Will 2025 be Rihanna’s comeback year? The billionaire cultural icon and mother of two says her new project is coming, and it can’t be labeled. After nearly a decade away from the airwaves, the Fenty mogul is setting the tone for her long-awaited return to music, making a bold artistic statement that prioritizes authenticity over commercial appeal.
A decade sounds like a long time, but Rihanna has been taking full advantage of the time, at least for the most part. Behind the business deals and the headline-making comeback, the Barbadian beauty has also been navigating personal and legal battles alongside her partner, A$AP Rocky, proving that family, business, and music are deeply intertwined in this next phase of her life.
For years, fans have been waiting for Rihanna to deliver R9, the mysterious follow-up to her 2016 masterpiece Anti. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but don’t expect radio-friendly anthems or club bangers. Rihanna herself says this project is a departure from what the industry might expect from her. “There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited,” Rihanna told Harper’s Barzaar.
In the interview, she explained, “It’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now.” That statement makes it clear: Rihanna is playing by her own rules. She’s not chasing chart placements, streaming records, or Billboard dominance; she’s making music that speaks to where she is in life now. “I just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work,” she says. “I am actually feeling really good about this. I know I kept saying this over the years.”
She continued, “Every time, I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right. It’s not matching my growth. It’s not matching my evolution. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by this. I can’t perform this for a year on tour.’
“After 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.”
The details surrounding the album remain top-secret, but one thing is certain: Rihanna is stepping into a new sonic era shaped by the experiences of the last nine years. Motherhood, empire-building, and a shift in priorities mean that the Rihanna returning to music in 2025 is not the same Rihanna from 2016.
While the world has been waiting for an album, Rihanna has been busy dominating the business world. Her Fenty empire, which spans beauty, skincare, lingerie, and now fragrance, has cemented her as one of the most powerful women in entertainment.
Her focus on inclusivity and innovation has made Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty industry disruptors. Last year, she stepped down as CEO of Savage X Fenty but still maintains a major role in the company’s direction. Rumors are swirling about an upcoming Fenty expansion, with speculation that she could enter the luxury fashion space in a more direct partnership with LVMH, which previously backed her now-paused Fenty luxury fashion house.
While music may be retaking center stage, Rihanna’s business acumen remains one of her vital assets, and there’s no doubt that whatever she drops next will be tied to a larger business move.
Behind the scenes, Rihanna has been standing strong for her family, especially as A$AP Rocky faced a legal battle that could have changed everything. In 2021, Rocky was accused of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in an incident involving his former associate, A$AP Relli. The trial, which took place in early 2025, ended with a not guilty verdict, clearing Rocky of all charges.
Throughout the case, Rihanna remained unwavering in her support, attending court proceedings and ensuring that their family stayed intact through the stress of the trial. Even as Rocky reportedly tried to keep her away from the courtroom, she refused to take a backseat. “She was there when I needed her, man. That’s real love,” Rocky later said after the verdict was announced.
Their relationship has always had a ride-or-die energy, but this chapter proved that Rihanna is more than just a partner; she’s a rock for her family.
With new music on the way, her business empire thriving, and her family by her side, Rihanna’s next era is shaping up to be her most personal and defining yet. She’s no longer playing by industry rules; she’s creating her own lane.
