It has been two years since Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty has released an album, and let’s just say her Rihanna Navy – the name of her fan group – is not too happy about that.
Rihanna’s last album, titled “Anti,” was released January 2016. Since then she has not put out any music of her own, and has only been featured on three songs: “Loyalty” by Kendrick Lamar, “Wild Thoughts” by DJ Khaled, and “Lemon” by N.E.R.D, which have all been smash hits.
“She always does this, she makes us wait forever,” said huge Rihanna stan, a word describing a super fan, Brandi Dupree. “She needs to put a move on it before she has kids.”
This is not the first time she has done something like this. There was a four-year gap between 2012’s “Unapologetic” and 2016’s “Anti.”
According to Rihanna, she will soon be releasing a dancehall album. Fans’ fingers are crossed, as they hope this to be true, because they have been waiting a long time and are getting impatient.
Many students here at McDaniel, both female and male, love Rihanna and her music. Students’ responses included “I love her,” “she’s so beautiful,” “she’s tough,” “if you don’t like Rihanna, that’s crazy,” and “I still listen to ‘Anti’ all of the time.” Anytime a Rihanna song comes on, there is a burst of energy that comes over the room, along with loud singing and dancing. A new Rihanna album may just be the thing to unify McDaniel even more.
“When [she] comes on, I start dancing,” said student Michael Corninaldi. “Everyone here likes Rihanna.”
When “Work” or “Wild Thoughts” comes on, all you hear is a loud cheer from all corners of the campus, from all different types of McDaniel students. She crosses barriers and reaches all audiences of students.
Over these past two years, Rihanna has been focusing on and putting her efforts and time into other ventures. She has partnered with Puma and has a shoe line with them, called Fenty by Puma. A year ago she released her makeup brand, Fenty Beauty, and just a few months ago, she released her lingerie company, SavagexFenty. She also starred in the movie “Ocean’s 8” earlier this year and just became an ambassador of Barbados’ government. She plans on releasing Fenty furniture as well.
“It’s kind of sad she hasn’t released any [music], but her makeup brand is doing really well, so it’s okay,” said sophomore Mackenzie Goaneh.
Fans are still trying to support her by buying her products while they wait. Besides her old music, this is fans’ only current source of Rihanna.
“I bought a pair of her sneakers before school; I want to buy her highlighter,” said Dupree. “To see that Fenty box, I feel a little connected to her.”
Stans on social media are always on Rihanna’s case about her releasing what they now are calling “Fenty Music.” They are complaining how they have been listening to “Anti” on repeat for two years now.
One stan let her know that she is tired of waiting and asked on Instagram where the “m.u.s.i.c.” is. Rihanna actually replied to her saying, “I know sis. I’m doing music. Simultaneously doing lingerie, makeup, film, amongst a couple other things that I enjoy. When the music is ready, you won’t have to ask for it. But it’s coming. Just not today sis. I’m hype too tho, it can’t come soon enough for me. #Navy4Life.”
Yet some fans are not even that pressed for music. “I didn’t even know that it’s been two years since she’s written anything or put any music out,” said McDaniel student La’Raye Francisco.
Which side are you on? Are you ready for new music right now or can you stand to wait a little longer?
