AceShowbiz - Rihanna is "feeling really optimistic" about her new album dubbed "R9". After a nine-year hiatus since her last release, Anti", she felt like she "finally cracked it."

This period away from the music scene has been marked by various business ventures in fashion and beauty. She also has her hands full with her two little kids, RZ and Riot, but fans never loses hope for her musical comeback.

In a new interview with Harper's Bazaar, Rihanna spoke candidly about her journey towards creating R9. "This feels right. It feels like it digs right into where I need to be, and I want this. This body needs to come out, and I'm ready to go there," she revealed.

The singer emphasized how this project marks a significant evolution in her artistry, and it's not bound by any specific genre. "There's no genre now. That's why I waited. Every time, I was just like, 'No, it's not me. It's not right. It's not matching my growth. It's not matching my evolution. I can't do this. I can't stand by this. I can't perform this for a year on tour,' " she stated.

Rihanna's meticulous approach to this album is evident in her commitment to producing something meaningful. "After a while, I looked at it, and I was like, this much time away from music needs to count for the next thing everyone hears."

"It has to count. It has to matter. I have to show them the worth in the wait. I cannot put up anything mediocre. After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more," she explained.

She made similar remarks last year, "I just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work. I am actually feeling really good about this."

The pop star recently celebrated her 37th birthday. Getting old is s***, but it's also a blessing. My legacy is right now. That's all I have the most control over," she weighed in on aging.