new albums

Rihanna Finally Unveiled the Cover, Title of Her Next Album

Rihanna. Photo: Photo by Christopher Polk Images/Getty

At a private Wednesday night viewing, Rihanna and contemporary artist Roy Nachum transformed L.A.’s MAMA Gallery into the RiRi Gallery. The crowd? A smattering of fans and press. The art? The front and back of the singer’s next album cover, which depicts a young RiRi holding a balloon, a gold crown shielding her eyes. “This is my favorite album cover I’ve ever done,” Rihanna said, according to Billboard, which adds that the imagery is supposed to be a statement on vision and vision impairment. The work of poet Chloe Mitchell is also reportedly drizzled in Braille atop the entire piece. Added the pop star: “Sometimes the ones who have sight are the blindest.”

The album, Rihanna’s eighth studio release, will be titled Anti, which, as a placard inside noted, is a “person opposed to a particular policy, activity, or idea.”

Here’s its front:

And its back:

Unfortunately, Rihanna left the event without giving anybody a clue as to when the album would actually be available. But since it’s 2015, best to just be prepared for whenever. (Or forget all about this and be surprised. Whichever.)

RiRi Unveiled the Cover, Title of Her Next Album