Six years after her last lead single, Rihanna is set to release a new single for the upcoming movie, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Titled “Lift Me Up”, Rihanna co-wrote the song with Tems, producer Ludwig Göransson, and director Ryan Coogler.
It was recorded in five countries and produced by Göransson, according to a release announcing the star’s first solo single since 2016’s “Love on the Brain.”
According to the 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” film who died in 2020 at the age of 43.
The song will be released on the singer’s Westbury Road label in partnership with Roc Nation/Def Jam Recordings/Hollywood Records.
In a press statement, Tems said, “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.”
She continued, “Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honour.”
The “Umbrella” singer hasn’t released an album since Anti dropped six years ago, and logged two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Though she’s teased her next album several times since, no new solo music has emerged since 2016, as the new mom has mostly focused on her Fenty Beauty brand.
