After six long years our good sis Rihanna is finally back!

Rihanna took to Instagram Wednesday to announce her first new single as a lead artist since 2016, “Lift Me Up” co-written by mega star Tems, producer Ludwig Göransson, and director Ryan Coogler.

The highly anticipated track will appear on the soundtrack to the new Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.  According to a press release, the artists wrote the single “as a tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman,” the star of the first Black Panther who we tragically loss in 2020 at the age of 43 due to colon cancer.

The Process Behind “Life Me Up”

In a press statement, Tems said the following:

“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. 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.”

 

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“Lift Me Up”

Rihanna’s single “Lift Me Up” will be released Friday, Oct. 28 and The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack will be released Friday, Nov. 4.

While this is Rihanna’s first single as a lead since 2016, she has appeared on music with Future (“Selfish”), N.E.R.D. (“Lemon”), DJ Khaled (“Wild Thoughts”), Kendrick Lamar (“Loyalty.”), and PartyNextDoor (“Believe It”). She also co-starred in the music video for “D.M.B.” with A$AP Rocky, the father of her child.

 

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More To Come From Rihanna

Fans will also get to see Rihanna perform at halftime of the 2023 Super Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

 

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