Rihanna claims she’s been cutting some “Diamonds” in the studio, despite the fact that fans have been patiently waiting years for R9.
Rihanna, 36, talked about her new songs in a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, April 17, at an event in London to celebrate the debut of her new Fenty x Puma Creeper Phatty Earth Tone sneaker. Although she was unable to provide many specifics about the much awaited new album that she has been teasing for years, the pop icon expressed her belief that it will be well worth the wait, describing her new songs as “so good.”
When questioned by ET whether she believes that she and her partner A$AP Rocky’s two boys, RZA, 23, and Riоt, 8, might become artists one day or perhaps feature on her upcoming record, Riri initially discussed her much anticipated follow-up to 2016’s Anti.
To which she said, “Well, it’s up to them.”
The “Umbrella” singer went on, “I already got stuff that I feel like I can make hits out of.” “Really.”
Rihanna even hinted that her 35-year-old partner, the rap artist, has contemplated rapping over the songs she’s worked on because they’re “so good.” “Me and Rocky are really trying to figure out who is going to use what,” she stated.
In an Interview Magazine cover article, she recently mentioned that she had “ideas” for the images she’s been conceiving, but she also acknowledged that she is unable to provide any more information.
The founder of Fenty acknowledged that she is unaware of the release date when ET stated that people are curious about when R9 will drop, laughing, “I wanna know, too.”
The singer of “We Found Love” recently stoked fans’ anticipation for her upcoming new song by sharing details about her creative process in an interview that was published in early April.
She added that she had “a lot of visual ideas” but “I don’t have the songs for them yet” in the late-February interview.
Nine-time Grammy winner revealed, “It’s strange. Right now my brain is operating in reverse. Usually, the music comes on first, and it opens up a world of visual options for me. Now, I’m seeing everything.”
She went on, “But maybe that’s the key, this time.” “Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make.”
Rihanna’s Grammy-nominated album Anti, which included singles including “Work,” “Love On the Brain,” and “Kiss It Better,” was released more than eight years ago.
She has released a few singles in the intervening years, including the Oscar-nominated “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, but her main focus has been on growing her design and beauty business.
The hitmaker appears to have spent some time in the studio lately. In an interview with PEOPLE in December 2023, her longtime producer James Fauntleroy verified that the two were once again collaborating.
“I’ve known her for so long, and the last session I did for her was last week,” he remarked at the time.
“So I’ve known her for so long, and I think the biggest lesson I learned, whether I knew or not, was just confirmed by her ascent from pop starlet to literal billionaire is the value of taste,” the musician stated.
February saw A$AP Rocky also gave fans who approached him on the street an update on his partner’s new album. Fans recorded and posted his smile and response, “She’s working on it,” when they were asked where the CD was.