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How much longer will the Navy be left high and dry?
Its starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf has nothing on thebillionairewho criedR9.
Rihanna hasnt dropped an album since 2016sAnti.
Is she finally ready to rih-visit her music career, or will the Navy be kept on deck forever?
Below, a timeline of everything Rihanna has said aboutR9(andR10!
We used to be so optimistic.
December 2018:A fan asks Rihanna on Instagram when her album is dropping.
2019, the singerreplies.
May 2018:Rihanna isplanning to make a reggae album, per aVogueprofile.
July 2018:Rolling Stonereports that Rihanna is actually working ontwo new albums one reggae, one pop.
An anonymous producer claims that Rihs team already has 500 songs to choose from for the reggae album.
So far its just beenR9, thanks to the Navy, she tellsT Magazine.
How will I accept another name after thats been burned into my skull?
At least shes having fun.
February 2020:When asked for anR9update, Rihanna simplytellsETthat it is to be continued.
She draws three dots in the air and says she likes to antagonize her fans a little.
Well, they antagonize me, too!
So, they get it right back.
There are no rules, she adds.
Theres just good music, and if I feel it, Im putting it out.
Thats a challenge as well, she says.
But I love challenges, so, you know, Im gonna get it done.
September 2021:Rihanna says we wont be able to expectthe sound of her next project.
And music is like fashion, you should be able to play.
Super Bowl is one thing.
New music is another thing.
Do you hear that, fans?
(Later that month, though, she does at least feed us withBorn Again,anotherWakanda Foreverballad.)
Okay, its getting Rih-diculous.
February 2023:Rihanna tells BritishVoguethat yes, itwould be ridiculousifR9doesnt drop this year.
July 2023:Rihannabecomes the first female artistto have 10 songs with 1 billion streams on Spotify.
She celebrates the achievement and the fact that she did it wit no new album on Instagram.
She suggeststoEntertainment Tonightthat A$AP Rocky has also heard some potential options.
I already got stuff that I feel like I can make hits out of, she says.
Me and Rocky are really trying to figure out whos gonna use what, because its so good.
Is it finally happening?
And its not going to be commercial or radio digestible.
Its going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now.
I feel like Ive finally cracked it, girl!
Despite previous reports, her answer is not a tracklist full of reggae.
Theres no genre now, she confirms.
Thats why I waited.
Every time, I was just like, No, its not me.
Its not matching my growth.
Its not matching my evolution.
I cant do this.
I cant stand by this.
I cant perform this for a year on tour.
I have to show them the worth in the wait.
I cannot put up anything mediocre, she explains.
After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more.
But it sounds like shes finally satisfied with her direction forR9.
This feels right, she reflects.
It feels like it digs right into where I need to be, and I want this.
This body needs to come out, and Im ready to go there.
This post has been updated.
