Singer and fashion designer Rihanna at the British Fashion Awards, December 2, 2019. - Joel C Ryan / AP / SIPA

  • Rihanna is expected to release her new album, promised for 2019, this year.
  • Several elements concerning the album have already leaked.
  • The artist has devoted herself to numerous non-musical projects for the past two years.

Another false joy. Attentive since 2017 at the slightest sign of the singer, fans of Rihanna believed that she announced Thursday, February 20, the release of her new album. The next day, the day of the week in which albums are usually released, it is clear that the artist's Instagram story was intended only to recall the date of his 32nd birthday.

would that be possible ? ... naaaaaa. #rihanna pic.twitter.com/lVGzbp1XXM

- wHat tHe Hayley (@Hayley_Max_Dan) February 20, 2020

Rihanna's ninth album was however scheduled for the end of 2019. This was what the artist had promised, who enjoys the expectation of his fans. In December 2019, she posted a video on her Instagram account, accompanied by the message "Update: me listening to my new album by myself and refusing to release it. »Proof that the album is ready.

The impatience is such that all his messages on social networks are now ritually inundated with comments “WHERE IS THE ALBUM? "(" Where's the album? ") And" Release the album! ("Get the album out!"). The wait has been going on since 2017, when we learned that Rihanna had returned to the recording studio.

This calm since 2016 (and the release of the ANTI album) marks a change of pace in Rihanna's musical productions. Between 2005 and 2012, she released an album per year (including the reissue of Good Girl Gone Bad ). She had already waited more than three years to release her eighth album. However, this break presents a risk: the longer the wait, the more fans expect an exceptional record. Especially since this was hinted by songwriter Shakka in October 2017, speaking of an album in preparation "absolutely crazy". An album which we already know a lot.

A more Caribbean style

The name of this next record has been confirmed by the singer. It will be R9 . Like the French car, the Belgian road and the German camera. In reality, it refers to the singer's ninth album in R. A title she did not really choose: it is the nickname that fans have chosen to claim this new album which is slow to come. "They haunt me with" R9 ". How do I accept a new name after I have my head stuffed with it? Asked Rihanna in an interview with T Magazine.

We can also expect an album more reggae and dancehall than the previous ones, according to the words of the artist and the indiscretions of those who worked with it. These two musical genres bring the R&B singer closer to the music of her childhood in Barbados. R9 should also have 10 titles.

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home. 🇧🇧

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Dec 1, 2019 at 9:49 am PST

Those who participate ... and others

Rumors and leaks have multiplied over the years of feverish expectation and artistic preparation In 2017, songwriter Shakka hinted that people who worked on Drake's Worst Behavior and Kendrick Lamar's Loyalty were involved. Two titles produced by DJ Dahi. A great name, since he also signed the arrangements for several tracks on Madonna's Rebel Heart album, as noted by MTV.

The names of Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Skrillex Martin Garrix are also regularly mentioned. Diplo also implied having worked on the preparation of this album. Not to mention the rumors about a Pharrell Williams implication.

Conversely, several absent were confirmed. Among them, Shaggy. The dancehall singer says he was approached by Rihanna's teams, but has reportedly refused to submit to auditions. Rihanna also confirmed that she will not be collaborating with Drake on R9 . Asked about a possible duet with Lady Gaga, the singer explained that no project was underway, but that she was not opposed to it in principle.

Priority to other projects

If Rihanna has taken three years (at least) to finalize her ninth album, it is because she has been busy with other projects. In 2017, the artist launched Fenty Beauty, his cosmetic brand. The success is worldwide and buyers boast products accessible to all skin tones. A first.

The following year, she launched her Savage x Fenty collection of underwear. Rihanna finally created her clothing brand, Fenty, in May 2019. It was the first label to join the luxury empire LVMH since 1987. Rihanna also co-edited the editorial staff of "Rihannazine", an ID number entirely dedicated to her and released in January 2020.

What keep Rihanna away from recording studios and the music world. The more so as the singer would have, according to her statements, refused to ensure the half-time spectacle of the final of Super Bowl 2020, to oppose the American president and to support the quaterback Colin Kaepernick.

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