Rihanna is celebrating the 15th anniversary of her first U.S. hit song “Pon de Replay” and thanked her fans for supporting her long career.
Rihanna was a 15-year-old aspiring singer when she was discovered in her native Barbados by a record producer who signed her to is independent label.
The producer shipped her demos to Def Jam Recordings, and in 2005, rap mogul Jay-Z invited the teenager to NYC to audition for the record label. The rest is history.
The Anti singer took to social media to celebrate her first breakthrough hit, “Pon de Replay,” which dropped in 2005.
“Man this is trippy. Feels like just yesterday I was shaking in the hallways of Def Jam waiting to audition for Jay [Z],” she wrote.
“‘Pon de Replay’ is where it all began. 15 years later and I’m here because God led me to you, and you guys have held me up, supported me, tolerated me, loved me, kept it too real with me, and we gon always be connected because of that!
“I love you Navy, and I cherish you. I’m so grateful to be gifted you as my fans and family. G4L!”
Rihanna went on to score 14 number one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, earning more Hot 100 No. 1 hits than any other artist in this century. She is also Spotify’s most-steamed female artist.
