Rihanna’s ‘ANTI’ Album Won’t Drop On November 6, But Can We Expect A Release Before Christmas?

Rihanna may have excited fans when she debuted the cover art for her highly anticipated eighth studio album, ANTI, last week, but there’s still no confirmation from Rihanna or her record label regarding an official release date for the project.

Rumors began circulating earlier this week suggesting that Rihanna will drop ANTI on November 6, given Rihanna’s sudden increase in promotional events and interviews over the past few weeks.

Most recently, Rihanna sat down for a candid interview with the New York Times Style Magazine before reports confirmed that Rihanna will serve as one of three celebrity performers for this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

While fans are eager for confirmation of an official release date for Rihanna’s ANTI album, it doesn’t look like the project will be dropping on November 6 after all.

Sources close to Rihanna reached out to Billboard to deny ANTI’s November 6 release date rumors but neglected to offer any further details regarding a release date for the album.

https://instagram.com/p/8kMfFCBM3Y/

The site further alleges that its unlikely Rihanna will be dropping ANTI in the second week of November, seeing as both One Direction and Justin Bieber will be battling it out for the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 on November 13.

Similarly, a Rihanna insider dished to Urban Islandz that not only will Rihanna not release ANTI on November 6, Rihanna’s closest friends aren’t even aware of the real release date for the album.

Rihanna’s source explains that no release date has been confirmed with the media before noting that “Rihanna’s closest confidants” don’t even know when ANTI will hit stores.

Similarly, the source notes that fans should wait to hear announcements from either Rihanna or Roc Nation regarding ANTI’s release, as it will be the most accurate and up-to-date information on the album.

While fans continue to grow impatient for Rihanna’s eighth studio album release, new speculation has already begun suggesting that ANTI will likely drop before the holiday season.

Historically, Rihanna’s four previous album releases, Rated R, Loud, Talk That Talk, and most recently, Unapologetic, have dropped either in the second or third week of November, leaving fans to wonder if Rihanna will drop ANTI unexpectedly before the holidays.

Despite the lack of information about Rihanna’s new album, there have been several confirmed rumors since speculation regarding ANTI’s release began last year.

Rihanna personally unveiled the cover art for ANTI during a private gallery event in L.A. last week in which artist Roy Nachum worked alongside Rihanna to create the red, black, and white album art.

https://instagram.com/p/8kMpLWBM3l/

ANTI’s cover shows a young Rihanna holding a black balloon while a gold crown rests over her eyes.

Rihanna explained the symbolism of the cover art during the event, telling reporters, “Sometimes the ones who have sight are the blindest.”

In addition, Rihanna’s most recent single releases, “FourFiveSeconds,” “B**** Better Have my Money,” and “American Oxygen” are all expected to appear on ANTI despite no sign of a track list for the album.

In regard to the album title itself, Rihanna shared a photo on her Instagram account that sought to explain the meaning behind ANTI serving as the title for her eighth studio album.

“By continuing to follow her own instincts, her work strives to make an impact by doing the very antithesis of what the public expects.”

While Rihanna dispelled rumors that suggested she wasn’t finished working on ANTI during the cover art unveiling last week, it appears we will still have to wait for an official announcement for Rihanna to determine the official release date of Rihanna’s new studio album.

Do you think Rihanna will drop her eighth studio album, ANTI, in late November?

[Featured Image Credit: Getty Images / Christopher Polk]