Recently, Rihanna reported on Harper’s Bazaar that she has been working on a new album—her first one since 2016. The announcement sparked speculation among fans. When discussing R9, as it’s been dubbed, Rihanna claimed “It’s not going to be anything that anybody expects.” This statement has left fans eagerly discussing what her next album might include. Although the album has been reported, no release date has been confirmed, but it’s clear we can expect something different from her. 

It’s extremely hard to predict what her new album will look like, but I can fully assure that the majority of her fans, including myself, are expecting an album similar to ANTI. However, many fans feel indifferent to what genre they’d want it to be because it seems anything coming from Fenty is granted to be a success.

Who is Rihanna?

Robyn Rihanna Fenty, better known as Rihanna, is a world renowned singer and businesswoman who is responsible for some of the most iconic songs and brands of this generation. Born in Barbados, she began her musical career in 2003 after forming a group with her classmates. While performing with her schoolmates, an American producer was captivated by her fierce look and stage presence, encouraging her to record demos in the United States. Her demos were sent to various record labels, and ultimately received by Def Jam’s records, whose CEO was Jay-Z. 

After auditioning for Def Jam’s records, Fenty quickly signed a six-album record deal, leading to her first studio album, Music of the Sun. Prior to the album’s release, she released her first single “Pon de Replay” which skyrocketed her career, landing at No.2 on Billboard Hot 100. This song ended up being her leading track on her first album, ultimately selling over 1 million copies, and earning a platinum certification. Considering she was a new artist, this was, and still is considered a highly successful milestone. 

In 2014, Fenty officially left her record label to join Roc Nation. However, by then, she had already released seven studio albums,

• Music of the Sun (2005)

• A Girl Like Me (2006)

• Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) 

• Rated R (2009) 

• Loud (2010)

• Talk That Talk (2011)
• Unapologetic (2012)

Among her many successful albums, Good Girl Gone Bad is cited as one of her best albums, it’s extremely difficult to decide on one album, as each album features multiple hit songs. I personally agree with Good Girl Gone Bad being her best album until 2014. 

Good Girl Gone Bad is the epitome of fenty in an album, and it captures her essence beautifully, with this album being my personal choice when I’m in the mood to listen to her. The album is extremely versatile, with there’s one song for every mood possible. However, it’s undeniable that each of her albums boasts at least three major hits. 

ANTI

ANTI is Rihanna’s latest album, released in 2016. The album was starkly different from all her previous albums, showcasing a new, more experimental sound. Songs like “Same Ol’ Mistakes”, “Work”, “Love on the Brain”, and “Needed me” all come from this album, and quickly became fan favorites. The album earned 55th place in Apple Music’s 100 best albums ever created. 

Since ANTI, Rihanna has not released any other albums, or singles. Leaving her fans in extreme anticipation, awaiting eagerly for any updates.

Her most recent performance was during Super Bowl LVII, where she delivered a halftime show that many argue is one of the best we’ve seen lately. Her performance was captivating, entertaining, and reminded fans of the essence of what they’ve been missing. 

Fenty Beauty

After ANTI, Rihanna founded Fenty Beauty, a cosmetic brand, in 2017. The brand seemed to take over music as her main priority, with her focus shifting to creating inclusive products for everyone. The inclusivity, as well as the high quality products, is what led the brand to become the massive success it is, with the brand being estimated at $2.8 billion at the end of 2024.

The brand later expanded beyond makeup, with it now offering hair products, skincare and fragrances. Today, Fenty beauty is deemed one of the best celebrity owned cosmetics brands in the world, as it is sold internationally and can be found in major department stores such as Ulta, and Sephora. The success of Fenty Beauty highlights Rihanna as a successful businesswoman, making a name for herself in industries outside of music.