Following last night's Wakanda Forever world premiere in Hollywood, which has garnered an overall positive reception from early viewers, Rihanna has shared her lead single titled "Lift Me Up" from the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever original motion picture soundtrack.
The track was co-written by Tems, Academy Award-winner Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna, and Academy Award-nominated director Ryan Coogler as a tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Chadwick Boseman, who played King T'Challa in four Marvel Studios films before tragically passing away in 2020 after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
In a statement about the conception of the song, Tems said, “After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”
The new release is also expected to usher in a new era of Rihanna's career, marking the 9x Grammy Award-winner's long-awaited return to music after a six-year hiatus.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Music From and Inspired By album will arrive in stores on November 4, while Ludwig Göransson's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Original Score will drop on November 11, coinciding with the film's theatrical release.
Listen to the beautiful song below:
In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in U.S. theaters Nov. 11, 2022.