It’s been a while, but fans finally have new solo music from Rihanna to enjoy.
The Fenty founder's song Lift Me Up, from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, was released on Friday. The soft ballad is a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman, who played T'Challa/Black Panther in the first film, and died aged 43 from colon cancer in 2020.
“Lift me up. Hold me down. Keep me close. Safe and sound,” she sings. “Burning in a hopeless dream. Hold me when you go to sleep. Keep me in the warmth of your love when you depart. Keep me safe, safe and sound.”
Rihanna also unveiled a moving music video for the song later the day, featuring scenes from the soon-to-be-released film. The song was written in collaboration with fellow artist Tems, Oscar-winner Ludwig Goransson and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.
This is the singer's first solo work since her 2016 album Anti, which features tracks such as Work, Kiss It Better and Love on the Brain.
Since Lift Me Up's release, there's been tonnes of reaction on social media, with many already praising the song.
One fan shared used a meme to illustrate their response to the new music.
“Rihanna really came and delivered beautiful ballad soundtrack song after 6 years of hiatus,” said user Babyloniaan. “She never misses with her music, another hit incoming.”
“It was so refreshing to hear her voice again,” replied user GagaTheExplorer.
Another user Heir_Fenty22 tweeted two images to show how she felt about the new song.
Another user Eric Franken-cisco said that he would keep his thoughts about the movie until he saw it but said the song was “perfect for it”.
However, not everyone was impressed especially because there's been such a long break since between songs. One user TAshmiracleshow called the song "boring".
Other fans have taken to responding to the idea that Rihanna's comeback song should have been a different type of genre altogether, while others questioned exactly what they were expecting.
But in the end, it seems as though most people in general were just happy to hear new music from her.
Scroll through the gallery to see photos of Rihanna through the years
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Rihanna, in a sequinned vest and cropped jeans, poses backstage during a MTV Networks Tempo Channel launch event on October 22, 2005, in Barbados. Getty Images -
Rhianna, in a gold top and embellished jeans, poses in the press room at the T4 Poll Winners' Party on November 20, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in an embroidered blouse and shorts, at a party to celebrate the release of her new album 'A Girl Like Me' on April 22, 2006 in her hometown of St. Michael, Barbados. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in a floral mini dress, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Yoyogi National Athletic Stadium on May 27, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in a classic LBD, arrives at the Mobo Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall on September 20, 2006, in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in a sequinned mini, arrives at the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards on November 2, 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in a patterned midi dress, attends a press conference for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on December 11, 2006 in Oslo, Norway. Getty Images -
Kumi Kouda and Rihanna, in a black playsuit, on July 7, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in an emerald gown, arrives at the World Music Awards held at the Sporting Club on November 4, 2007 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in leopard print, attends the annual Bambi Awards on November 29, 2007 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in metallic Dolce & Gabbana, arrives at the Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 20, 2008 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Givenchy, at the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week on October 4, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Chanel, arrives at the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week on October 6, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the NRJ Music Awards at Palais des Festivals on January 23, 2010 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Singer Rihanna, in a blazer and tulle skirt, attends at press conference on February 11, 2010 in Seoul, South Korea. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in patterned separates, on February 14, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Alexandre Vauthier, arrives at the Echo Awards at Messe Berlin on March 4, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Miu Miu, attends the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week on October 6, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in a Zambesi top, turns on the Westfield Shopping Centre Christmas lights on November 4, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in voluminous Marchesa, attends the MTV Europe Awards at the La Caja Magica on November 7, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2011. EPA -
Rihanna, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends a Nivea event on May 6, 2011 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, arrives for the Stella McCartney show during London Fashion Week on February 18, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Givenchy, attends The Brit Awards at the O2 Arena on February 21, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Pucci, attends the 'Battleship' premiere on April 3, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Raf Simons, switches on the Christmas Lights at Westfield Stratford City on November 19, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Alaia, arrives for the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2013. EPA -
Rihanna, in a sleek LBD, at the Oxford Street River Island store on March 4, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Chanel, attends the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 2, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Lanvin, attends the Lanvin show as part of Paris Fashion Week on February 27, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Givenchy, attends the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 2, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Miu Miu, attends the Miu Miu show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2014 in Paris, France.Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 5, 2014. EPA -
Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Zac Posen, arrives for the first annual Diamond Ball in California on December 11, 2014. EPA -
Rihanna, in Guo Pei, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA -
Rihanna, in Dior, arrives at the Christian Dior show on June 16, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Dior, attends the Vogue 95th Anniversary Party on October 3, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Armani, attends the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena on February 24, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in her own designs, at the Fenty x Puma by Rihanna show on September 28, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Dior, attends the Christian Dior show at Paris Fashion Week on September 30, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Armani, arrives for the 59th annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 2017. EPA -
Rihanna, in Dior, attends the Christian Dior show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Comme des Garcons, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 1, 2017. EPA -
Rihanna, in Ralph & Russo, attends the Chopard dinner in honour of the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Dior, attends the 'Okja' screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Giambattista Valli, attends the 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' premiere on July 24, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Molly Goddard, attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna launch at Harvey Nichols on September 19, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Marianna Senchina, attends the Fenty Beauty launch on September 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Versace, attends a Fenty Beauty launch on April 5, 2018 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in John Galliano for Margiela, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA -
Rihanna, in Poiret, attends the 'Ocean's 8' premiere on June 13, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Louis Vuitton, attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Burberry, poses during her Fenty Beauty talk in collaboration with Sephora on September 29, 2018 in Dubai, UAE. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Versace, attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna anniversary event on October 3, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in a denim shirtdress, at the opening of the Fenty pop-up store on May 24, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Rihanna, in Givenchy, at the 5th Annual Diamond Ball in New York on September 12, 2019. EPA -
Rihanna, in John Galliano, at the premiere of 'Queen & Slim' in Hollywood, California, on November 14, 2019. EPA -
Rihanna, in Fenty, arrives for The Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK, on December 2, 2019. EPA -
Rihanna, in custom Demna Gvasalia, poses on the red carpet for the 2021 Met Gala on September 13, 2021. EPA -
Rihanna, in a short white Maximilian blazer and dress, attends Barbados's National Honours ceremony and Independence Day Parade in Bridgetown, Barbados, on November 30, 2021. AFP
