Rihanna goes topless for magazine shoot

Rihanna sent temperatures soaring after posing topless for the new issue of American magazine W.

The R&B singer showed off her body art, including a series of stars on the nape of her neck, a gun under her armpit and a tribal pattern on her right hand, as she dropped her layers for the camera.

The 'Umbrella' hitmaker further bared her heartache while recording her new album Rated R after she was assaulted by former beau Chris Brown.

"When I was making this album, every day I was in a different mood. Sometimes I was ******* off, sometimes I was miserable, and every song brings out a different story," the Daily Telegraph quoted her as telling the magazine.

"It's still hard to listen to certain songs. Certain ones I couldn't even record – I'd keep pushing them back.

"When the label finally said we had 12 hours to turn in the album, I was like, 'Okay, I have to do it' (record the last song). I just drank some red wine, dimmed the lights, got in the booth and sang it," she added.