Music iconRihannashared new behind-the-scenes footage from her latestBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreversingle ‘Lift Me Up.’ In the brief clip, we see her interacting with the crew of the shoot on the beach. She also commended the direction ofAutumn Durald Arkapaw,who directed the music video, as the caption read, “an honor getting one of the illest #AutumnDuraldArkapaw from Black Panther directing this music video!! Shout outs to you and your entire team for bringing this visual together for such a special record!”
Arkapaw is the mastermind behind the stunning visuals of the new film directed byRyan Coogler. Grammy winner Rihanna, co-wrote the emotional number ‘Lift me Up’ withTems, Coogler, and composerLudwig Göransson, who won an Academy Award for the firstBlack Panther. The song tugs at the heartstrings of fans and honors late actorChadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 following a devastating battle with colon cancer. The studio then decided not to recast the titular character, rather Coogler reworked the story and paid a tribute to the late King of Wakanda.
The song also marks the multi-hyphenated artist’s return to music after 6 years. Speaking about the collaboration the director revealed in aprevious interviewthat the ‘Diamonds’ singer was his first choice as the team was looking for someone “who could embody it thematically." He further revealed that knowing Rihanna “was at a point in her life as well where she was focusing on different things — focused on business, motherhood, which is a big theme in our film." Indeed in the new movie, Coogler has brought the women of Wakanda to the forefront with Queen Ramonda now sitting on Wakanda’s throne and Shuri, Okoye, and Nakia preparing for the upcoming war against Namor and his kingdom of Talocan.
RELATED:Rihanna Releases “Lift Me Up” Music Video Featuring ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Footage
At the forefront of this fight isWinston Dukeas M’Baku,Letitia Wrightas Shuri,Lupita Nyong’oas Nakia,Angela Bassettas Queen Ramonda,Danai Guriraas Okoye, andMartin Freemanas Everett K. Ross. The new feature will introduce newcomersDominique Thorneas Riri Williams aka Ironheart andTenoch Huertaas Namor, the Submariner.
You can check out the new clip and the movie’s synopsis below:
Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.
