Rihanna’s fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief. At a Fenty Hair event in LA, she dropped a bombshell about her upcoming album, R9. After a long hiatus, she’s starting over but this time, she’s ready.
Rihanna was candid on the red carpet when she was asked about the highly anticipated album. ‘Music for me is a new discovery. I am re-discovering things. I have been working on the album for so long that I kind of put all of that stuff aside. And now, I’m prepared to go back in the studio. NOW I’m prepared. So I’m gonna start,’ she shared.
She emphasized that while she’s beginning anew, she hasn’t completely abandoned her previous work. ‘I’m starting over, but I don’t wanna neglect the songs that I have, so I wanna actually go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective, and see what applies and see what I’m still in love with,’ Rihanna continued.
In April, Rihanna had already hinted at her ninth LP during an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the FENTY x Puma Creeper Phatty Earth Tone sneaker launch in London. When asked about whether her children, RZA and Riot, would feature on the album, she said, ‘I mean, it’s up to them. I already got stuff that I feel like I can make hits out of. Me and Rocky are really trying to figure out who’s gonna use what because it’s so good!’
Rihanna has kept fans on their toes with her visual ideas, which she discussed with Interview magazine earlier this year. ‘I have a lot of visual ideas,’ she said, explaining that her approach has evolved. ‘It’s weird. My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all of these visual opportunities, and now I’m having all of these visuals. I don’t have the songs for them yet, but maybe that’s the key, this time. Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make.’
The Navy, as her devoted fans are known, hasn’t received a new album since 2016’s ANTI. Rihanna has been busy building her beauty empire and starting a family, with two children born in the last two years. A recent appearance in New York City wearing a shirt that read ‘I’m retired’ had fans worried, but her latest revelation puts those fears to rest.
Rihanna’s update is a beacon of hope for fans eager for new music. With her renewed energy and fresh perspective, R9 might just be worth the wait.
