And now, I present a random Rihanna stan moment. Why? BECAUSE I SAID SO, HO.

Among the many goodies I received from Santa this year, including Rachel Stevens‘ Come & Get It, a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre Solo headphones and Girls Aloud‘s scintillating tell-all Dreams That Glitter, I was ever-so-graciously gifted with Rihanna–RiRi’s newly released photo book chronicling the artistic evolution of the Rated R campaign as co-concocted with creative director, Simon Henwood (who I interviewed a few months ago about the project). Genius!

While gingerly flipping through the book’s flawless pages tonight, I noticed something that had me OMG-ing all over the place:

LOOK! It’s Rihanna, thumbing through Jean Paul-Goude‘s So Far, So Goude looking for inspiration and clearly staring at Grace Jones‘ iconic cage photograph from their 1982 collaboration, Jungle Fever!

This photo find greatly excited me–so much so that I felt everyone needed to know about it.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

It was a very personal album. Very different from previous records. The whole thing was a dark dream; a chance for her to express all these things without being specific/literal.

From the jagged, metallic logo to the last seconds of the Last Girl on Earth Tour, Simon Henwood has been the crucial creative force behind one of the most dramatic artistic reinventions in recent pop history: Rihanna‘s Rated R campaign.

Back in the fall of 2009, a gritty, static viral video for “Wait Your Turn” teased its way onto the singer’s official website. The clip showcased the formerly sunny Barbadian pop princess now looking murderously serious in all black; her long hair slicked back beneath a hood and over-sized sunglasses.

With the release of the devastating lead ballad “Russian Roulette” days later, it became clear: Gone was the sun soaked, island-infused energy of Music Of The Sun and A Girl Like Me. Instead, Rated R ushered in a chilly new era of sound, colored (or rather, darkened) by the ominous imagery of sharp metal, broken glass, dismembered mannequins and guns.

To execute this new image, Rihanna worked with Simon Henwood, the creative director responsible for such productions as Kanye West‘s Glow In The Dark Tour and the gorgeous video for the rapper’s “Love Lockdown,” Imogen Heap‘s video for “Headlock,” and the bulk of Róisín Murphy‘s visual output over the past decade. (Fitting, especially given that the two recently welcomed a child together.)

Henwood and Rihanna worked together closely throughout the entire Rated R era, evolving and finessing the entertainer’s dramatic change of style into a sophisticated neo-rock ‘n’ roll noir.

Now, that transformation is about to be put on public display with the release of Rihanna, the long delayed photo-book that promises to guide fans through the entire Rated R creative journey from start to finish.

A few days ago, Henwood was kind enough to answer a few lingering questions that remained from Rihanna’s last campaign. The creative director provided a few small glimpses into the process throughout, as well as a better idea of his vision as an artist (plus a brilliantly subtle swipe at Madame Gaga).

For skeptics, casual fans and fellow Rihanna Navy members alike, this one’s a must read.

Click “Read More” to see the interview!

Read More.

Photo courtesy of Rap-Up.com.

This just in–details about Rihanna‘s first ever photo book!

On June 29, Rizzoli will be releasing Rihanna: The Last Girl on Earth. The 144-page hardcover book will be the artist’s latest collaboration with Simon Henwood, the creative director behind the near flawless Rated R campaign.

According to the designer’s website, The Last Girl on Earth is “a photo book documenting the artist’s designs, films and visuals for the American singer.” As for an indication of the book’s quality, if you happen to be one of the fans who’ve already snagged a physical copy of the album, you’ll know that the booklet is just as fierce as the album itself (see example pictured above).

Simon Henwood has also been responsible for overseeing such visual achievements as the videos for Kanye West‘s “Love Lockdown” and Róisín Murphy‘s lobster-rific John Waters homage, “Movie Star.” (Murphy also just happens to be the artist’s very talented girlfriend. Talk about a creative force to be reckoned with!)

As for the artist himself, I found that perhaps no other description encapsulated his sensibility and style as this quote courtesy of Mikato Saito, editor-in-chief of Tokyo’s H: “Yet, what makes Simon’s ideas in his art new is that because he does not used disliked images of life and death. He successfully combines the darkness and hip together. Fuck, death and more pop! – these words, his internal slogan, are distinguishing Simon Henwood from hundreds of other underground artists. The sensitivity in his memory of his childhood also has an inevitable effect on his art world.”

The book is now available for pre-order for Amazon.

Thanks to ONTD for the initial tip, and SheenaBeaston for her original report about Simon Henwood.