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Rihanna Clarifies She’s Not Retired & Is ‘Starting Over’ on ‘R9’

The Navy can exhale after Ri was spotted rocking an "I'm Retired" shirt last week.

Rihanna

Rihanna

Dennis Leupold

Rihanna isn’t done with music just yet. The Navy can exhale after Ri clarified that her recent “I’m Retired” shirt was just a fashion statement looking into the future and had nothing to do with the present day.

The nine-time Grammy w inner caught up with Extra on the red carpet for her Fenty Hair launch event in L.A. on Monday evening (June 10), where she explained she’s not hanging up her mic for good just yet.


“That was just me looking into the future. I’m not retired. I just like that dress. I got it as a gift and I loved it,” she said. “They didn’t read the second line, I’m not retired, I’m just retired from dressing up — it’s a lot of effort.”

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Fans desperate for any sort of positive developments on the R9 front can take solace in the fact Ri revealed she’s starting over with the elusive album, and the beauty mogul’s “prepared” to get back in the studio with her newfound perspective.

“Yeah, I’m starting over,” RiRi declared to Entertainment Tonight. “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 36-year-old continued: “I think that music, for me, is a new discovery. 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!”

Rihanna’s last album, Anti, turned eight years old in January after arriving in 2016. The project reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its second week on the chart, with 166,000 units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 4, 2016, according to Nielsen Music.

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Watch Rihanna’s interview with ET touching on her much-debated shirt and upcoming album below.

This article was originally published by Billboard U.S.

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Executive of the Week: FACTOR's Meg Symsyk on Why Supporting Canadian Music Means Supporting Cultural Sovereignty
Business

Executive of the Week: FACTOR's Meg Symsyk on Why Supporting Canadian Music Means Supporting Cultural Sovereignty

The president and CEO of FACTOR, one of Canada's most crucial music funders, explains why it's more important than ever to support homegrown culture and give it the opportunity to compete on the global stage.

When it comes to supporting Canadian music, FACTOR's influence is immeasurable. One of the most crucial funders of art in the country, the non-profit's impact is seen with its logo across countless acclaimed records and its name shouted out at concerts and award shows. But for president & CEO Meg Symsyk, it's not just about supporting Canadian music or even Canadian artists: it's about the sovereignty and identity of the country itself.

“Buying locally is more important than ever because of that consumer awareness and structural support. Canadians need to be encouraged to be more intentional. This last year and a half with the tariffs and the trade wars has put that on everyone's front burner,” she explains.

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