Rihanna Promises Epic Return with Anticipated 9th Album: “Mediocre Isn’t in My Vocabulary”
Hold onto your headphones, Rihannaphiles! After an excruciating eight-year hiatus, Rihanna is finally ready to unleash her long-awaited ninth studio album, and she’s making it crystal clear that she won’t settle for anything less than spectacular. In a recent chat with Harper’s Bazaar, the music icon hinted that the wait will definitely be worthwhile, teasing fans with her unfiltered thoughts on the evolution of her artistry. “I cannot put up anything mediocre,” she declared. Can we get a round of applause for that mindset?
Rihanna, who dropped her last studio project, Anti, back in 2016, had fans buzzing last year when she collaborated on the tracks “Lift Me Up” and “Born Again” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. But now, she’s revving up to dive back into a full album—one that promises to redefine her sound. She laughed off the longstanding rumors that the new music would be reggae, stating, “Way off! There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited.” Clearly, she’s in a fearless creative space, relishing the freedom to explore who she is as an artist without being pigeonholed.
Rihanna also reflected on her past work, revealing that Anti is the only album she can listen to “top to bottom with no shame.” That’s quite the endorsement; it speaks volumes about her growth and the ever-evolving nature of her music. Remember, this is a woman who’s been busy raising her two adorable boys with A$AP Rocky, all while pouring herself into the studio. The singer quipped, “When I’m in the studio, I know that my time away from my kids is to blossom something that hasn’t been watered in eight years.” Talk about a multitasking queen!
So, what’s next? Rihanna offered a tease of what listeners can expect: a raw and authentic experience, entirely true to her artistic identity. “It’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible,” she affirmed, “It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now.” Given her track record, fans can expect the unexpected—and we can’t wait!
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and People Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar
