Rihanna has defended her decision to reunite in the recording studio with the ex who brutally beat her back in 2009.
The ambitious singer claims it’s purely a career decision and she handpicked Chris Brown for the job because he’s the “hottest R&B artist out there right now”.
The pair performed together on two songs…she leant her voice to his hit Turn Up The Music and he sang on Rih’s track Birthday Cake.
Both tracks were released last month, almost three years to the day after the vicious attack that left Rihanna bloodied and bruised.
Chris, now 22, set upon the star during a row in his rented Lambourghini on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards.
The fight ended their relationship and almost cost Chris his career.
He was placed on probation and initially banned from going within 100 yards of his ex.
But Rihanna, 24, is clearly ready to move on.
She called into Ryan Seacrest’s LA radio show on Thursday to explain her decision to team up with Chris.
She said: “I reached out to him about doing Birthday Cake because that’s the only person that really… it made sense to do the record.
“Just as a musician — despite everything else — that was going to be the person.”
She added: “I thought about rappers, and I’ve done that so many times, and the hottest R&B artist out right now is Chris Brown.
“So I wanted him on the track.”
And the rumour mill is already swirling with gossip the pair are planning a romantic reunion as well.
Over the weekend Rihanna tweeted the lyrics to a Beres Hammond song, in an apparent hint to fans.
The post read: “When they see me with you, wonder what the crowd would say? When they find us together, what will all the people say?
Meanwhile, Tattoo-fan Rihanna has a new design to show off — a tiny red cross etched on her collarbone. Ouch!
Rih was inked on Thursday night by artist pal Bang Bang at his New York City tattoo parlour.
by Lorelle Heath
