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Rihanna has given fans another reason to believe new music could be on the way. During a Fenty Beauty TikTok Shop livestream, the singer revealed that she has at least 17 vaults of unreleased music.
The comment came when a fan asked how many songs she had stored away. Rihanna compared her collection to the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Vault, a set featuring 10 lip glosses. Fans quickly multiplied the numbers and estimated that she could have around 170 unreleased songs.
However, Rihanna did not confirm an exact song count or announce a release date for her ninth studio album, widely known among fans as R9.
How Much Unreleased Music Does Rihanna Have?
The estimate has sparked fresh excitement among fans who have waited nearly a decade for a new Rihanna album. Her last full-length studio project, Anti, arrived in January 2016 and featured hits such as Work, Needed Me and Love on the Brain.
Since then, Rihanna has released music for select projects rather than a full studio album. In 2022, she recorded Lift Me Up for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, earning an Academy Award nomination. In 2025, she contributed Friend of Mine to the Smurfs movie soundtrack.
Is Rihanna Working on R9?
There are signs that Rihanna has returned to the studio. A$AP Rocky recently discussed her music during an appearance on The Jason Lee Show. He said she was working in the studio, then joked that he might get in trouble for revealing the information.
Still, neither Rihanna nor her team has announced a release date or shared an official tracklist for R9.
Why Is Rihanna Taking So Long to Release an Album?
Rihanna has previously explained that finding the right sound has taken time. In a 2025 Harper’s Bazaar interview, she said she had spent years in the studio trying to create music that reflected who she is now. She also indicated that her next album would not simply follow commercial or radio trends.
That context gives her vault comment a different meaning. Having a large collection of songs does not necessarily mean an album is ready. Rihanna may still be deciding which tracks best represent her artistic direction.
Her business ventures, especially Fenty Beauty, have also made music only one part of her career.
Fans Are Still Waiting
The vault comment has reignited online speculation, with some fans hoping R9 could arrive as a double album. Others remain cautious until Rihanna confirms a release.
For now, the 170-song estimate remains fan math, not an official count. Rihanna has offered a glimpse into her music vault, but the Navy is still waiting to hear what comes out.
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