Rihanna Shares New Details on Upcoming Album: “It Won’t Be What You Expect”

Rihanna Updates Fans on New Album

Rihanna has shared fresh details regarding her eagerly awaited new album, stating that “there will be nothing that someone expects.”

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Commonly referred to as “R9,” this upcoming record will be her first since “Anti,” which debuted in January 2016. While there have been hints about her recent musical endeavors, a new interview sheds significant light on the project’s progression.

Insight From Rihanna’s Recent Interview

In a conversation with Harper Bazaar, she revealed: “I have been in the studio for eight years. But this did not strike me. I was searching for this. I went through multiple stages of what I wanted to create. ‘This type of album, the wrong album.’

“I know that this will not be something that someone expects,” she continued. “And it will not be commercial or radio-friendly. It will be a reflection of where my artistry deserves to be at this moment. I feel like I have finally tapped into that, girl!”

In discussions back in 2018 and 2019, she was also asked about rumors that reggae influences would heavily shape the album. “There is no genre now. That’s why I was biding my time,” she noted. “Each time I thought, ‘No, this is not me. This does not resonate with my height. This does not align with my evolution. I can’t pursue this. I can’t support it. I can’t do this throughout the year on tour.’”

Future Plans and Recent Developments

“Eventually, I realized that so much time away from music has to account for what everyone hears. This must be factored in. It should have significance. I must demonstrate the value in anticipation. I cannot release anything mediocre. After eight years, a little extra wait is justifiable,” she expressed.

Over the past year, Rihanna has shared various insights about R9, including that she was “starting all over again” with a “new perspective” at the Fenty Hair event in June, and hinted mysteriously that “God had other plans for me” apart from music during a product launch in November.

Recently, rumors surfaced on Friday (February 21) linking Rihanna to a lineup of major headlines at a London stadium in early July, also sparking speculation about a potential performance at Glastonbury 2025 for the singer of “Public.” However, no confirmation has been made, and Rihanna has not toured since her global “Anti” tour in 2016.

Rihanna’s most recent single was “Lift Me Up”—the lead song from the 2022 soundtrack for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She delivered a powerful rendition of the ballad at the 2023 Oscars.

In addition, Rihanna made headlines during the 2023 Super Bowl with her first performance in seven years, followed by her first full show in eight years for a private billionaire wedding in India.

Last week, her partner A$AP Rocky was found not guilty of charges stemming from a 2021 shooting incident. The Los Angeles jury acquitted him of all charges after he was accused of shooting his former friend A$AP Relli. Had he been convicted, he faced a potential 24-year prison sentence but declined a plea deal to admit guilt in exchange for 180 days in jail.

In response to the verdict, Rihanna expressed: “Glory belongs to God and God. Grateful, humbled by His mercy! 🙏🏿”