Rihanna drops ‘Lift Me Up,’ first new track in 6 years
Rihanna fans, the wait for new music is finally over.
According to Pitchfork and Billboard, the 34-year-old pop icon dropped “Lift Me Up,” as well as an instrumental version of the new song, at midnight Friday on major streaming services, the iTunes Store and Amazon Music. The track, which marks the nine-time Grammy Award winner’s first release in six years, will be included on the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack.
Rihanna, Tems, record producer Ludwig Göransson and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” director Ryan Coogler co-wrote the song in honor of Chadwick Boseman, who died two years ago, the outlets reported.
Rihanna will headline Super Bowl LVII halftime show
The “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack is slated to drop Nov. 4, and the film hits theaters Nov. 11, according to the reports.
Rihanna attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Lupita Nyong’o attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda" Forever World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Angela Bassett attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Tyler Perry attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Halle Bailey attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Jameela Jamil attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Danai Gurira attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Dominique Fishback attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Letitia Wright attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Quinta Brunson attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Simu Liu attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Tessa Thompson attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Marsai Martin attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever World Premiere" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Daniel Kaluuya attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Michael B. Jordan attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Regé-Jean Page attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Michaela Coel attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Ryan Coogler attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Dominique Thorne attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Auli’i Cravalho attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani attend the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Mario Lopez attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Roc-A-Fella recording artist Rihanna performs at the Teen People Listening Lounge hosted by Jay – Z at the Key Club on July 14, 2005 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Roc-A-Fella recording artist Rihanna performs at the Teen People Listening Lounge hosted by Jay – Z at the Key Club on July 14, 2005 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Singer Rihanna performs onstage at the 2005 World Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre on August 31, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Barbadian singer Rihanna and composer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds announce the nominations for the 33rd Annual American Music Awards during a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel on September 20, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. The 33rd Annual American Music Awards will be held on Novemebr 22, 2005 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Rihanna is seen during an interview before a party to celebrate the release of her new album "A Girl Like Me" on April 22, 2006 in her hometown of St. Michael, Barbados. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)
Singer Rihanna performs on NBC’s Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza July 21, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Recording artists Eminem (L) and Rihanna perform onstage at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for MTV)
Rihanna attends the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 show at Brooklyn Navy Yard on May 7, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)
Rihanna attends the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 Show on May 7, 2014 in Brooklyn, New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Christian Dior)
Rihanna attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Rihanna attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Singer Rihanna at Rihanna’s 8th album artwork reveal for "ANTI" at MAMA Gallery on October 7, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for WESTBURY ROAD ENTERTAINMENT LLC)
Singer Rihanna at Rihanna’s 8th album artwork reveal for "ANTI" at MAMA Gallery on October 7, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for WESTBURY ROAD ENTERTAINMENT LLC)
Singer Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Lionel Richie at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)
Singer Rihanna attends the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Rihanna attends the ‘Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between’ Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Rihanna hosts a pep rally to celebrate the launch of the AW17 FENTY PUMA by Rihanna collection at Bloomingdales on 59th Street on October 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FENTY PUMA by Rihanna)
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Rihanna attends Rihanna’s 4th Annual Diamond Ball benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 13, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Diamond Ball)
Rihanna attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Anniversary Event at Overseas Passenger Terminal on October 3, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Caroline McCredie/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna)
Rihanna attends Rihanna’s 5th Annual Diamond Ball at Cipriani Wall Street on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
Rihanna attends AFI FEST 2019 Presented By Audi – "Queen & Slim" Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Rihanna poses with the President’s Award at the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET)
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
ASAP Rocky and Rihanna attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Rihanna attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.
Rihanna performs during halftime of Super Bowl LVII.
Rihanna performs onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Rihanna waves onstage as she promotes the upcoming film "The Smurfs Movie" during the Paramount Pictures presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
