Pop star Rihanna said she battled Def Jam for the right to wear her own hair rather than wear weave. She said she wanted to wear her own short hair to distinguish herself from Beyoncé and other singers who rely heavily on the yaki.

“I felt like the whole world had long, curly, flowy blonde hair. Ciara, Beyonce, Mariah, Christina Milian,” said Rihanna. Everybody wanted to be like everybody else. So I cut my hair and they (Def Jam) made me put my long hair back in (as extensions).”

But Rihanna’s grit and determination won out over the clueless Def Jam execs. Ri Ri held her ground and let it be known that she was not going to be another Beyonce.

“The second time, I didn’t have any discussions, nothing. I just cut it, I dyed it black, I went into the studio making music my way. I found myself all at once. I like things strong, edgy, a little to the left. I don’t like things that are expected – nothing cliched.”