Rap-Up.com || Rihanna Tones Down Her Image: ‘I Don’t Want to Become a Gimmick’

Rihanna has played with her image throughout the years. But the fierce fashionista is trading in her bold style for a simpler look as she launches her new album Talk That Talk.

“I kinda just wanted to scale right back instead of having a look,” RiRi told Ryan Seacrest. “I didn’t want to make it such a big deal about what hair color or what cut. I just wanted to go right back to something simple and something flexible, something a little more natural. It’s more about the music. I don’t want to become a gimmick—ever.”

The Barbados beauty, who swapped her red hair for a more natural look, joked about her style evolution. “Well, I ran out of [hair] colors, so that’s why I decided to go back to my natural color.”

She continued, “I’m just really having fun with the music and the style is a lot more accessible. It’s more lifestyle, it’s not so much a look or a costume, which I really enjoy.”

While she may have wanted a naughty gift for the holidays last year, this year the hard-working gal is just looking for some rest. “Sleep with a big bow on it! That would be great,” she said. “I’m praying that my BlackBerry shuts down.”

Rihanna will appear on “The X Factor” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in the days leading up to her November 21st album release.

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76 Comments

Yeah
November 11th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
umm sis…

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JussSayin Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
@Yeah,
LMAO… damn was that a dig at Nicki Minaj?

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Tiffany Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@JussSayin, i thought GAGA?

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Tiffany Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
@JussSayin, and her natural hair colour is black not brown with blonde highlights lol!! whatever you say rihanna lol, But jokes aside her new songs sound great! a bit generic i was hoping for more substance a bit like some of the stuff on Rated R but its still good. i think shes looking over to beyonce , Rih knows beys gone for a long ass break with the baby and all, rihannas not stupid she knows its her time to snatch beys lacefront. if any time was right… the time would be now!! lol……

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tehe! Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
@Tiffany, her natural hair colour is brown.. :/

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Whatcha_Sayin Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
@tehe!, Thank you

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meme Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
@Tiffany, actually bit*h her hair is brown and sandy brown mix. You must have grew up wit her to know what color her hair is. Not all black people hair is black. Esspecially when they are very light skin.

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Tiffany Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 2:55 am
@meme, oh pleeeeeeease, have you ever seen her new growth???????? besides you could see it was black when her hair started to grow after she shaved the sides!! both you and tehe! and whatcha sayin need to grow a brain! rihanna wears weaves! only because her first hair colour we seen her with from the pon de replay days DOES NOT mean its natural!…. i mean are you people just that stupid on here? its actually laughable

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don't hate yoz Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 9:33 am
@Tiffany, stfhu LMAFO w/that damn comment of your idoit

DenimJunkieKidd Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 6:37 am
@Tiffany, for you not to like her, i sure do see you add input a lot!!

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Tiffany Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
@DenimJunkieKidd, i like rihanna! i never said i didnt!!!! there goes more stupidity

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Ray
November 11th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Aww Poor baby, I’m glad that she toned down

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Oh
November 11th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Too late. kii

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Real Hip-Hop Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
@Oh, Thank You. Your Madonna’s gimmick!!! Your Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaack Pussanna

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Coleworld
November 11th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Love her.

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Khloe
November 11th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Yesss shade Nicki MANaj

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Oh
November 11th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Clearly Gimmicky Collaj shade.

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W
November 11th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Mmm she makes a valid point, nicki minaj and gaga are just awful. Bey & Rih >>>>> Nicki & Gaga

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Sarah
November 11th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
um too late

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Bran
November 11th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Its a little too late for that girl…

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Alright Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Bran, exactly what I was thinking!

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stel Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 11:20 am
@Alright, thank you! lol you can’t come back from an image you’ve been pushin on us for five years!

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finally
November 11th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
it was about damn time.. i never liked her “crazy” looks.. she’s hot when she’s normal.

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Joe
November 11th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Dear old RiRi, WELCOME BACK!

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Trina
November 11th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
GIRL PLEASE!!!! TOOO LATE!!! PLUS YOUR ALBUM IS YOUR RAUNCHIEST YET AND YOU SAY ITS ABOUT THE MUSIC?? PLEASE!!! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY???

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@WillNomNoms Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
@Trina, that she likes dick.

