Young told OMG! that he doesn't think Ri-Ri's lyrics are empowering.

"She's a brilliant popstar," he conceded. "But her lyrics aren't empowering - young irks have to listen to those lyrics.

"I saw Rihanna kissing a girl in one of her videos and I thought, 'Who is this for? If you're going to do it just go the whole way like Madonna did and have sex on a bed'.

"Women in a patriarchal society should be empowering and owning their bodies. I don't think Rihanna is.

"I feel quite strongly about this," he added.

Young however praised Lady GaGa as a positive role mode; "Image-wise" he said, "she is empowering".

Young also singled out Annie Lennox and Grace Jones for praise, saying they had "challenged the female form," and "brought it forward".

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