Washington: Rihanna’s long-awaited return to music appears to be gaining momentum after A$AP Rocky revealed that the global superstar is actively recording new material, offering fans the latest update on her first full-length album since 2016’s ANTI.
Speaking in a recent interview, the rapper dismissed the belief that their relationship, growing family and Rihanna’s business commitments had delayed her musical comeback, as per People magazine.
“Nah,” Rocky said when asked about the theory, adding, “She in the studio right now. Yeah, I said it. Sorry, babe,” as quoted by People magazine.
He added, “Bro, she working. She cooking, no funny s—. Damn, I’mma get in trouble for this.”
The comments have renewed excitement among Rihanna’s fanbase, which has been waiting nearly a decade for a follow-up to ANTI.
Released in 2016, the album spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured major hits including Work, Needed Me and Love on the Brain.
Although Rihanna has not released another studio album since then, she has continued to remain a major presence in entertainment.
In 2023, she returned to the live stage with the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII halftime show, performing several of her biggest hits including We Found Love, Diamonds, Work and Umbrella. The performance also became a major cultural moment when she revealed that she was expecting her second child with Rocky.
Outside music, Rihanna has expanded her business empire through Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty while embracing motherhood.
She and Rocky welcomed their first son, RZA, in 2022, followed by their second son, Riot, in 2023, and their daughter, Rocki, in 2025.
Despite not releasing a new album, Rihanna has continued to appear on music projects. In 2025, she featured on Friend of Mine for The Smurfs soundtrack. Before that, she returned with Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Rocky’s update comes after Rihanna herself indicated that she had returned to studio work. Earlier this year, she shared a behind-the-scenes video showing part of her daily routine and told fans, “I have to go to the studio after this. And I have to make a Mardi Gras costume for my son after the studio … Longest day ever.”
More recently, Rihanna reunited with Jay-Z on stage during his July Extra Innings show at Yankee Stadium, performing Run This Town and Bitch Better Have My Money.
