The question, “Where have you been all my life?” is something Rihanna’s fanbase has often asked in the eight long years since the artist released a new album. But a recent interview might have given them a glimmer of hope.
“I’ve been in the studio the whole eight years,” Rihanna said in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar published on Feb. 22.
In 2016, Rihanna released her last studio project, “Anti.” Since then, her fans have been wondering when the singer would bless them with new music. As the interview noted, they’ve even speculated that her new album would lean toward a reggae sound. But, as it turns out, Rihanna intends on going in a different direction.
“There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited,” the artist said. “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.’”
“It has to count. It has to matter. I have to show them the worth in the wait,” she added, noting that she refuses to release anything “mediocre” and wants her next body of work to reflect her artistic evolution.
“I know it’s not going to be anything that anybody expects. And it’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now,” she said.
In her Harper’s interview, the mogul also shared that the “greatest thing” about her partner, A$AP Rocky, is watching him be a father.
“His pureness. His charm. I’m annoyed because my sons sometimes just live for him more than they live for me,” she said.
In a previous chat with Interview magazine, the “Diamonds” singer discussed how great it was being with someone like Rocky who believes in her both as a person and mother.
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“In previous relationships, I tried and tried and tried my best, and you still feel like it’s not enough,” Rihanna said. “So when someone sees you completely, and believes in you, and thinks you’re worthy of being the mother of their kids, it’s a great feeling. I felt the same about him. I knew he would be a great dad.”