Months after her Tremendous Bowl LVII efficiency, Rihanna’s followers nonetheless have one main query: “the place’s the album?” 2023 marks seven years since Ri’s final album, Anti, and her devoted followers have been less-than-patiently ready for her to launch a follow-up. The most important beacon of hope got here after the Tremendous Bowl when she spoke with Vogue UK concerning the album arriving earlier than 2023 is over. “I would like it to be this 12 months,” she informed the publication. “Like, truthfully, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this 12 months. However I simply need to have enjoyable. I simply need to make music and make movies. And I would like the fitting background music with the visuals. I can’t simply go shoot a video of me speaking.”
The demand for Rihanna’s subsequent album has been so loud and so fixed that when she spoke with the Associated Press in late 2022 concerning the Tremendous Bowl gig, she made certain to make clear that an album launch wasn’t imminent. “Tremendous Bowl is one factor. New music is one other factor. Do you hear that, followers?” she mentioned.
Moreover, Rihanna additionally welcomed her second child Riot Rose along with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky in August 2023. So, she’s clearly had loads on her plate with being a brand new guardian to 2 child boys.
However followers did get new music earlier than 2022 was over. Rihanna ended a six-year sonic drought with “Elevate Me Up,” the lead single from the Black Panther: Wakanda Perpetually soundtrack. The Tems/Ryan Coogler/Ludwig Goransson/Rihanna-penned marked her first solo single since “Love On The Mind.”
Ri has an intensive physique of labor – eight studio albums, two remix albums, a handful of EPs, and numerous singles – however how fans react every time she does something, you’d suppose she’s been holding out. Ms. Robyn Rihanna Fenty can’t publish an image on Instagram, take pleasure in herself whereas watching a DJ’s dwell stream, or reveal a child bump with out somebody popping as much as demand #R9.
Whereas there nonetheless aren’t many particulars about her ninth album, an insider just lately hinted at the potential of a stadium tour to happen in 2024 and 2025, however Rihana has not but publicly introduced any tour dates. Naturally, with a brand new album on the horizon, followers are additionally hoping to catch her dwell.
Anti was a triple-platinum album greatest identified for its chart-topping single – and one in every of her frequent collabs with Drake — “Work.” It’s additionally the album Rihanna considers “my greatest album to today,” as she informed Vogue of their Could 2022 problem.
“If you come off of an album like Anti…” she additionally informed Vogue in 2023. “In hindsight, it truly is my most good album. I say that as a result of within the second, I didn’t notice it. However it all the time felt like probably the most cohesive album I’ve ever made. If you break it down and also you notice this album goes from ‘Work’ to ‘Kiss It Higher’ to ‘Wanted Me’ to ‘Love on the Mind’ to ‘Intercourse with Me’ to ‘Desperado.’ And in some way all of it matches and never for a second did you glitch?”
“However there’s this strain that I placed on myself. That if it’s not higher than that then it’s not even price it,” she says. “It’s poisonous. … It’s not the fitting approach to have a look at music as a result of music is an outlet and an area to create, and you’ll create no matter. It doesn’t must even be on any scale. It simply needs to be one thing that feels good. It might simply be a track that I like. It actually might be that easy.”
Anti adopted 2012’s Unapologetic, which contained arguably Rihanna’s largest track, “Diamonds.” Till 2021, the 4 years between Anti and Unapologetic had been the longest hole followers endured between Rihanna’s initiatives, as she used to place out albums at a way more frequent tempo.
Her debut studio album, 2005’s Music of the Solar, was shortly adopted up by A Woman Like Me in 2006. Woman Gone Dangerous (2007), Rated R (2009), and Loud (2010) closed out the last decade, which means that Rihanna launched 5 albums in as a few years. Speak That Speak arrived in 2011, with Unapologetic arriving a 12 months later. Whereas different artists threat oversaturating the market with such a prolific output, Rihanna maintained a gentle stage of commercial and significant success. Outdoors of her debut launch, all her albums have gone Platinum quite a few occasions, and her lowest rating on Metacritic is 61.
So, there may be an viewers simply ready to provide Rihanna all their cash, however from how she responded to a fan in the beginning of 2021, she is likely to be good. “New 12 months’s decision: apply the strain,” she captioned a January 1 IG publish that includes her in a metallic outfit. “Decision ought to be releasing the album,” a snarky fan added within the feedback, which prompted Rihanna to reply with, “This remark is sooo 2019. Develop up.”
What Was ‘Elevate Me Up’ About?
Whereas Rihanna’s tremendous fast tease of “Elevate Me Up” gave little away by way of model and sound, the track is a tribute to the film’s late star Chadwick Boseman, per Variety. It was written by Rihanna, Tems, Ludwig Göransson, and director Ryan Coogler.
