RIHANNA has spoken out about her long-awaited ninth studio album, assuring that it will be "ridiculous" if it's not released this year.
The pop icon's last album, 'Anti,' was released in 2016, but she has consistently promised fans that new music is on the way since then.
In a recently published British Vogue interview, conducted before Rihanna found out she was pregnant with her second child, the singer said of the now-mythic R9: “I want it to be this year. Like, honestly, it would be ridiculous if it was not this year. But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos… And I need the right background music with the visuals. I cannot just go shoot a video to me talking.”
The revelation of her pregnancy during the Super Bowl Halftime performance became a sensation on social media and could possibly delay the release of the album.
Her previous album, 'Anti' marked a departure for the singer from traditional pop sound and featured a mix of genres such as R&B, reggae, and trap. It was hailed as a personal and artistic breakthrough for the artist.
The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, and it was also a commercial success in other countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia. 'Anti' was certified double Platinum in the US and has sold over three million copies worldwide.
For the upcoming album, Rihanna has reportedly recorded over 500 songs, and without getting too descriptive, likened listening to unreleased songs to “almost like trying to dress like you used to dress. It’s like, ‘Ew, no. I would never wear those again.’ Your taste changes, your vibe changes.”
“So, I realized that if I keep waiting until this feels right and perfect and better, maybe it’s going to keep taking forever and maybe it’ll never come out and no, I’m not down to that,” Rihanna added. “So, I want to play. And by play, I mean I have my ideas in my head, but I cannot say them out loud yet.” – The Vibes, February 16, 2023
