Not much is known about Rihanna’s next album, which is tentatively titled R8. Outside of a few singles like the folk vibes of “FourFiveSeconds” and the club track “Bitch Better Have My Money,” we know that the R&B singer is tapping into different genres. However, a source believes RiRi is adding another element to the project that she's shied away from in recent years.

Apparently, Rihanna will include more dancehall music on this album. In an interview with The Fader, dancehall producer Dre Skull revealed that he was contacted by Rihanna’s reps to contribute music to her project. For those who don’t know who Dre Skull is, he’s the founder of Mixpak Records, which is the label home of Popcaan and the now incarcerated artist Vybz Kartel.

“I know firsthand and secondhand that she’s been reaching out to a lot of people in the dancehall world," he said. "I’m not suggesting it’s gonna be [a dancehall album] but [her people] are excited about dancehall and to work in that sort of context."

"They’ve reached out to Popcaan, but I’ve talked to a number of people in Jamaica that they’ve reached out to," he continued. “I’m not suggesting that I know what will happen, but I do know they’ve talked to a bunch of artists that I know."

So it looks as if Rihanna is going back to her roots for her long-awaited eighth album. After years of collaborating with major rap stars like Eminem, Kanye West and Jay Z, it would be interesting to hear Rihanna join forces with dancehall artists like Popcaan, Beenie Man or maybe the princess of dancehall Spice. In the past, songs like "Pon De Replay" and "Man Down" have had a sound straight from the islands but nothing quite like dancehall. She has also worked with reggae star Baby Cham on his 2006 record "Boom Boom."

This is all wishful thinking on our part, but we're happy to see that the "Stay" singer is expanding her musical palette. Rihanna's R8 currently has no release date yet.

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