It’s happened. After years of hoping, asking and manifesting a return to the record booth, Rihanna has finally blessed us with new music.
Like every other human on this planet, we’ve been patiently biding our time, giving grace to the queen herself, as she sprinkled crumbs of hope by way of sporadic singles here and there. Now, is her latest offering from the upcoming Smurfs movie? Look – we never said this was R9. But when Rihanna sings, we do not complain, we simply say “praise be” and hit (pon de) replay.
Her new single, titled Friend of Mine, is officially out now and marks her first original release in three years. It comes off the upcoming Smurfs movie soundtrack, a film in which Rihanna not only voices the inimitable Smurfette, but is also serving as a producer and musical contributor.
Naturally, the Navy has lost its damn mind. “New Rihanna music” is trending, fans (young and old) are emotional, and the Reddit theories are already circling about whether this means more music is coming (spoiler: it probably doesn’t, but can’t a girl dream?)
It’s been nearly a decade since Rihanna released her last album, Anti leaving us with more than just love on the brain. She followed this up with the release of her single, Lift Me Up, in 2022, on the soundtrack of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
In the years since, Robyn Rihanna Fenty has understandably had her hands full building a billion-dollar beauty business and raising her two young children, RZA Athelston Mayers, born in May 2022, and Riot Rose Mayers, born in August, 2023. And, proving that no one does a pregnancy announcement like Rihanna, she and partner A$AP Rocky, announced their third is well and truly on the way at this year’s Met Gala.
All things considered, it’s a miracle we’ve even had singles. So, we’re not saying the Smurfs saved pop, but we’re not not saying that either.
And while this isn’t the long-awaited album, it is Rihanna, and that’s more than enough to qualify as a momentous cultural event.
You can watch the video for the new single, below.
