Rihanna’s eighth album has been shrouded in secrecy. But if the latest reports are to be believed, it could be coming as soon as this year.
According to Dash Radio’s DJ Skee (via Just Jared), the singer debuted 10 new tracks for a couple label executives in New York City last week, and the album may be released before 2015.
“That project is a lot closer than anyone realized, including her own record label,” claims Skee. “She’s trying to put out a project to capitalize off the fourth quarter.”
He also revealed the longwinded title of one song, “I’ve Been Searching for Something to Ignite Me When I’m Alone,” and said it could be a potential single.
Rihanna, who left Def Jam for Roc Nation in 2013, has been in the studio with DJ Mustard, Ester Dean, and Ne-Yo, among others, working on the follow-up to her 2012 album Unapologetic.
“The stuff I’ve heard is absolutely incredible,” Ne-Yo told Capital XTRA. “I can’t speak on what it sounds like because I’ll get in trouble, but I definitely feel like people are gonna enjoy it. Anybody that’s a Rihanna fan is gonna stay a Rihanna fan and anybody that’s not might become a Rihanna fan.”
During a meet-and-greet with fans at Virginia’s Fort Belvoir this week, Rihanna remained coy about a release date. “I can’t give you any hints of when it will drop,” she said. “It’s going to be great, that’s all I’m going to tell you and I’m excited about it.”
In addition to RiRi, Skee claims that next week Beyoncé will drop one of her two new songs, “7/11” or “Ring Off,” from the Platinum Edition of her self-titled album, and described it as an “R&B ratchet record similar towards ‘Partition.'”
Plus, he says that Justin Bieber has recorded a song with Diplo and Skrillex. “It’s supposed to be really, really dope, crossing over a few different formats.”