Overview
#LiftMeUp marked Rihanna’s triumphant return to music after a six-year hiatus. Released as the lead single from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in October 2022, the ballad served as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and signaled that the singer had finally broken her musical silence.
The Wait Is Over
Fans had spent years begging Rihanna for new music with the hashtag #R9 (her hypothetical ninth album). When “Lift Me Up” dropped, social media exploded with relief, tears, and celebration. The song’s gentle, emotional tone was a departure from her usual pop bangers, showing artistic maturity and respect for the film’s themes of loss and legacy.
Cultural Context
The song was co-written with Tems (who was having a massive 2022 herself) and producer Ludwig Göransson. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Rihanna an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song—her first Academy Award nomination.
The hashtag became a dual-purpose trend: celebrating Rihanna’s comeback while also honoring Boseman’s memory and the film’s emotional weight.
Key Moments
- October 28, 2022: Song release breaks Twitter with 4.2M mentions in 24 hours
- November 2022: Music video released featuring Wakanda Forever footage
- January 2023: Nominated for Academy Award and Golden Globe