Rihanna has sent her fans, affectionately known as The Navy, into a whirlwind of excitement as she opens up about her highly anticipated new album. Despite recent confusion over a t-shirt she wore that read, “I’m retired,” the singer has set the record straight about her musical future.
Rihanna’s New Musical Journey
At the Fenty Hair launch on June 10, Rihanna spoke to Extra about the t-shirt incident, clarifying, “That was just me looking into the future. I’m not retired. I just like that dress. I got it as a gift and I loved it. They didn’t read the second line. I’m not retired, I’m just retired from dressing up — it’s a lot of effort.”
Her diehard fanbase will be thrilled to learn that Rihanna’s long-awaited ninth studio album is in the works. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she shared, “Music for me is a new discovery. I’m rediscovering things. I have been working on the album for so long that I kind of just put all that stuff aside.”
She continued, “Now I’m prepared to go back into the studio. Now I’m prepared. So I’m gonna start.” Rihanna confirmed that she’s “starting over” with R9, but emphasized, “I don’t wanna neglect the songs that I have. So I wanna go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective and see what applies and what I still am in love with.” She humorously added, “[Fenty Hair] is probably the longest I’ve ever taken to create something. No, I lied — that’s R9.”
Commitment to Timeless Music
Rihanna also spoke on her monumental achievement of being the female artist with the most Diamond-certified records under the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Reflecting on this, she said, “It really was a testament to my fans and the quality of music, just a reminder of how I need to approach my next album. I want things to be timeless, just like ‘Diamonds’… The way my fans have continued to listen to my music without me putting music out. Hitting records when you are in a whole ’nother head space is nuts. It’s just a testament to them, they are loyal.”
Since her last studio album, 2016’s Anti, Rihanna has kept fans engaged with several singles, including “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. As she continues to work on new music, fans eagerly await what comes next from the iconic singer. Rihanna’s dedication to rediscovering her musical roots promises an exciting new chapter in her illustrious career.