Rihanna caps off her birthday week with the unveiling of a stunning cover shoot for Harper’s Bazaar‘s March issue.
The superstar styles and profiles for publication and, much to fan excitement, also seized the moment to dish on her long-awaited new album.
Affectionately codenamed ‘R9’ by fans, the project has been long-gestating. And, despite almost a decade passing since its 2016 predecessor ‘ANTI’ was released, the buzz is only intensifying.
Now, she’s broken her relative silence on specifics about the yet-titled LP – and revealed that it’s all sorts of unexpected.
Full story below…
On Her New Album:
“I just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work. I am actually feeling really good about this. I know I kept saying this over the years.
[I’m feeling really optimistic. This feels right. It feels like it digs right into where I need to be, and I want this. This body needs to come out, and I’m ready to go there. This is becoming my new freedom, because 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. I’ve been in the studio the whole eight years. But it didn’t hit me. I was searching for it. I went through phases of what I wanted to do. ‘This kind of album, not that album.’ I know it’s not going to be anything that anybody expects. And it’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I’ve finally cracked it, girl!”
On Rumors of a Reggae Album:
“Way off! There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited. Every time, I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right. It’s not matching my growth. It’s not matching my evolution. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by this. I can’t perform this for a year on tour.’ After a while, I looked at it, and I was like, this much time away from music needs to count for the next thing everyone hears. It has to count. It has to matter. I have to show them the worth in the wait. I cannot put up anything mediocre. After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more.”
On the Sound of R9:
“I know it’s not going to be anything that anyone expects.”
On Her Thick Skin:
“[What I know] is that you’re carving your journey. And every disappointment, letdown, hurt, good, weird, uncomfortable—it’s all for you. All of your experiences, they’re actually preparing you for the next step. I look at my childhood and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, God already knew that this is how my life would look. And if I didn’t go through this or if I didn’t do that or if my family didn’t have that sense of humor, comments online would probably hurt my feelings.’ It’s like I was being prepared for this all along.”
As long as its not like that horrible song with Paul McCartney and Kanye, I’m interested
As long as KKKanye is not involved
As long as KKKanye is not involved you mean
Omg I just watched that video lastnite on Rihannanow.com 🤣 I loved that song when I dropped and now. American Oxygen was a hit too! Her catalogue is amazing from the beginning to the end. ‘Talk That Talk’ album used to have me in a chokehold
Rihanna’s music, and especially singles lack Depth & Musicality.
@diabetes. You are clearly describing “Cowboy Carter” and “Lemonade”.
I couldn’t contain my excitement to hear this news. I can’t wait to NOT wonder when it drops
She looked old, FAT and washed omg the way Navy used to come for 🐝 looks and weight back in the day now look at ur queen lmao 😳
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
😂she already knew she will flopped hard… R9 still giving us nothing…
Wowzer she is cubby now.. but she has had kids !! I hope she works with THE DREAM & DANJA !!
Excited to hear what she has cooked up musically.
Wait for it 2039 🤣
BREAKING: A federal judge has blocked President Trump’s executive order that sought to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sounds to me that both Rihanna and her critics know that her music is 100% Good but also 90% MICROWAVED. Only Rihanna fans don’t realize that Rihanna’s music lacks depth which explains the mere 1 grammy per album rate and Anti didn’t even win 1 🤣.
I have to agree most of it is garbage 😔
She better quit messing around or she’s going to end up like Lauryn Hill… and no one will want the music at all.
The photoshop is real bc she is wide and sloppy af now. She has a double chin and looks like she can’t sleep w/o a CPAP machine. She needs to lay off the cigs and weed and hit the gym and change that diet sweetie….
Interesting interview yet disappointing at the same time about the music. You gon flop if it’s not commercial. Don’t experiment or fix what’s not broken. You became a phenomenon because you kept coming out with catchy hits. That R9 single will tumble right down the chart if its anything but infectious. And how much waiting you expect? It’s been 10 years. People are tired of the stupid makeup and the cheap looking lingerie. At least bring out a song from the album. Your fans have indulged long enough and made you richer long enough while you had kids, created businesses, and went to a whole trial.
On the flipside she seriously needs to start losing weight. You are a multi millionaire, that makes it extremely easy if you want to do it. The weight gain has her face looking very weird bloated and distorted. Lizzo looks better face wise and she’s a hundred pounds heavier.
Not one of her better photoshoots. Rihanna has always been known for her BEAUTY for gods sake she has a whole beauty empire yet her beauty is fading rapidly. She’s only 37 years old and been looking matronly for the last several yrs. This is no shade but she needs to step her game up.
Stop lol 😂 I almost gagged when you said matronly. You are making @diabetes giggle 🤭