Rihanna continues to demonstrate her extraordinary cultural and commercial longevity as her 2016 album Anti completes an unprecedented 500 weeks on the Billboard 200. This landmark achievement is the first of its kind for a Black female artist, underlining her towering influence across global music.
Sharing her excitement on X, Rihanna wrote, “God Ain’t Forget Bout Me!”, a message that resonated widely with fans. Although she has not released a new album for nearly a decade, her dominance in the streaming landscape remains firmly intact. In 2025, she surpassed 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, reinforcing her position as a perennial favourite among worldwide music consumers.
Since its release, Anti has been celebrated for its innovation and emotional depth. Its lead single Work became a global phenomenon, while the album itself has earned inclusion in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time—further cementing its cultural significance.
This year also marks twenty years since the release of her debut album Music of the Sun. To honour the milestone, Rihanna updated her social media visuals with references to her full discography and launched a commemorative merch line that allows fans to revisit the early stages of her artistic journey.
Released in 2005, Music of the Sun introduced Rihanna’s Caribbean–inspired sound to a global audience. The album’s breakout single Pon de Replay quickly propelled her to mainstream success. Over the years, she has collected nine Grammy Awards, fourteen Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, and acclaim for her constant reinvention.
The renewed attention on her body of work has reignited discussions about her long-delayed ninth studio album, unofficially referred to as R9. At the 2025 Met Gala, Rihanna confirmed her third pregnancy but assured fans that this would not hinder progress on the album. In an interview with Harper’s BAZAAR, she revealed that the project has been in development for eight years and will introduce a bold, unconventional sonic direction, stating that it will not be commercial or radio-friendly.
With Anti maintaining its place on the charts and speculation around R9 intensifying, Rihanna has again illustrated that her influence grows even during prolonged periods of musical silence.
AJ