RIHANNA TO GIVE WAKANDA A "LIFT" ON FRIDAY

UPDATE: Rihanna's “Lift Me Up,” for the soundtrack to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, will be released Friday.

“Lift Me Up” was written as a tribute to Chadwick Boseman by Tems, Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna and Ryan Coogler. Produced by Göransson, the song was recorded in five countries.

The single will be released via Rihanna’s own Westbury Road label in partnership with Roc Nation, Def Jam Recordings and Hollywood Records.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever–Music From and Inspired By will be available 11/4 on Roc Nation/Def Jam/Hollywood Records.

The announcement, which confirms what we’ve been saying for a week now, did not include a track list nor indicate a title for a possible second ST song from RiRi.

👀 #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/cUbiCvoFwT

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 26, 2022

FROM 10/18: Much chatter indicates that Rihanna has recorded two songs for the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

This isn’t the first time the artist's name has been linked to Wakanda; talk was rampant among fans in late 2020 that RiRi would be cast in the film, but that rumor was later debunked.

The original Black Panther, which arrived in multiplexes in 2018, spawned an original-score release as well as a smash “inspired by” album. Insiders say the sequel will follow suit, with music dropping via Marvel/Disney and Westbury Road/Roc Nation/Def Jam, the latter due to Rihanna’s involvement. The Marvel movie will hit screens 11/11; peep the trailer below.

This blockbuster-soundtrack moment could well be a massive look as RiRi re-emerges in the music space—the superstar is slated to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in January.

Her Fenty Beauty apparel/cosmetics empire, said to be valued north of $2.8 billion, falls under the LVMH umbrella. That deal was struck in 2016, the same year her last album, ANTI, came out. Fenty Beauty was launched in 2017 with a Puma collaboration showcased during New York Fashion Week. RiRi’s membership-based Savage x Fenty lingerie brand, “made for every body” (and unveiled in 2018), has been wildly successful, quickly rendering sector giant Victoria’s Secret more or less obsolete. A Fenty Beauty IPO may be in the offing.

Rumors that a Fenty superstore will be opening in Wakanda have yet to be confirmed.

Wakanda Forever (click image to enlarge), Roc Nation's Jay Brown,
Def Jam boss Tunji Balogun and Disney Music Group chief Ken Bunt