Rihanna has officially returned to music with the release of her new single Friend of Mine, part of the upcoming Smurfs movie soundtrack. This marks her first new track since 2022’s Lift Me Up from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, and fans are excited—even if it’s tied to a children’s film.
Rihanna returns to music with ‘Friend of Mine’
Friend of Mine is a dance track with catchy lyrics. In the teaser, Rihanna sings, “Ooh, I think the word is déjà-vu / You’re looking like a friend of mine.” The song plays during a trailer for the animated Smurfs movie, shared by Paramount Pictures on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
Though the track is part of a family-friendly film, it offers a fresh chance to hear Rihanna’s voice, something fans haven’t had much of since her last album, ANTI, released in 2016.
Speaking earlier this year to Harper’s BAZAAR, Rihanna explained that the long wait for her next album—commonly referred to as R9—is because she’s been waiting for the right moment and sound. “It’s not matching my growth,” she said about earlier versions of the album.
“This feels right. It digs into where I need to be.”
In addition to singing, Rihanna also voices Smurfette in the movie. In the storyline, Smurfette leads a mission to rescue Papa Smurf, who has been captured by the evil wizards Gargamel and Razamel.
The film follows the Smurfs as they enter the real world and team up with new friends to save the universe.
Tyla scores a feature on ‘Smurfs’ movie soundtrack
South African Grammy winner Tyla is one of the artists featured on the soundtrack, alongside Cardi B, DJ Khaled, and others.
The film also includes a star-studded voice cast. James Corden voices a new Smurf character named No Name, with additional roles played by Nick Offerman, Kurt Russell, Xolo Maridueña, Sandra Oh, and J.P. Karliak as villains Gargamel and Razamel.
Rihanna also serves as a producer for the movie, alongside Ryan Harris and Jay-Z‘s childhood friend and business partner, Ty-Ty Smith.
When is ‘Smurfs’ movie releasing in South Africa?
The new Smurfs movie is scheduled to release in cinemas across South Africa on Friday, 18 July 2025. This animated reboot is expected to attract both young audiences and longtime fans of the Smurfs.
With the release of Friend of Mine, Rihanna’s voice is once again part of the global music conversation, and Tyla’s growing star power continues to shine on an international stage.
Until R9 is finally released, this soundtrack is giving fans a much-needed dose of Rihanna and a glimpse into what the future of her music may hold.
