Rihanna Just Dropped New Music for the First Time in Six Years, and Fans Are Emotional

"Lift Me Up" is her first solo single since 2016.

Update Oct. 28, 2022: The moment Rihanna fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. For the first time in six years, the singer released a new single, titled "Lift Me Up," on the Wakanda Forever soundtrack. The song, which was co-written by Nigerian singer Tems, composer Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna, and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, serves as a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, the star of the film, who died of colon cancer in August 2020. 

In the chorus, Rihanna sings: "Lift me up/Hold me down/Keep me close/Safe and sound."

Naturally, fans of the bad gal were overjoyed by the new music drop. "This song is free therapy," wrote fan on Instagram, while another commented, "WELCOME BACK QUEEN." A third added, "Girl, you got me over here crying 😭."

Rihanna is breaking the internet (again) with yet another massive announcement. After years without new music, taking time to have a baby, and announcing her Super Bowl 2023 Halftime Show, the billionaire businesswoman is releasing a new track. And she has a pretty good reason to come out of retirement: the song will be featured in Disney's highly anticipated Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever.

On Wednesday, Riri shared the news on Twitter, which sent followers into a tizzy. "Lift me up 10.28.22," the singer captioned the video, which gave fans a sneak peek at the single dropping on Friday. The clip also includes a graphic of a silver "R" that appears on the screen next to Wakandan text that translates to "Rihanna" and "Lift Me Up," the name of the song.

According to a press release, the record, which was written by Tems, Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna, and Ryan Coogler, is a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, the late star of the first film in the Black Panther franchise.

“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 said in the release. “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

The film hits theaters on Nov. 11 with a star-studded cast that includes Letitia Wright, Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya, Michaela Coel, and more. The soundtrack, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Music From and Inspired By, will be available for streaming and purchase on Nov. 4.

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