“After talking with Ryan and listening to his course for the movie and the track, I needed to put in writing one thing that portrays a heat embrace from all of the people who I’ve misplaced in my life. I attempted to think about what it might really feel like if I might sing to them now and specific how a lot I miss them,” Tems mentioned in an announcement. “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so listening to her convey this track is a good honor.”
When Will Rihanna’s New Album Be Launched?
As of October 2023, we nonetheless don’t know when Rihanna’s album will drop, and truthfully, it’s greatest to cease asking.
“If one in every of y’all motherf**kers ask me concerning the album another time once I’m attempting to save lots of the world, not like y’all president….on sight,” she mentioned throughout an April 2020 Instagram Reside chat, seemingly referencing then-president Donald Trump, and the way she had pledged to donate a $5 million to international coronavirus aid by way of her Clara Lionel Basis. Nonetheless, she did give followers some constructive information virtually a 12 months after this rant.
After Anti spent a record-breaking 5 years on the Billboard 200 chart – making her the primary Black artist to attain such a purpose – she posted an Instagram video to rejoice. Like clockwork, followers mentioned she ought to “rejoice [Anti] by releasing a track.” “I believe I ought to,” she mentioned. “Simply 1 tho lol.” This was, clearly, only a troll from Rihanna.
In July 2020, whereas doing a promotional tour for Fenty Magnificence, Rihanna defined why it’s taking so lengthy to complete her ninth studio album. “I can’t wait to place one thing out that I’m actually pleased with and enthusiastic about,” she mentioned in an interview with Access Hollywood. “It in all probability is gonna be before my followers suppose, however I’m simply gonna go away that alone as a result of I bought sufficient stress, questions, and, ‘R9, when’s the album coming.’ They don’t go away me alone. I haven’t uncared for them. Music continues to be my child.”
Throughout the dialog, she additionally defined that when she was first making Anti, a “paparazzi caught me going into the studio and after that, they thought my album was popping out that week,” she mentioned. “So, Anti to them, took perpetually… so anytime you give them slightly, however of data that I’m engaged on music, they count on it to return now as a result of, prior to now, it’s labored like that. Prior to now, I’d shoot out an album in three months, however now, I don’t have the posh of doing that as a result of I’ve this different child [her Savage x Fenty lingerie line].”
In November 2022, Rihanna spoke with the AP about her upcoming Tremendous Bowl look and Savage x Fenty present. She shut down the concept her look on the 2023 Halftime Present meant an album was on its approach. “That’s not true. Tremendous Bowl is one factor. New music is one other factor. Do you hear that, followers?” she informed the AP with fun. “The second that I introduced this, I mentioned, ‘Oh, my God, they’re going to suppose my album is coming. I must get to work.’”
Throughout that Vouge UK interview in 2023, Rihanna additionally spoke about how the hype and strain had made a artistic block. “So I spotted that if I maintain ready till this [new album] feels proper and excellent and higher, perhaps it’s going to maintain taking perpetually and perhaps it’ll by no means come out and no, I’m not right down to that,” she mentioned. “So I need to play. And by play, I imply I’ve my concepts in my head, however I can’t say them out loud but.”
What Is Rihanna’s New Album Referred to as?
“So, to date, it’s simply been R9, due to the Navy,” Rihanna mentioned in a 2019 interview with The New York Times, referencing her followers’ fandom title. “I’m about to name it [“R9”] in all probability, ’trigger they’ve haunted me with this “R9, R9, when is R9 popping out?” How will I settle for one other title after that’s been burned into my cranium?”
Followers thought that she introduced the album’s title in 2019. “to all my associates/household/coworkers who I’ve but to get again to prior to now months…please forgive me,” she captioned a November 2019 Instagram post. This 12 months has been fairly an awesome one, and I’m engaged on that ish referred to as Steadiness. brb.” Rihanna seemingly meant she was engaged on the “work-life stability,” however followers, hungry for any scrap of details about the venture, immediately began asking, “Is her new album referred to as Steadiness?”
Will Rihanna Tour Behind Her New Album?
Whereas nothing has been introduced but, it’s a frequent apply for artists to tour behind their newest album launch. For 2023, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift had the excursions of the summer time with their Renaissance and “Eras” excursions, respectively. Regardless that Taylor has introduced that she’ll be persevering with her tour into 2024, Rihanna followers are ready for the “Umbrella” singer to have the tour of the summer time as soon as she makes her return.
Whereas nothing has formally been introduced, a supply revealed that Rihanna plans to tour in 2024 and 2025 in response to a report from Entertainment Tonight. The insider mentioned that she has plans for brand new music and a world tour to comply with. Whereas followers bought a style of Rihanna returning to a dwell efficiency along with her Tremendous Bowl efficiency, will probably be her first tour since 2016’s Anti tour.
What’s Rihanna’s New Report Going to Sound Like?
