Rihanna 's fifth studio album, , released on November 12, 2010, marked a vibrant stylistic shift from the darker, more industrial themes of her previous project, Rated R . Seeking a "sassier" and more energetic sound, Rihanna worked with executive producer L.A. Reid to assemble a "hit-factory" environment where nearly 200 songs were written, of which 11 were selected for the final cut. The Story Behind the Era