For the first time in nearly seven years,Rihannais helping usher in a New Music Friday!The nine-time Grammy Award winner, 34, released hernew song “Lift Me Up"at midnight on Friday, her first new solo music since the 2016 albumAnti.“Lift me up/Hold me down/Keep me close/Safe and sound,” Rihanna sings in the chorus.The song is featured on theBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreversoundtrack, and serves as a tribute to the late actorChadwick Boseman. TheBlack Pantherstar died of colon cancer in August 2020 at age 43.“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them,” Tems, who co-wrote the track with Rihanna, Ludwig Göransson and director Ryan Coogler, said in a press release. “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.“Rihanna teased the track several times earlier in the week, and on Thursday, announced its release date alongside a black-and-white portrait.For more Rihanna’s new song, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.She and boyfriend A$AP Rockystepped out days before the song’s releasefor date night at theBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverpremiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It was the first red carpet appearance for the couple since theywelcomed their first child together, a son, in May.“Lift Me Up” is a long time coming for fans of the Fenty Beauty founder, who have not heard any new solo music from the star sinceAnti, her eighth studio album. She did, however, pop up on the PARTYNEXTDOOR song “Believe It” in 2020, and also featured on the N.E.R.D. song “Lemon” in 2017.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty ImagesThe “Work” singer toldVoguein May that she still considersAntiher “best album to this day,” and is not looking to compete with it as she works on new music.“I’m looking at my next project completely differently from the way I had wanted to put it out before. I think this way suits me better, a lot better,” she said. “It’s authentic, it’ll be fun for me, and it takes a lot of the pressure off.“Though it remains to be seen what else Rihanna has up her sleeve, the starisset toheadline the Super Bowl Halftime Showearly next year.RELATED VIDEO: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Have Date Night on Red Carpet of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Premiere"Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment,” JAY-Z, who previously signed a deal with the NFL to head the league’s musical entertainment, said in a statement, perThe Hollywood Reporter.Not long after the announcement, Rihanna was spottedheading to a music studioin New York City.
For the first time in nearly seven years,Rihannais helping usher in a New Music Friday!
The nine-time Grammy Award winner, 34, released hernew song “Lift Me Up"at midnight on Friday, her first new solo music since the 2016 albumAnti.
“Lift me up/Hold me down/Keep me close/Safe and sound,” Rihanna sings in the chorus.
The song is featured on theBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreversoundtrack, and serves as a tribute to the late actorChadwick Boseman. TheBlack Pantherstar died of colon cancer in August 2020 at age 43.
“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them,” Tems, who co-wrote the track with Rihanna, Ludwig Göransson and director Ryan Coogler, said in a press release. “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”
Rihanna teased the track several times earlier in the week, and on Thursday, announced its release date alongside a black-and-white portrait.
For more Rihanna’s new song, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
She and boyfriend A$AP Rockystepped out days before the song’s releasefor date night at theBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverpremiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It was the first red carpet appearance for the couple since theywelcomed their first child together, a son, in May.
“Lift Me Up” is a long time coming for fans of the Fenty Beauty founder, who have not heard any new solo music from the star sinceAnti, her eighth studio album. She did, however, pop up on the PARTYNEXTDOOR song “Believe It” in 2020, and also featured on the N.E.R.D. song “Lemon” in 2017.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
The “Work” singer toldVoguein May that she still considersAntiher “best album to this day,” and is not looking to compete with it as she works on new music.
“I’m looking at my next project completely differently from the way I had wanted to put it out before. I think this way suits me better, a lot better,” she said. “It’s authentic, it’ll be fun for me, and it takes a lot of the pressure off.”
Though it remains to be seen what else Rihanna has up her sleeve, the starisset toheadline the Super Bowl Halftime Showearly next year.
RELATED VIDEO: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Have Date Night on Red Carpet of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Premiere
“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment,” JAY-Z, who previously signed a deal with the NFL to head the league’s musical entertainment, said in a statement, perThe Hollywood Reporter.
Not long after the announcement, Rihanna was spottedheading to a music studioin New York City.
source: people.com
