Rihanna *Finally* Releases New Music

In January 2025, a video circulated the internet of Rihanna singing at a bar. Immediately, fans went up in arms, begging their favorite to get into the studio and release new music. Her last album, Anti, was released in 2016, and since then, she's snapped at everyone who's requested new sounds. That was until recently.

The Bajan pop star clearly heard our cries and returned to the studio. The catch? It's not a new femme-fatale-coded album -- it's for the Smurfs movie. The new single is titled "​Friend of Mine," and it's the first song revealed from the movie soundtrack.

The music video features the pop star in Smurfworld walking through daisies that are slightly reminiscent of the visuals of Savage X Fenty's second runway show. As she walks through the door, Rihanna and her flower umbrella transform into Smurfette and break out in song.

The single follows yet another announcement by Rihanna and this time, A$AP Rocky. Ahead of the 2025 MET Gala, she debuted her baby bump. Immediately, fans gave up all hope of receiving new music. However, she quickly confirmed new music was on the way despite pregnancy.

The Smurfs movie releases on July 18, 2025, and follows Papa Smurf after being abducted by the evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel. To save him, "the Smurfs embark on a mission to the real world. With help from some new friends, they must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe," the plot reads.

Since becoming a mother in 2022, the pop star has pivoted her career and this film makes complete sense. However, fans don't seem to be satisfied just yet. "You know we're hungry when we get excited for Smurf music," one fan tweeted. On the day of the song's release, fans flooded her comments sections with complaints that resembled, "This isn't the music we were asking for."

 

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"I'm Rihanna, and I play Smurfette in the new movie," she opens the first look revealed in February 2025. Her voice trickled throughout the entire video and coined her character "The coolest Smurf in the entire village."

So, if you're hoping to hear your favorite sing again... either stream Anti or prepare to tune into a children's movie. View the cute trailer below and watch the music video above.

In other news, Hulu's new show All's Fair divides the internet. Elsewhere, Charli XCX drops a music video for "party 4 u" five years later.

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