Damn, I would’ve never guessed that The Smurfs would be the one to get Rihanna out of retirement.

Here’s a stat that’s genuinely mind-blowing: Rihanna, despite not releasing an album since 2016, still averages over 90 million monthly Spotify streams. That’s nearly a decade of musical relevance without dropping a full-length project. To put it in perspective, imagine building a tool at your IT job ten years ago, and your company still uses it every single day.

Now, after years of fans waiting, speculating, and even giving up hope, there’s finally movement on the music front. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Rihanna promised that she’s working on new music—including her highly anticipated album R9—despite being pregnant. And for once, that promise was quickly followed by action.

Enter “Friend Of Mine,” a brand-new single from The Smurfs Movie soundtrack.

The song is an adrenaline-fueled, dance-heavy anthem featuring a high-tempo beat that feels tailor-made for kids’ parties and late-night club floors. Rihanna’s vocals are processed and ethereal—almost sounding like an AI rendition of herself—but that signature flair, charm, and energy still shine through. Her repeated delivery of the title phrase, “Friend of Mine,” anchors the track and gives it a catchy, hypnotic quality.

Does this count as a Rihanna comeback? She barely said anything in the track.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.