Rihanna could be set to break a decade-long album hiatus, according to her partner A$AP Rocky, who said on The Jason Lee podcast that ‘she in the studio right now.’ The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, denied that he was the reason for the delay in a new album, despite the couple’s three children and frequent travel. ‘She cooking,’ he said in response to a question about a potential new project.

No Double Album in the Works

When asked if the couple would collaborate on a double album, Rocky responded with a firm ‘no,’ saying ‘that’s trash. Nobody want to hear us together.’ He further explained that his music is ‘subversive weird ass indie rap,’ not meant for a broad audience. ‘I make music for a niche demographic,’ he said. In a separate interview with a Spanish-language outlet, Rocky added, ‘Para nada’ when asked if their relationship was the reason for the album delay. ‘Ella está en el estudio ahora mismo. Sí, lo dije. Perdón, amor. O sea, está trabajando. Está cocinando, sin bromas. Maldición, me voy a meter en problemas por esto.’

Rihanna’s Long Wait for a New Album

Rihanna has not released a full album since 2016’s Anti. In a 2025 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she said she felt ‘really optimistic’ about a new album and that she ‘cannot put up anything mediocre.’ She also mentioned that after waiting eight years, she was determined to deliver something worth the wait. Since 2016, Rihanna has released singles linked to film projects, including ‘Lift Me Up’ for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and launched businesses like Fenty Beauty and a lingerie line. Forbes estimates her net worth at over a billion dollars.

In February 2025, Rihanna shared a clip of herself recording in the studio on Instagram. She also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Anti in a 2025 interview, saying it was the only album she could listen to ‘top to bottom’ without cringing. ‘That’s the one album that I can have an out-of-body experience where it’s not like… You know when you hear your voice in a voicemail, and it’s like, ‘Ugh,’ she said.

Recent Security Incident

On March 8, 2026, Rihanna’s Beverly Hills home was the target of a shooting. According to the Los Angeles Times, a 30-year-old woman fired multiple shots from a vehicle outside the property before fleeing. At least 10 rounds were fired, with one bullet damaging an exterior wall. Rihanna was inside the house at the time but was unharmed. The suspect was later arrested, and police secured a firearm and spent casings. The department for robbery and homicide is investigating the incident. It is unclear whether A$AP Rocky or their three children were at home during the attack. The police have not yet identified a motive.

A$AP Rocky also spoke about the couple’s late-night antics in a separate part of the interview. Jason Lee recalled seeing them at a Walgreens around 4:30 a.m. (ET), where they were playing with Nerf guns. ‘No había nadie más en la tienda al principio, solo nosotros, y ustedes dos parecían niños haciendo tonterías, y fue lo más divertido,’ Lee said.

Billboard reached out to Rihanna’s representatives for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.