R9 might be a lot completely different than her previous music, in response to the famous person herself. Whereas on the carpet for her third Savage X Fenty present on Sept. 21, Rihanna teased a bit about how her new music might be a lot completely different than her earlier releases. “You’re not going to count on what you hear. Simply put that in your thoughts,” she informed AP Entertainment. “No matter you recognize of Rihanna is just not going to be what you hear. I’m actually experimenting,” she added. “Music is like trend. It’s best to be capable of play. I ought to be capable of put on no matter I would like. I deal with music the identical approach. So I’m having enjoyable, and it’s going to be fully completely different.”
In early 2022, Rihanna additionally informed Vogue that regardless of her being pregnant dominating most of her life (and calendar), making music was nonetheless a lot part of her life. “I’m taking a look at my subsequent venture fully in a different way from the way in which I had needed to place it out earlier than. I believe this manner fits me higher, loads higher,” she informed the publication. “It’s genuine, it’ll be enjoyable for me, and it takes loads of the strain off.”
Rihanna mentioned in a 2019 interview with Vogue that she was placing out a Reggae-flavored venture. “I like to have a look at it as a reggae-impressed or reggae-infused album,” she mentioned. “It’s not gonna be typical of what you recognize as reggae. However you’re going to really feel the weather in all the tracks. Reggae all the time feels proper to me. It’s in my blood,” the Barbadian singer mentioned. “It doesn’t matter how far or lengthy eliminated I’m from that tradition or my surroundings that I grew up in; it by no means leaves. It’s all the time the identical excessive. Regardless that I’ve explored different genres of music, it was time to return to one thing that I haven’t actually homed in on fully for a physique of labor.”
Followers bought a preview of what the album is not going to sound like, courtesy of singer Skylar Gray. Throughout a September 2020 IG Reside session, dubbed a “Reject Celebration,” Skylar performed the music she wrote for different artists that in the end rejected. This was when Rihanna was supposedly performing some type of reggae album,” she mentioned throughout the video. “I don’t know if she’s nonetheless making a reggae album or what. However that is the track we did for it. I don’t have the entire track.” Within the snippet, Skylar is heard singing the phrases “no strain,” which might join this observe to the phrase Rihanna utilized in her Jan. 1/New 12 months’s Decision publish.
In 2023, when talking to Vogue UK, Rihanna defined that she by no means stopped recording, even when she centered on her household and trend empire. She has loads of songs that she’s fallen out and in of affection with – however don’t count on her to launch these recordings. She described listening to them as “virtually like attempting to decorate such as you used to decorate. It’s like, ‘Ew, no. I’d by no means put on these once more.’ Your style modifications, your vibe modifications.”
So, whereas there have been rumblings of a heavily-reggae influenced album, it is likely to be one thing fully completely different.
Who Will Function on Rihanna’s New Album?
Within the years following Anti’s launch, Rihanna appeared on N.E.R.D.’s “Lemon” in 2017, teamed with Future for his track “Egocentric,” joined Bryson Tiller for DJ Khaled’s “Wild Ideas,” jumped on Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty,” and – most just lately – teamed with PARTYNEXTDOOR for “Consider It.” It’s potential that Kendrick, PND, and Bryson might lend their vocals to R9. At this level, it’s unsure.
“I’m going to be within the studio. I’m so excited, truly. I can’t say who I’m working with, however it’s any individual I’ve been eager to work with him for a very long time,” she informed The Cut in 2020. “Okay, I’ll inform you. [It’s] Pharrell [Williams].”
RiRi additionally mentioned who wasn’t going to be on the album: her longtime collaborator and on-again/off-again fling, Drake. When The New York Occasions requested if she was going to collaborate with him once more, she mentioned, “Not anytime quickly. I don’t see it taking place. Not on this album, that’s for certain.” She additionally shot down rumors of Girl Gaga being on the album (“It’s not within the books proper now, however I’m not towards it.”)
What Songs Are Going to be on Rihanna’s New Album?
Like every part else with the album, we don’t know. Rihanna shed some gentle on the vibes she hopes these new songs will deliver.
“Now it’s extra what do I really feel, personally? What do I need to put out as an artist? How do I need to play it with my artwork?” she mentioned in an October 2020 interview with the Associated Press. “How do I need to interpret that, reimagine that? As a result of it’s been so structured earlier than. You do pop, you do that style, you do this, you do radio, you do who’s following you and your followers. However now, it’s similar to – what makes me completely happy? I simply need to have enjoyable with music.”
“The whole lot is so heavy,” she continued. “The world that we dwell in, loads is overwhelming—each single day. And music, I’m utilizing that as my outlet. I simply need to have enjoyable with that.”
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“He that may have persistence can have what he’ll,” goes a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin. That means that if you need R9, you must await it. It’s coming finally — even Rihanna is getting impatient — and as one other maligned proverb goes, “Good issues come to those that wait.”
