The Wait Is Over: Billboard Confirms Rihanna Will Drop 'Anti' Album This Week [Details]

Rihanna has kept her fans on edge for the past four years as they have awaited her eighth studio album Anti with the last several months being the most frustrating.

Anticipation has been at an all time high after releasing several singles, launching an album campaign via Samsung, and even announcing her upcoming “ANTI World Tour” which kicks off on February 26.

Alas, still no release date in sight, then this week there was word that Riri was rumored to be dropping her new Drake assisted single “Work” on Wednesday (Jan 27).

. @rihanna has a BRAND NEW SINGLE and @shoboyshow is WORLD PREMIERING it tomorrow at 8am! Listen here: https://t.co/erxcM3u7Dn

— The New 923 AMPRadio (@923amp) January 27, 2016

Well now according Billboard, they have confirmed that not only the single but the actual album itself will arrive before this Friday. Via the outlet:

After months of anticipation, the rumors about what exactly Rihanna was listening to in those $9,000 headphones can be put to bed: Sources tell Billboard that herAnti album will finally arrive this week, likely as a surprise release before Friday.

Now with the album on the way within days, the focus for most will shift to what the album will actually sound like and who will be involved. After gifting the Billboard Hot 100 with three singles in 2015 — “Bitch Better Have My Money” (which peaked at No. 15), “American Oxygen” (No. 78) and the Kanye West and Paul McCartney-assisted “FourFiveSeconds” (No. 4) — the pop icon has kept a low musical profile. One source tells Billboard that the album is more diverse than her prior releases, with a wide array of styles that move the overall product away from “BBHMM” territory. Sia has spoken repeatedly in interviews about working with Rihanna and last month released her single “Cheap Thrills,” which she said was initially written for Rih. And earlier this month, reports surfaced that Rihanna shot a video in Los Angeles with Drake for a song called “Work.” A source tells Billboard that Rihanna’s next single, featuring an OVO artist, is set to arrive at 8 a.m. Wednesday.