Rihanna teases special release ahead of ‘Music of the Sun’ 20-year milestone

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On August 27, 2025, Rihanna sparked a wave of excitement by updating her social media profiles across X and Instagram. Her longtime profile picture was replaced, and the banner now showcases the titles of all her studio albums, signalling something big is on the horizon.

Roc Nation, her label, further fuelled speculation with a shareable video plastered with the names of her albums and a link teasing new merchandise. The merch is set to drop this Friday, in honour of the 20th anniversary of her debut album, ‘Music of the Sun’.

It’s been nearly a decade since Rihanna released her critically-acclaimed eighth album, ‘ANTI’. Whilst she’s made sporadic musical appearances—most recently contributing songs to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and a Smurfs movie soundtrack—fans have eagerly awaited new studio material. Rihanna has also been balancing her artistic pursuits with flourishing entrepreneurial ventures. Her Fenty brand—including fashion, beauty, and hair products—has elevated her to billionaire status. On the personal front, she and partner A$AP Rocky are expecting their third child.

Amid all this, Rihanna has been quietly working on her ninth studio album. She recently shared during a red carpet interview at the Fenty Hair launch that she’s returning to the studio with renewed energy. Reflecting on her creative process, she said:

“I’ve been working on the album for so long… now I’m prepared. So I’m gonna start over… see what I’m still in love with.”

Whilst the merch drop is a confirmed celebration, fans are hoping this moment might also mark the beginning of a new musical chapter. Rihanna’s twenty-year milestone could well be the perfect launching point for her next era.