Rihanna considers her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown to be 'the hottest R&B artist out right now.'

The stunning 24-year-old songstress and Chris broke up three years ago after he physically attacked Rihanna and was subsequently charged with felony battery.

Rihanna and Chris caused controversy when they simultaneously released remixes of tracks featuring each other last month.

Rihanna ensures that the collaboration was strictly business.

'Just as a musician, despite everything else, [Chris] was going to be the person,' Rihanna explained to radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest Thursday. 'You know 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 then in turn he was like 'Why don't you do the remix to my track?' and it was a trade off.'

Rihanna is determined not to be divisive, despite the battery case that Chris is still on parole for.

'We did two records. One for my fans. One for his fans, and that way our fans can come together,' Rihanna explained. 'There shouldn't be a divide. You know? It's music, and it's innocent.'

Rihanna's remix of her song Birthday Cake, featuring Chris, was released on February 20, her 24th birthday.