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I Ain't Even Mad Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
@Trina, spoken words! Lol, you took the words right out of my mouth!

She knows people are already starting to say she’s had three repeative albums, what can we do about it, the label controls her. She needs to switch up producers and writers. Ester Deans demos are going to leak, and Ester sings em better!

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diego
November 11th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Bitch been a gimick sit down

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yoo
November 11th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
she’s killing her career doing this. her outfits and image are the things that distract people from her weak vocal n shitty music.

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KaramelKisses Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@yoo, TALK THAT TALK … because you just spoke the TRUTH!

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JAYE
November 11th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
i thought her gimmick was sex, not hair… whatever girl, your songs are still catchy

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Triniti
November 11th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Why stop now?

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Jwellz
November 11th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
But…..

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mykolAnthony
November 11th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
i like that. good job, pass that on to lil kim clone oh i mean nicki minaj

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LisaHater
November 11th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I dont even like nicki but this post has nothing to do with her or lil kim wack ass this is about riri.

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BEYONCE IS FADING CHECK BILLBOARD CHARTS.
November 11th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
2 late

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Jfenty
November 11th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
The old RiRi is back! I love her 100x more!

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latonya
November 11th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
I love the red headed, short black bob, and all of the rihanna that i’ve experienced over the years i think going natural is fine. I love her music.

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bknyhustle
November 11th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Rihanna looks more energetic, adventurous and active in the bedroom then Bey…

but hey bey in that party video, shiiiit >>>>>>

eitherway Jay’s winnin…

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KEKE Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@bknyhustle, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!! #TEAMBEYONCE till death and nicki is trash.com and riri is playing with us she wants sales. she will only keep this look for 2 months then star wroking on a new album. She is smart cause if she goes away she will be forgotten.

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DenimJunkieKidd Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 6:40 am
@KEKE, ummm she went away for a year before rated r came out, so what are you talking about? O_o

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tia
November 11th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
too late…

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Laurie
November 11th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
lol

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Ratr
November 11th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Rihanna, you are beautiful! that’s what it comes down to..
I don’t really care for a specific image to accompany an album though, as long as the packaging is not sloppy or careless. I think so far the packaging of her CDs since Good Girl Gone Bad have been very creative and unique for reach era, so I like it.

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meme Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@Ratr, i totally agree. Rihanna CD packaging as a whole is always great. Beyonce’s last CD was sloppy, the photos wasnt even cohesive…her whole image thru me off. Same with ciara.

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Real Issh Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 6:23 am
@meme, To put Bey in a category w/ Ri and Ci ain’t doing u justice . As for Bey’s CD .. How was it sloppy ?
U can’t talk about anything Bey related with that red wig in that pic Hun .

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KillBill Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 8:48 am
@meme, Rihanna is 5 album to late to be talking about a gimmick. My girl rocked the same style, for 4 albums, and still is relevant.

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KaramelKisses Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@meme, Are you seriously talking about ANYBODY being sloppy w/ that dried out bloody red tampon on your head? Have several seats …….

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Kia
November 11th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Nicki Minaj needs to take Rihanna advice.

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deadlyxxc Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 9:33 am
@Kia, exactly ..will the real nicki minaj stand up ever?

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Speechless
November 11th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
lil girl you became a gimmick years ago

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Jay
November 11th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
It’s funny cause I was just thinking not to long ago that I miss Rihanna’s look when she was first introduced to us. It was something sexy about it. She looks good either way, but I like the new look :)

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jamie
November 11th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Rihanna is a gimmick. She’s been a gimmick since day one. She can’t sing for starters. Her performances consist of playbback, miming or lip-syncing.

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Whatcha_Sayin Reply:
November 11th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@jamie, She has never lip-synced or mimed. Erm she can sing otherwise she wouldnt have a career as a SINGER! People dont buy music because of an image

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KaramelKisses Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@Whatcha_Sayin: DIE! Jamie is completely correct in her statement. She has been a gimmick since she came out of the gate. The only problem was those early gimmicks didn’t work but when her handlers came up w/ this “good girl gone bad” that stuck. Her performances are horrible WHEN she attempts to sing live but for the most part alot of them are playback. An overwhelming majority of responses to this post are correct … RIHANNA, YOU ARE 5 OR 6 YEARS TOO LATE!

