L.A. Reid — the head of her record company, Def Jam — was boasting how one of his prized artists has grown. Reid said Rihanna was doing what Janet Jackson did a little more than 20 years ago: taking control of her career.

“When we repackaged Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad … the second single from the repackage was ‘Disturbia,’ ” Reid told MTV News. “It was the first time that Rihanna actually came to me and said, ‘Here’s the song I want to put out.’ She played me the song. That was her taking control, even on her last album. She understands what hits are, and she knows what she wants to say. She’s at that place where she can do it.”

Reid wasn’t just sending big-ups because Rihanna is one of the most consistently successful artists on his roster. Just Tuesday, Kanye West, on Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show, paid Rih Rih the ultimate compliment, saying the singer could dominate music for the long run.

“I felt and feel like Rihanna is so important to our culture, to pop music,” West said. “I feel that she is the most important artist in music and has the most potential, for her taste level at her age and the songs she does and her style. She has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time.”

Reid absolutely knows Rihanna’s potential. “She’s another hard worker. Beautiful person. Internally, she has the right spirit,” the exec described. “She makes great records, and I’m proud of her. Really proud of her.”

Although the head honcho did not have a time frame for Rihanna’s next album, he said fans should stay accustomed to what she’s always given them: big records.

“I’m so loaded. I have so much music for that girl,” Reid promised. “Really. True!”