Rihanna Teases Update About Upcoming R9 Album, But It’s Not What You Expect

It’s not unusual for Rihanna to cause conversation with her outfit choices or her music, but the select style she sported on Thursday has got a lot of folks talking—and slightly panicking. I’ll explain.

In paparazzi pics posted online, the “We Found Love” singer was spotted outside with boyfriend A$AP Rocky rocking a a vintage 90’s Peacock Papers blue short-sleeved shirt that read: “I’m Retired This Is as Dressed Up as I Get.” She paired it a navy blue maxi skirt, red unreleased FENTY X Puma sneakers and a lime green Bottega Veneta bag.

The message, while highly likely to be just another instance of Rih trolling all of us when it comes to her highly-anticipated yet LONG -AWAITED forthcoming album, was enough to have folks online scrambling at the thought of the “California King Bed” singer signing out the music game once and for all. Could R9 be her last rodeo?

“not Rihanna being spotted wearing a “i’m retired” shirt.. GIRL IF YOU DON’T GET IN THE BOOTH!!,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.

“Errrrm Rihanna u are retired from what? It better be from giving birth. Girl u better drop that album,” said another.

“Rihanna’s tshirt says “i’m retired” and the internet lost it. she’s such a troll,” commented another.

And potential retirement from music isn’t the only thing Rih is teasing. As previously reported by The Root, just this week, our favorite Barbadian Bad Gal announced the launch of her latest non-musical venture: Fenty Hair. The line is slated to drop June 13.

“Hair has always been very personal to me. It’s an outlet of self expression, creativity. I feel like it’s also been markers of my evolution and growth over the years both as an artist and a person,” she said in the latest promo video teasing the upcoming product line. “So launching Fenty Hair was something I was really, really passionate about. I wanted to create a lineup of products that were easy to use and included repair in every step. I also needed products that could keep up with me and fit into my lifestyle—which we all know is crazy.”