Rihanna fans, rejoice! After a musical drought that has lasted since 2022’s “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, Barbados’ most beloved pop artist is officially back with new music.
The nine-time Grammy winner and global fashion and beauty mogul released a brand-new track titled “Friend of Mine” on Friday, featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming Smurfs animated film. The announcement came on Wednesday with the drop of the film’s trailer, which gave fans a first listen to the dreamy, Afrobeats-inspired dance tune. Rihanna’s silky vocals croon over the beat with the line, “You’re looking like a friend of mine.”
Not only is Rihanna lending her voice to the soundtrack, but she’s also stepping into the world of animation, starring as Smurfette alongside a star-studded cast including John Goodman, James Corden, Nick Offerman, and Sandra Oh. The film is slated to hit theaters on July 18.
The Smurfs soundtrack will also feature a sizzling lineup of talent, including South African breakout star Tyla, and a previously released anthem titled “Higher Love” by DJ Khaled, Cardi B, and DESI TRILL.
“Friend of Mine” will be Rihanna’s first solo release since “Lift Me Up,” which earned critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Before that, fans had last heard an album from the singer in 2016, when she released the genre-blending and chart-topping Anti—a record that remains one of her most influential to date. Anti spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned hits like “Work” and “Love on the Brain.”
In the years since, Rihanna has been far from idle. She’s cemented herself as a fashion and business powerhouse through her multi-billion-dollar empire, Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, both of which have revolutionized inclusivity in their respective industries. She’s also made waves in Hollywood, with roles in films such as Ocean’s 8, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Home, and Battleship.
The new Smurfs trailer dropped just a week after Rihanna stunned on the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala alongside partner and event co-chair A$AP Rocky, where she revealed she is expecting their third child. Yet despite the demands of motherhood, the 36-year-old superstar has made it clear that her next album is still in the works.
With “Friend of Mine” about to make its debut, Navy fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief—and maybe even start hoping that R9 is just around the corner.