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pia
November 11th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
WOW! Does this mean no more hooker clothes? Anyway little to Rihanna know she is already a gimmick and everyone knows it even Ryan Seacrest, the industry.

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Jordan Gabriel
November 11th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.

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mykolAnthony
November 11th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
lisaisAKimHater and kia yeah great minds think alike. rihanna i love but im glad she said this.nicki minaj, i just feel bad for cuz , i dunno she just looks so silly, really, all of that?, u are not gaga and youll NEVEER Be KIM. You Already SNOW!! AVALANCHE FLOW HATERSSSS

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Winston Churchill
November 11th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
try singing and not soundin like a goat then we can talk

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Tiffany Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 2:59 am
@Winston Churchill, hahahahahahahahahahaha xxx

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mal
November 12th, 2011 at 3:10 am
Shes sjust copying what Beyonce said. NEXT lol its too late!

Improve your vocals and stop smoking and talk to us girl!!

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don't hate yoz Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 9:35 am
@mal, such a hater

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Giamma
November 12th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Nicki Minaj, Gaga and Katy Perry I’m looking at you! :p

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white hos love BBC
November 12th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
lmao soon as i read the title i said theyre about to body her ass for that dumb ass remark. shes at least 5 years late with that remark hahaha

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maya Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@white hos love BBC, lmaoooo YES!

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Real Issh Reply:
November 13th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@white hos love BBC, Lmao @ body her ass .

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From Tokyo
November 12th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
The physical image never bothered me so much as the extra-ness that made me not like her at all anymore and become annoyed. I understand a person living their life, but on the other side of that is how I feel in reaction to it, which is also legitimate. She has a lot of cool points and I’ve liked a lot of her music, but with WAY too many music artists, actors, athletes we’ve been shown WAY too much of themselves to where the allure is completely lost. I’d rather not know that much about them, & no, I CAN’T avoid it b/c I’m bombarded by info no matter if I’m just on a regular site as well, etc. Celebrities need to learn this. I don’t like the current trend of having to know every intimate detail about a celebrity. The product they produce should be the main focus, not what they ate for lunch. Idgaf, seriously.

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Peasant Reply:
November 13th, 2011 at 9:02 am
@From Tokyo, Co-signs.

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Kyle
November 12th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
LOL I feel like everyone is on the same page with this comment. Is it really all about the music Rihanna? Especially coming from her, a person who doesn’t take much part in crafting their own music.

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maya
November 12th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
don’t want to become a gimmick? LMAO does she not listen to her music, there’s no substance. She ALREADY is a gimmick…

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Tamar
November 12th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Yall just gotta bring up Nicki name in everything. I swear yall love her.
I don’t even think she shading on nicki. They’re really good friends.

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rave
November 12th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
I loved the looks…They are what made her career. Rihanna got the bob the next day everybody got the bob. Rihanna got the short the next day everybody had the cut. Normal is boring frankly. There is nothing wrong with being different. I know no one mentioned Katy….Katy has more number ones the RIRI so….that aint hurting her one bit clearly…If she wanted to not be a gimick she would write her own songs cuz everything is starting to sound the same…Rated R is still her best sorry..

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JayArtistry
November 12th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
I think Rihanna fans should respect her decision she don’t want that no more she wants to focus more on music it’s never too late to come back from that,It’s for her fans if you can’t do it you are not a real fan you

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Rihanna Tones Down Her Image: ‘I Don’t Want to Become a Gimmick’ – Rap - NEW HAIR DESIGN – NEW HAIR DESIGN
November 12th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
[...] Posted in Rihanna | Permalink [...]
Trevon
November 13th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
See i love rihanna but she really wasnt shit until she started to do gimmicks. But now that she is RICH she is going to do what ever she wants and no one can stop her lol with her fan base she wont be going anywhere for a while

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stel
November 15th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
she would NEVER say this in 05 when good girl gone bad dropped or when rated r dropped or even before her last album.her only claim to fame back then was a few catchy hits and a gimmick. now that they pushed this image all over us she is an established name at a comfortable place.. she can say she doesn’t wanna be a gimmick. not hatin just saying, she killin em though

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