 2007: Rihanna

Rihanna is Billboard's Greatest Pop Star of 2007 for how she made the jump to pop superstardom.

In order to come out strong, they needed an undeniable lead single, and they found it in “Umbrella.” According to producer/songwriter Tricky Stewart, a few other vocalists were considered for “Umbrella,” including Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige, but Def Jam fought tooth-and-nail to secure the cymbal-forward instant smash for Rihanna. It didn’t hurt that then-label boss Jay-Z also wanted to hop on the song for a guest verse (though, he acknowledged, “It was a hit without me”), and he officially co-signed Rihanna’s new era with his “Take three, action!” ad lib in the “Umbrella” intro, making it clear that the label had a feeling the third time was the charm for RiRi. Honorable Mention: Fergie (“Glamorous,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Clumsy”), Kanye West ( Graduation, “Stronger,” “Good Life,”), Justin Timberlake (“LoveStoned,” Timbaland’s “Give It to Me,” 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology”)

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