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Rihanna has finally shared some information with fans about her upcoming ninth album \u2014 her first since 2016\u2019s\u00a0Anti<\/em>.<\/p>\n While no title or release date was revealed, Rih dropped some hints as to the project\u2019s content in an interview<\/a> with\u00a0Harper\u2019s BAZAAR\u00a0<\/em>published on Saturday (February 22).<\/p>\n AD LOADING…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think music is my freedom. I just came to that realization,\u201d she told the outlet.<\/p>\n \u201cI just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work. I am actually feeling really good about this. I know I kept saying this over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n She denied rumors that the project, nicknamed R9\u00a0<\/em>by fans, would be a reggae album.<\/p>\n \u201cWay off! There\u2019s no genre now. That\u2019s why I waited,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time, I was just like, \u2018No, it\u2019s not me. It\u2019s not right. It\u2019s not matching my growth. It\u2019s not matching my evolution. I can\u2019t do this. I can\u2019t stand by this. I can\u2019t perform this for a year on tour.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a while, I looked at it, and I was like, this much time away from music needs to count for the next thing everyone hears. It has to count. It has to matter. I have to show them the worth in the wait. I cannot put up anything mediocre. After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more.\u201d<\/p>\n The singer and fashion icon said she was \u201coptimistic\u201d about the music she was making.<\/p>\n \u201cThis feels right. It feels like it digs right into where I need to be, and I want this,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThis body needs to come out, and I\u2019m ready to go there. This is becoming my new freedom, because when I\u2019m in the studio, I know that my time away from my kids is to blossom something that hasn\u2019t been watered in eight years. I\u2019ve been in the studio the whole eight years. But it didn\u2019t hit me. I was searching for it. I went through phases of what I wanted to do. \u2018This kind of album, not that album.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n She finished by saying: \u201cI know it\u2019s not going to be anything that anybody expects. And it\u2019s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It\u2019s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I\u2019ve finally cracked it, girl!\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this month, it was announced that Rih will share her first song in almost three years, courtesy of the new Smurfs<\/em>\u00a0movie.<\/p>\n RiRi, who is among the film\u2019s voice cast \u2014 she\u2019ll play the role of Smurfette \u2014 is also set to contribute in a significant way to the soundtrack.<\/p>\n The announcement came at the end of the first trailer for the movie, with a title card reading: \u201cThe Smurfs Soundtrack featuring new music from Rihanna.\u201d<\/p>\n It is not yet known how many songs the Bajan singer has contributed to the film\u2019s accompanying album.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our Social Media category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\nAD<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n