Rihanna releases first new music in six years

Song featured on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack

Rihanna returns with new music after six years with the release of “Lift Me Up.” The song, available now digitally, serves as the lead single to the Marvel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, which is due November 4th via her own Westbury Road label in partnership with Roc Nation, Def Jam Recordings and Hollywood Records.

The song was written by Rihanna, Tems, Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson and Ryan Coogler as a tribute to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman who passed away from colon cancer in 2020. The song was recorded in five countries and produced by Göransson.

“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life,” Tems shares in a statement. “I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By will be followed by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Original Score, composed and produced by Göransson on November 11th via Hollywood Records.

The film, written and directed by Ryan Coogler, stars Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda, Lupita Nyong’o as War Dog Nakia, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Danai Gurira as Okoye. In the film, Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

The film opens November 11th in theaters.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com