'He's the hottest artist out there': Rihanna on why she 'reached out' to Chris Brown

Chris Brown and Rihanna

Despite the horrible beating she received at his hands in 2009, Rihanna has revealed she decided to collaborate with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown to further her career. In a move that's sure to infuriate many people who applauded the artist for her honesty regarding the issue of domestic abuse, the 24-year-old admitted her decision to work with him is pragmatic. 

Rihanna called Ryan Seacrest this morning on KIIS FM and explained her choice to record two duets with the man who attacked her three years ago. 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 said: '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.'

But speculation is also mounting that Rihanna may want Brown, 22, back in her personal, life too. Over the weekend, it appeared as though she was dropping hints on Twitter that the pair may be reconciling.