Rihanna announces her comeback with new single ‘Lift Me Up’ arriving this week

Rihanna has announced that her first single in over six years, ‘Lift Me Up,’ will arrive on Friday.

The singer shared a 14-second clip on her social media accounts, revealing a capital “R” – stylised in the same font as the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailers and promo – between her name and the song title. 

A short snippet of the song – written as a tribute to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman who died of colon cancer in 2020 – can also be heard and consists primarily of hummed vocals. The clip ends with the date “28.10.22,” confirming its release date.

The track was co-written by Nigerian singer Tems, Ludwig Göransen and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler. The song was recorded in five countries and was produced by Göransson.

“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,” Tems explained. “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honour.”

The soundtrack, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By, composed and produced by Göransson, will be available on November 11th via Hollywood Records.

Rihanna’s track will mark her first solo material in nearly seven years. Aside from a feature on PartyNextDoor’s 2020 single ‘Believe It,’ the singer was last heard on her 2016 album, Anti. Next February, she’ll return to the stage to headline the halftime show at the 2023 Super Bowl.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit cinemas on November 11th.