Brittany Spano, Senior writer at Rolling Stone and adjunct instructor at NYU, shares her expertise on Rihanna's impact in pop music. The discussion dives into Rihanna's challenging upbringing and journey to fame, highlighting her reggae roots and the evolution that led to hits like 'Umbrella.' They also debate Jay-Z's guest verse, pondering its controversial status in his career. Spano and the host explore underrated tracks from Rihanna's discography and celebrate her lasting influence in shaping contemporary music.