Rihanna addresses retirement rumours, teases 'R9' album still in works

Rihanna provided an update on her long-awaited album, R9, hinting that fans may have to wait a bit longer for its release.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the launch party for her Fenty Hair line in Los Angeles, the singer, 36, also addressed rumours of her retirement, putting those speculations to rest.

“I think that music, for me, is a new discovery,” Rihanna said. 

“I’m rediscovering things. I have been working on the album for so long that I kinda put all that stuff aside and now I’m prepared to go back in the studio. I’m gonna start — give me a second!”

The Work singer stated that she doesn't rush her creative process, which involves both writing new songs and going back to previously recorded ones.

“Yeah, I’m starting over,” she explained. “But I don’t want to neglect the songs that I have, so I actually want to go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective and then see what applies and what I’m still in love with.”

The Lift Me Up singer also dispelled speculations that she was calling it quits on her career after she was spotted strolling about New York City with rapper A$AP Rocky while sporting an "I'm Retired" t-shirt.

“People got triggered with that retired word,” Rihanna quipped. “They were like, ‘We’re never getting an album now.’ No one read the other line, it was something about, ‘This is as dressed up as I get.'”