Chris Brown is the hottest artist: Rihanna

London: Despite being physically assaulted by rapper ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, Rihanna says she decided to collaborate with him to further her career.

The 24-year-old, who had filed a case against Brown in 2009 alleging that he beat her, has teamed up with him for songs `Birthday Cake` and `Turn Up the Music`, reported Daily Mail. "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. "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," Rihanna said. But speculation is also mounting that the R&B star may want Brown, 22, back in her personal life too. Rihanna has been dropping hints on Twitter that the pair may be reconciling. Quoting the Beres Hammond song `They Gonna Talk`, Rihanna tweeted, "When they see me with you, wonder what the crowd would say? When they find us together, what will all the people say?" PTI