Rihanna has provided candid insights into the lengthy creative process behind her long-awaited album.

In a recent cover story for Harper's BAZAAR, Rihanna spoke with Executive Digital Director Lynette Nylander about the extended delay of "R9." Reflecting on her 2016 album, "Anti," she explained how revisiting the album helped shape the direction of her upcoming project.

"I think music is my freedom," Rihanna shared. "I just came to that realization. I just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work. I am actually feeling really good about this."

She also addressed and dismissed long-standing rumors that "R9" would be a reggae album. "Way off! There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited," Rihanna clarified. "Every time, I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right. It’s not matching my growth. It’s not matching my evolution. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by this. I can’t perform this for a year on tour.’"

Rihanna emphasized the importance of ensuring the album is worthy of the extended wait. "After a while, I looked at it, and I was like, this much time away from music needs to count for the next thing everyone hears. It has to count. It has to matter. I have to show them the worth in the wait. I cannot put up anything mediocre. After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more," she stated.

Having previously mentioned "starting over" with the album in 2024, Rihanna expressed renewed optimism about her artistry. "This feels right. It feels like it digs right into where I need to be, and I want this. This body needs to come out, and I’m ready to go there," she said.

She further revealed that she's been consistently working in the studio for the past eight years, but only recently found the right direction. "I’ve been in the studio the whole eight years. But it didn’t hit me. I was searching for it. I went through phases of what I wanted to do. ‘This kind of album, not that album.’ I know it’s not going to be anything that anybody expects. And it’s not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It’s going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I’ve finally cracked it, girl!"