After an eight-year wait, Rihanna has finally given fans a glimpse into her long-anticipated new album. In a rare interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the Barbadian singer revealed that her upcoming project will be nothing like what fans expect, describing it as a reflection of where her artistry stands today.
“I know it’s not going to be anything that anybody expects,” the 37-year-old singer said. “And it’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now.”
Since releasing her eighth studio album Anti in 2016, Rihanna has taken a step back from the music scene, instead focusing on her highly successful Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty brands. However, speculation about new music has persisted over the years, with rumors suggesting a possible reggae-inspired album. Rihanna has now put those rumors to rest.
“Way off! There’s no genre now,” she clarified. “That’s why I waited. Every time, I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right.’”
While she remains tight-lipped about the album’s details, the Diamonds hitmaker expressed confidence in her latest work, stating that she finally feels like she has “cracked it.”
“This much time away from music needs to count for the next thing everyone hears,” she said. “It has to count. I cannot put up anything mediocre. After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more.”
Despite her absence from the charts, Rihanna’s influence on music and pop culture has remained strong. With multi-platinum albums and chart-topping hits such as Umbrella, We Found Love, and What’s My Name?, she has cemented her place as one of the most successful artists of her generation.
Beyond music, Rihanna has been focused on her personal life. She shares two young sons, RZA and Riot, with her longtime partner, rapper A$AP Rocky. In the interview, she also spoke about embracing the present and reflecting on her legacy.
“My legacy is right now. That’s all I have the most control over. My legacy is what I do with my time at this moment.”
Meanwhile, her partner A$AP Rocky has been in the headlines recently. Earlier this week, he was found not guilty of firing a gun at a former friend by a jury in Los Angeles.
As Rihanna teases her next musical era, fans can only wait with excitement, hoping that the long-awaited album will be worth the years of anticipation.
