Rihanna followers, rejoice! After a musical drought that has lasted since 2022’s “Carry Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Without end soundtrack, Barbados’ most beloved pop artist is formally again with new music.
The nine-time Grammy winner and world trend and wonder mogul launched a brand-new monitor titled “Buddy of Mine” on Friday, featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming Smurfs animated movie. The announcement got here on Wednesday with the drop of the movie’s trailer, which gave followers a primary take heed to the dreamy, Afrobeats-inspired dance tune. Rihanna’s silky vocals croon over the beat with the road, “You’re wanting like a pal of mine.”
Not solely is Rihanna lending her voice to the soundtrack, however she’s additionally entering into the world of animation, starring as Smurfette alongside a star-studded solid together with John Goodman, James Corden, Nick Offerman, and Sandra Oh. The movie is slated to hit theaters on July 18.
The Smurfs soundtrack will even function a scorching lineup of expertise, together with South African breakout star Tyla, and a beforehand launched anthem titled “Larger Love” by DJ Khaled, Cardi B, and DESI TRILL.
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“Buddy of Mine” might be Rihanna’s first solo launch since “Carry Me Up,” which earned vital acclaim and an Oscar nomination for Greatest Unique Track. Earlier than that, followers had final heard an album from the singer in 2016, when she launched the genre-blending and chart-topping Anti—a file that continues to be certainly one of her most influential so far. Anti spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned hits like “Work” and “Love on the Mind.”
Within the years since, Rihanna has been removed from idle. She’s cemented herself as a trend and enterprise powerhouse by her multi-billion-dollar empire, Fenty Magnificence and Savage X Fenty, each of which have revolutionized inclusivity of their respective industries. She’s additionally made waves in Hollywood, with roles in movies equivalent to Ocean’s 8, Valerian and the Metropolis of a Thousand Planets, Dwelling, and Battleship.
The brand new Smurfs trailer dropped only a week after Rihanna shocked on the pink carpet on the 2025 Met Gala alongside associate and occasion co-chair A$AP Rocky, the place she revealed she is anticipating their third little one. But regardless of the calls for of motherhood, the 36-year-old celebrity has made it clear that her subsequent album continues to be within the works.
With “Buddy of Mine” about to make its debut, Navy followers can lastly breathe a sigh of reduction—and perhaps even begin hoping that R9 is simply across the nook.
