World
Rihanna is back in the recording studio, A$AP Rocky says
Singer Rihanna has returned to the recording studio to work on new music, according to her partner, the rapper A$AP Rocky.
Global music icon Rihanna has returned to the recording studio to work on new material, according to reporting by international wire services. The update was shared by her partner, the American rapper A$AP Rocky, who confirmed she is actively working on new music.
A$AP Rocky revealed the development during a brief interaction, telling onlookers that the singer is currently in the studio and "cooking" on her latest project. The comments have renewed speculation about a long-awaited ninth studio album, which fans have anticipated for nearly a decade.
Rihanna has not released a full-length album since her eighth studio record, Anti, was launched in 2016. In the years following that release, her professional focus shifted heavily toward her business ventures, including her highly successful cosmetics and fashion brands, as well as her philanthropy.
The eight-year hiatus from major album releases marks the longest gap in her career. During her early years in the music industry, she was known for a highly prolific output, frequently releasing chart-topping albums on an annual or biennial basis.
Her musical appearances have been sparse in recent years. She contributed the ballad "Lift Me Up" to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever film soundtrack in 2022, and headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, but neither event was accompanied by a full album release.
No further details have been confirmed regarding the genre of the new music, any potential guest artists, or a tentative release date. Representatives for the singer have not yet issued a formal statement on the matter.
Music commentators and fans will be watching for any official confirmation or track listings from the singer's management team in the coming months.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
Dedicated to a Stronger Victoria.
A message from the editor, August
Every story here is free to read. Only readers keep it that way.
We take no government money, run no paywall, and answer to nobody in Spring Street. That independence is paid for by a small number of readers, not the many who benefit from it. If just one in a hundred of today's readers gave $8 a month, our Victorian politics coverage would be funded for the year.
- Funds reporting, not shareholders
- Cancel in one click, anytime
- Supporter badge and reply access
Prefer a one-off? Send a tip. It takes about twenty seconds.