A$AP Rocky found himself approached by fans as he arrived at a performance venue, donning a lengthy, double-breasted coat paired with formal pants and a shirt and tie. Amidst taking a selfie with an admirer, he was questioned by someone in the gathered crowd about the progress of Rihanna’s upcoming album, often referred to as #R9, marking her ninth studio release.
Having recently enjoyed a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner with Rihanna in Paris, Rocky responded casually, stating, “She’s working on it,” before entering the building, gesturing peace signs to fans while flanked by security personnel. It’s been eight years since Rihanna’s last album, 2016’s “Anti.”
Someone in the assembled crowd inquired about the Pon de Replay singer’s, 35, next album, which is being referred to as #R9 in nod to it being her ninth studio album (Pictured at the Academy Awards in 2023)
Since her last album, Rihanna has been immersed in various ventures, including her Fenty Beauty makeup line, Savage X Fenty lingerie collection, and her role as a mother to two children born in quick succession in 2022 and 2023. Their names are RZA Athelaston Mayers, born in May 2022, and Riot Rose Mayers, born in August 2023.
In December, during an event hosted by Fenty and Puma to introduce her line of children’s shoes, the singer, originally from the Bahamas, hinted at an upcoming tour but emphasized her reluctance to tour without new music to perform. Speaking to ET, she stated, “We’re always gonna go back on tour. I wanna go back on tour when there’s new music, right? We already know what that’s gonna be.” She further expressed her desire to deliver new music to her fans before embarking on tour, suggesting that afterward, they would “blow everything up.”
Reportedly, Rihanna has inked a $40 million comeback deal with Live Nation, indicating the likelihood of new music arriving in 2024. Fans have eagerly awaited new material since her release of the single “Lift Me Up” from the 2022 “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack, marking her first single in six years at the time.
While focusing on parenting their two sons, Rihanna and her partner managed to carve out time for a romantic dinner date in Paris. The couple dressed up for the occasion, enjoying an evening without their children at the stylish restaurant Cesar in the French capital.
Later in the evening, the Don’t Stop The Music singer was gifted a large bouquet of red roses by her boyfriend in celebration of the romantic day – with their bodyguard helping out with the surprise by delivering the flowers.
The two stars were first confirmed to be dating in November 2020 after previously collaborating together and spotted at events – such as Paris Fashion Week back in 2018.
At the time, a source told Entertainment Tonight, ‘They have always had amazing chemistry, and Rihanna relates to A$AP, and it [their relationship] feels natural, easy and fun.’
‘She feels very comfortable around him since they’ve known each other for such a long time and also feels a connection to him because his dad is from Barbados.’