Rihanna Works It on First Single 'Work' From New Album, Anti

Rihanna pushes the envelope on the release of her new album, Anti. She released the first single today and says she’s worth the weight.

Rihanna’s three year hiatus is officially over. The 27-year-old singer, today (Jan. 27) released the first single, or second depending on who’s counting, from her upcoming–and long awaited–new album. Titled “Work,” it features Drake and a heavily reggae influenced sound.

The upcoming album, titled Anti, is her first since Unapologetic was released in 2012.

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The long layoff between sets is unusual for Rihanna, perhaps one of the hardest working women in show business. She dropped seven albums in seven years, an unprecedented feat, in today’s cash-strapped music industry.

The latest album has been more than a year coming. Production apparently took place in fits and starts.

In January a year ago, she released “FourFiveSeconds,” a collaboration with Kanye West and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. It was supposed to be the first single.

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But Rihanna said in a Tweet that “Work,” produced by Boi-lda, is the first.

That leaves up in the air the status of two other songs, “Bitch Better Have My Money,” released in March and “American Oxygen,” which followed in April.

“Work” also took a circuitous route to release. It debuted on D.J. Scott Mills‘ show on BBC Radio 1. It was released for download on Jay Z’s Tidal music service and iTunes about an hour after that.