the fact that r8 took so long to come out means the songs were never that good, the album wasn't worth releasing, confidence was lost, and multiple scrappings have ensued. after this 3+ year hiatus, 90% of r8's songs will have been created within a month to a couple weeks before the album actually drops. they are being frantically concocted by writing camps and songwriters on speed dial as we speak
Poor Rihanna waited so long that her era and tour will coincide with Pepcé's. It's gonna be brutal. The first week sales. The side-by-side shots of Rih her half empty arenas and Pepcé her full stadiums.