Rihanna finally returns to her first love– music.
On October 28, the 34-year-old mogul released the lead single and video from the high-anticipated upcoming sequel to the widely successful 2018 hit movie Black Panther. “Lift Me Up” is the first single released from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The song and video are touching tributes to the Black Panther’s fallen lead, Chadwick Boseman. He died from an aggressive form of colon cancer in 2020. The “Lift Me Up” video captures Rihanna singing on a beach at sunset with a bonfire. The heartwrenching lyrics called Boseman a “light” and pleaded for his return.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s director of photography, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, also directed the emotional “Lift Me” video. The track was written by Afrobeats heavy-hitter Tems, Rihanna, director Ryan Coogler and Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson. The entire soundtrack for the sequel is set to be released on November 4 and distributed by Roc Nation Records/Def Jam Recordings/Hollywood Records. The soundtrack is produced by Coogler, Göransson, Dave Jordan and Archie Davis.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Original Score, composed and produced by Göransson, will be available on November 11 from Hollywood Records.
The Marvel Studios sequel, starring Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o, opens in U.S. theaters on November 11.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s premise picks up after King T’Challa’s death. The fictional African nation and her subjects strive to protect the nation from a global takeover after the leader’s passing. The Wakandans also discover King Namor, portrayed by Tenoch Huerta Mejia, and his underwater kingdom. I May Destroy You actress Michaela Coel, Alex Livanalli, Dominique Thorne, and Mabel Cadena also join the cast. The sequel is directed by Coogler and produced by Nate Moore and Kevin Feige.
