Rihanna Registers Four Unreleased Songs, Fans Excited For New Music
Rihanna, from the looks of it, has been working slowly, but meticulously on her Reggae-inspired/infused R9 album, doing things in her own time and in her own way, holding firm to the declaration she made two years ago, that she would go at her own pace and would not be rushed.
Over the last few days, several tweets have surfaced about the Umbrella singer’s registration of four new titles.
A check with BMI, Rihanna’s music publisher, reveals an entry for Mama Told Me, a song is co-written and composed by herself, Christian Keyon Jr. Boggs (who worked with Rihanna on Goodnight Gotham), and Travis Darelle “Teddy” Walton (known for tracks with Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, and Bryson Tiller). Another new song, Bluff, at BMI was written and composed by herself, Justin Asilo, Jonathan Birkner, Christian Keyon Jr. Boggs, Patrick Magno, and Leon G. Thomas III.
Tweets also pointed out the registration of Rage, written and composed by Rihanna, Christian Keyon Jr. Boggs, Malik Yusef (Beyoncé, Kanye West), Mekkel Carter, and Grandma Prayed, written and composed by Rihanna, Jonathan Birkner, Christian Keyon Jr. Boggs, Francesca Simone Boszormenyi, Karter Mekkel, and Malik Yusef El Shabazz Jones.
Since 2016, the 33-year-old has registered over ten unreleased songs, some of which had major input from Jamaican Dancehall artists and producers, in line with the reported Reggae-theme of R9. According to BMI, they include:
Lock and Key
Lock and Key, reportedly registered in April 2016, was written and produced by Kranium (Nobody Has To Know, Gal Policy), Jamaican producer Supa Dups (who has worked with Drake, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Nicki Minaj), Shama Joseph, and Rihanna herself, according to a BMI entry.
Private Loving
In 2019, Revolt TV reported that Rihanna had supposedly registered a new song with BMI titled Private Loving, which was written and produced by Dancehall artist and producer Demarco (Fallen Soldiers, Puppy Tail, Lazy Body, I Love My Life), and UK singer Monique Lawz. At the time, speculations were rife, as Rihanna had not confirmed the track. Demarco however, had reacted to a social media post about the matter, which many people took as an affirmation that the single was recorded for real. The BMI website shows that Demarco, whose given name is Collin Demar Edwards, has a 62.5 percent split for his contributions to Private Loving.
Gwan Look Pon It
In March 2019, there were reports that Rihanna had registered Gwan Look Pon It, which, according to the BMI website, was written and composed by herself, Dancehall artist Konshens (Bruk Off, Winner, Gal A Bubble), Jamaican-born, UK-based producer and composer Knox Brown (Beyoncé, H.E.R., Jess Glyne, RAYE), producer Jon Asher (The Chainsmokers, Britney Spears), Jon Mills (Iggy Azalea, Shakira, Khalid), Derrus Rachel (ANTI, Ella Mai).
Two other songs with a hint of Dancehall inspiration, Waist Line Down and Nah Left, were reportedly registered in 2018, but have since been removed from the ASCAP website, another music publisher.
In September 2021, Rihanna had said that her R9 album still remains high on her list of priorities that her fans should, most importantly, ‘expect the unexpected’. The Bajan megastar said she had been spending time experimenting with different sounds, and as a consequence, her new music, on what will be her ninth album, will sound far different from her previous projects.
In late 2019, the Rude Boy singer had made it clear though, that she would not be releasing music until she feels she is ready. Rihanna had told Time Magazine in another interview that she was “really happy with a lot of the material” she had so far, but was “not going to put it out until it’s complete”.
Her last album, the critically-acclaimed ANTI was released five years ago and included songs such as Work, Love on the Brain and Needed Me.
“It makes no sense to rush it, but I want it out. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m like, ‘Even if I don’t have the time to shoot videos, I’m going to put an album out”, she had said at the time.
As usual, after word got out about Rihanna’s latest registration of songs, the comments from fans have come swirling in.
“When riri drops the albums it will be chart topping. Hope it’s amazing I suppose a lot of the bigger artists are hesitant to release music due to covid,” one said.
“Riri is coming back with R9, bring it on!! Better late than never!!” another stated.
Others dubbed her the “queen of false hope” saying they would not hold their breath, as they were certain no album would materialize in the near future.
“Yeah right, I’m done hyping up a Rihanna album release. Yall gonna have to wait like 2 years for her,” Luis Pacheco declared, while Denny Jones added: “I will only believe it when she announces a date”.