It sounds like Rihanna’s much-anticipated eighth record Anti is continuing to hit roadblocks. Over the weekend, Rihanna collaborator Glass John took to Twitter to allege that rising rapper and Rihanna co-producer Travis Scott may be behind the delay of the pop superstar’s upcoming LP. Combined with recent comments from Sia, another Rihanna collaborator, it sounds like the Umbrella and We Found Love singer’s new record may not be as imminent as anticipated.
It was suppose to drop on my birthday 11.6th so then me and her could tell the world about us
— Johnny®™ Wintour®™ / @GLASSJOHN (@JohnnyWintour) December 27, 2015
Then it was supposed to drop on chrismas… But travis keeps putting doubt in her mind
— Johnny®™ Wintour®™ / @GLASSJOHN (@JohnnyWintour) December 27, 2015
Glass John, who has also worked with Chris Brown and Ne-Yo, claimed on Twitter that Scott made the pop superstar reconsider releasing the record in November or December. Notably, Scott and Rhihanna may be dating. Neither Rihanna’s camp nor Scott’s camp responded to Billboard for comment.
Rihanna signed a $25 million deal with tech giant Samsung this fall to sponsor Anti and the associated tour. Recent singles B*tch Better Have My Money, FourFiveSeconds (featuring Kanye West and Paul McCartney), and American Oxygen are likely to be on the record. Her last release, 2012’s Unapologetic, has sold over four million records worldwide according to the New York Post.
In typical fashion, the singer has been mostly mum about the upcoming record — but she did say a few words this fall at a meet-and-greet in Virginia. “It’s going to be great, that’s all I’m going to tell you and I’m excited about it,” said Rihanna (via CBS). “I try to battle myself and outdo everything I’ve done and that’s been the hardest thing to do.”
There’s one thing we do know, though: If Anti doesn’t drop before February 26, there could be some issues as her tour promoting the record begins that night in San Diego.
