On her post on X, the “We Found Love” singer shared the trailer and announced the song will drop this Friday, May 16, and will be included in the film’s official soundtrack.
Based on what can be heard in the clip,” Friend of Mine” finds the musician singing over an Afrobeats-sounding dance track, “You’re looking like a friend of mine”. The new teaser begins with the superstar grooving in the studio as she records the track.
The dance track comes after “Lift Me Up” in 2022, which was part of the soundtrack for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It has also been nine years since she released her last studio album, Anti, back in 2016.
Early in February, the singer gave an update on her highly anticipated ninth album, where she noted her enthusiasm for the new direction for her sound, saying she can’t release anything mediocre.
Based on the Belgian comic book series, the live-action animated musical features Rihanna as Smurfette, John Goodman as Papa Smurf, Nick Offerman as Ken, Nick Kroll as Brainy Smurf, Xolo Maridueña as Clumsy Smurf, Sandra Oh as Moxie, and James Corden as an unnamed Smurf.
Directed by Chris Miller (Puss in Boots, Shrek the Third), Smurfs follows the Smurfs on a mission into the real world, led by Smurfette, as they try to save and rescue Papa Smurf from evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel.
Besides voicing the movie, Rihanna is also credited as one of the Executive Producers.
Earlier this month, the ‘Diamonds’ singer revealed her third pregnancy ahead of her appearance at the 2025 Met Gala. She debuted her baby bump while leaving The Carlyle Hotel in New York City en route to the Met. The singer was wearing a grey two-piece skirt set, paired with matching knee-high socks and grey heels. She used a brown fur scarf to subtly cover her baby bump.
Rihanna welcomed her first son, RZA, with A$AP Rocky in May 2022, followed by the birth of their second son, Riot Rose, in August 2023. She famously revealed her second pregnancy during the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
By Kenneth Gachie
