Over six years after the release of her album 'Anti', Rihanna returned to music on Friday with the release of 'Lift Me Up', an emotional ballad in the 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' soundtrack. The track, co-written by Rihanna, Tems, Ludwig Göransson, and 'Black Panther' director Ryan Coogler, was written as a tribute to the late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died from colon cancer in 2020 at age 43.

Packed with emotional lyrics, accompanied by a piano and minimal strings, the track allows Rihanna's impressive vocals to shine through.

'Lift me up/Hold me down/Keep me close /Safe and sound,' she sings as the song opens.

'Burning in a hopeless dream/Hold me when you go to sleep.'

An instrumental version was also released on Friday.

Talking about Rihanna's involvement in the film's soundtrack, Tems said in a statement, "Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honour."

Director Ryan also shared his excitement about the singer's involvement in the film. "We knew she was at a point in her life as well, where she was functioning on different things. She was functioning on business, motherhood, she's a big name in our film," he said to The Hollywood Reporter and added, "So we were holding on to hope that it could work out and boy! Did it! I can't wait for people to hear it."

The release of the song garnered all sorts of reactions from fans. Many took to Twitter to share their honest reaction to the song while others celebrated the singer's return to music.

"The maturity in Rihanna's voice whew LORD," a fan wrote.

Another went as far as predicting an Oscar nomination for the soundtrack. "just finished listening to rihanna’s

future oscar winning song lift me up," 

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky match on the red carpet at the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"

The Rihanna music drought ends: Singer releases 'Lift Me Up' for 'Black Panther' soundtrack

Rihana shines bright like a diamond, or several diamonds: The multi-hyphenate star is now a billionaire. 

Forbes announced Wednesday that Rihanna joins the ranks of Oprah Winfrey as one of the richest entertainers in the world. The publication estimates her net worth at $1.7 billion, with most of it coming from her cosmetic brand Fenty Beauty. 

In lieu of another album – which fans are still waiting for – the singer-turned-entrepreneur, born Robyn Fenty, launched Fenty Beauty in 2017 in partnership with luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. The brand's launch focused on inclusivity with a then-unprecedented 40 shades of foundation, which prompted the "Fenty Effect" in which other brands expanded their shade ranges for complexion products. Now the brand covers everything under the sun of makeup, from brushes and blushes to lipsticks. 

Rihana has mostly lived in our makeup bags, lingerie drawers and Instagram feeds for the past six years as she focused on her beauty and apparel businesses and became a mom. Now, she's back in our ears with the release of "Lift Me Up" – her first new music since her 2016 album "Anti."

The song is the lead single of the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack and was co-written by the bad gal herself in collaboration with Tems, the movie's director Ryan Coogler and Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson in tribute to late "Black Panther" actor Chadwick Boseman. 

The song comes as a soft ballad with sweet strings that make Rihanna's voice the focal point as she sings a simple chorus, "Lift me up, Hold me down, Keep me close, Safe and sound."