The return of Rihanna…
The Rihanna reign has returned! After years of speculation and fan frustration, Rihanna returns to music. In fact, it’s been nearly seven years since Bad Gyal Riri’s record-breaking 2016 album, ANTI. Additionally, it’s been well over two years since we’ve even gotten a hook from the pop princess turned mogul. She last appeared on the feature for PartyNextDoor’s 2020 sizzling single “Believe It”.
As a result, RiRi has found her way back into the studio. At midnight, on Friday, October 28th, the billionaire business woman unleashes her first solo single in eight years. In doing so, she releases her new trendy track titled “Lift Me Up”! With her latest offering, Rihanna shatters the radio record while storming the streaming scene.
Black Panther Rings Rihanna For Their Return
Penned by Rihanna with co-writers Tems, Ludwig Göransson, and director Ryan Coogler, “Lift Me Up” serves as a moving tribute track to actor Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020. His role as King T’Challa/Black Panther established him as an iconic figure in the Black community. While RiRi’s latest offering comes as a part of Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, the standout single strives within itself.
It’s apparent that the demand for new and original Rihanna material is at an all-time high! Because ‘Lift Me Up’ is destroying records everywhere! On US radio, the track has hit a seismic all-format audience of 26.613 million. All the while, on the streaming side, “Lift Me Up” has reached number one on Apple Music in 45 countries. On Spotify, the song debuts at #3 on the global chart with 7.605 million first-day streams.
Lift Me Up…
Throughout the track, Rihanna describes drowning in an endless sea, but finding strength in the arms of the person to whom she is singing. Accompanying the amazing audio, the SavageXFenty queen unveils the visuals that breathe a breath of fresh air back into the track. A few hours after its initial drop, the single’s supported visuals are revealed and depict a lone Rihanna wandering an empty beach at dusk.
In doing so, the track has trailblazers to the top as the highest Stateside radio debut of the year so far. In addition to also being the highest radio debut of Rihanna’s career! With Rihanna slated to perform at the 2023 Super Bowl, “Lift Me Up” raises the question of what her musical resurgence means. Rihanna on this record is reminiscent of her earlier sound heard in the early 2000s. Similar to the vulnerable, exposed singer heard on 2006’s “Unfaithful”. Natter of a fact, the raved record’s cover art is strikingly similar to that of A Girl Like Me. “Lift Me Up” is a tender track at heart, with Rihanna’s vocals and sentimental lyrics taking center stage amid a swirling interplay of strings. The haunting hymn is working wonders for the Bajan beauty as her voice has highlighted a new unrivaled growl showcasing an elevated sense of maturity. With a history of eclectic production and arrangements behind her, if “Lift Me Up” marks the start of a new Rihanna era, it may be one that centers her— stripped down, without the bells and whistles that have helped her become a pop icon.
Wakanda Forever With Rihanna Navy
Overall, the Rihanna reign isn’t letting up and her Navy is ready for it all! Allegedly, this isn’t the last of the Rihanna reports. According to multiple critics, RiRi has two tracks that play throughout the credits. She reportedly sings another ballad, “Born Again,” produced by the-Dream, in addition to “Lift Me Up”. With that being said, could that track title be a hint at a musical rebirth for Rihanna that will lead to R9? Let’s see! Ready for more Rihanna? Stay tuned for the nationwide theatre takeover nationwide on November 11th, 2022 in a town near you! For now, press play on the official “Lift Me Up” music video and rack up the streams on your preferred DSP. Lastly, let us know what you think here at Hip Hop Weekly.
REMEMBER IT’S RIHANNA & WAKANDA FOREVER!
