Posted by Andrew Unterberger on 07/28/2011 at 2:56 PM News

The Popdust Files: beyonce, katy perry, kesha, lady gaga, rihanna

So far, the decade of the 2010′s has been very kind to female solo artists in pop music. Such pop stars have been the lead artist on the #1 single in the country for 48 out of the first 85 weeks of the ’10s, well over half of our young decade. And Rihanna—responsible for eight of those weeks herself—doesn’t see it as a coincidence. “Women are definitely dominating music right now,” Rihanna recently told Complex Magazine. “And that’s because we are competitive beings. I feel like music hasn’t been this exciting in a while.”

More interestingly, Rihanna was willing to name names as to what ladies were really getting it done. “There’s a pack,” the Barbadian pop star claimed of pop music right now. “It’s me, Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyoncé…who else? Ke$ha, for sure.” That’s not a bad fivesome, all told, though a couple names are conspicuous in their absence—Rihanna’s “S&M” co-star Britney Spears for one, as well partner-in-lapdance (and fellow Drake collaborator and rumored one-time hookup) Nicki Minaj. You could probably make a case for Adele being a snub as well, though if Rihanna required more than one big hit to be part of her wolfpack, we couldn’t really argue with that.

This is exciting, though. We’re glad that pop music’s five leading ladies of the moment see themselves as part of the same movement, and not just as lone wolves. Here’s hoping for a group cover of the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” at an award show in the not-too-distant future. (Off the top of our head: Gaga = Ginger, Katy = Baby, Rihanna = Sporty, Beyoncé = Posh and Ke$ha definitely = Scary.)

[Popular Critic]

For lots more pics, videos and up-to-the-second dish on Rihanna, be sure to check out her Popdust Artist Page.