Here's Everything You Need to Know About Rihanna's Upcoming Reggae Album
Over 500 songs have been submitted for the project.
Rihanna fans are in for a treat. It turns out that the reggae album she was rumored to be working on is actually coming to fruition. Rolling Stone got the scoop from Jamaican producers and songwriters who have submitted over “500 records” for her album. Heavy-hitting names in the industry have all be linked to the project which is said to be a blend of Caribbean dancehall music and reggae.
Supa Dups (“Controlla”), Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor (Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul) and Linton “TJ Records” White (Serani, Vybz Kartel) are each connected to the material that has been submitted so far. This album wouldn’t be the first time the Bajan pop star has experimented with the sound. “Man Down,” “You Da One” and most recently “Work” featuring Drake showcase her ability to create pop anthems laced with Caribbean flavor. An anonymous producer shares that the goal is to create a 10-record album of the best songs they can make. He goes on to share that the album has been in the works for “almost a year and a half now.”
“Every artist, every producer, every songwriter in Jamaica or of Jamaican descent has been working on [Rihanna’s album] and has little snippets of publishing or production credits on it.”
Another anonymous source is worried about the reggae elements of the album being “water down” with pop sounds:
“Their whole thing was, ‘Yo, we’re gonna make this [album] real dancehall, [real] Caribbean. Rihanna is Bajan, so let’s make this a full project like that. To me, it hasn’t been going that way. They’re kind of mixing it up, putting in the pop. If the reggae artists and producers won’t get the chance on the pop album, at least let us survive on the dancehall album. They’re changing up the direction continuously.”
Apparently news of this album has already spread and artists are clamoring to get her leftover songs. A music industry insider makes a poignant point: “If an artist like Rihanna comes out and does [an album influenced by Jamaican pop], that’s definitely going to shift the needle.”
Rihanna has yet to confirm the existence of the album or a release date but we’re hoping it’s soon. Let us know your thoughts on this project below.
