Rihanna drops new single after six years

Rihanna is back with her new single "Lift Me Up", as part of the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack today. 

The honest, melancholic song, which was co-written by Rihanna, Tems, Ludwig Göransson, and the movie's director, Ryan Coogler, honors the late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020, as well as his life and legacy.

Rihanna, who has become known mostly for her seductive, defiant dance-pop bangers, exhibits a startling simplicity in this song.

In a statement, writer Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tems said, "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. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor."

In the six years since Rihanna's "Anti" album, she has been busy with her beauty line, "Fenty Beauty", and her lingerie company, "Savage X Fenty".

Boseman, who portrayed King T'Challa in the first "Black Panther," passed away at the age of 43 from colon cancer. The sequel movie focuses on the leaders of Wakanda as they struggle to deal with the passing of their monarch and defend their country from interfering outside powers. The movie also stars Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright, and Angela Bassett.