Rihanna’s debut album Music Of The Sun was released on August 29, 2005, and this week it marks its 20th anniversary. To celebrate the milestone, Rihanna has introduced a special vinyl box set that features all eight of her albums to date. Alongside the box set, she has also launched a limited-edition merchandise collection that highlights her “Rhenna” doodle, a stick figure she has used as a profile picture on social media since 2014. The collection even includes a doll modeled after the doodle, with adjustable arms and legs.
The anniversary release brings attention back to Rihanna’s music career at a time when fans are still anticipating her long-awaited ninth studio album. The anticipation has been ongoing since 2016, when she released her Grammy-nominated and chart-topping album Anti. Since then, her fans have closely followed every update regarding new music, often joking about the long wait and pushing for clarity on when the next project might arrive.
Rihanna, however, has remained firm that the process is continuing at its own pace. She recently confirmed that her third pregnancy would not further delay the album, but she has not yet shared a release date. This has left fans waiting without a clear timeline, though her comments indicate that new material is still in the works.
Despite the uncertainty, Rihanna has offered new music this year in a different format. She contributed the song “Friend Of Mine” to the Smurfs soundtrack, giving listeners a reminder of her presence in music, even if it is not the long-promised studio album. For now, the anniversary celebrations and the vinyl release provide a chance for fans to revisit her catalog while awaiting her next chapter.
