It’s fall, which means two things in accordance with the laws of nature: The air’s getting cooler, and a new Rihanna era is beginning.

And just has she’s done for years now–with 2009′s “Russian Roulette,” with 2010′s “Only Girl (In The World),” and with 2011′s “We Found Love,” the Bajan beauty’s come guns blazing with a brand new beat for her Navy: “Diamonds,” penned by Sia and produced by Benny Blanco & Stargate.

From the very first moment, “Diamonds” presents itself as something entirely different from anything on the radio: It’s not the killer club cut many might have been expecting from the “We Found Love” songstress–instead, it’s a gorgeously soulful, triumphantly striding midtempo.

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Well, this is going to be one hell of a week in pop.

We’ve already got tracks from Ke$hus, Lana Del Slay and Queen Kylie on the way, and now, we’re about to get our yearly fix of G4L Navi Commander, Illuminati Princess and Reign Enthusiast, Rihanna.

Earlier today, the Bajan beauty unveiled the single art for “Diamonds,” the Stargate & Benny Blanco-produced, Sia-penned lead single from her forthcoming 438th 7th studio album, which is due out in November.

The artwork–which should appeal to fans of Rihanna’s Instagram account–finds the “Roc Me Out” chanteuse rolling a fat one filled with diamonds. Weed found love in a hopeless haze!

It’s all a bit…well, I don’t know. Blunt? But it doesn’t matter. As Ri would likely tweet: #Phuck haters, Navi!

The song will premiere worldwide on radio stations at 8 AM EST on Wednesday, September 26 (and 9 AM on iTunes.)

The songstress also premiered a new website–Rihanna7–which will undoubtedly contain loads of teasers and tidbits along the way. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

“Diamonds” will be released on Wednesday, September 26. (iTunes)

Behold: The video premiere of Rita Ora‘s debut US single, “How We Do (Party)”!

It’s fitting, then, that the video for “How We Do (Party)” is one big party (and bullshit): Dancing! Laughing! Shenanigans! Quickly however, the song and video all congeal into one messy mega-mix of Katy Perry‘s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”, Jessie J‘s “Domino” (the song, anyway), a dip into Ke$ha‘s vomit-filled closet and basically everything about Rihanna, ever. It’s all a bit, well…

It’s not as though the comparisons are unfounded, either: After all, Ora herself told The Guardian that while there won’t be a “next Rihanna,” Jay-Z hopes to repeat her success. Oh! Well, alright then.

As for her UK single “R.I.P (feat. Tinie Tempah)”? Now that’s a song that’s got my full attention…even if that’s mostly because it’s Rated R RiRi-rific.

Look: She’s got an amazing voice and definite star wattage, but the comparisons (and/or blatant acts of swagga jacking) are kind of overwhelming. I mean…HELLO! This is Rihanna!

Here’s hoping she becomes more of her own beast in due time.

“How We Do (Party)” was released on March 27. (iTunes)

Illuminati Princess of China Navy Commander Bakery Enthusiast Rihanna is returning this spring with the next official single from Talk That Talk (and the best song off the album, period): “Where Have You Been.”

Minutes ago, the pop songstress unveiled the single Calvin Harris-produced dance floor banga on Twitter. As you can see, the Bajan chanteuse is serving us some fierce Arabian Nights realness with that flowing fabric up in her face and whatnot.

Now, my Rihanna Navy uniform might have been locked up in storage for the past few months ever since that “Birthday Cake” debacle, but if we can all just forget that whole mess ever happened, I’m willing to whip out my membership card and get aboard the battleship once again.

“Where Have You Been” will be serviced to radio on May 8. (iTunes)

According to Hits Daily Double, Madonna‘s MDNA will top the Billboard 200 chart this week at #1 with 357,943 copies sold.

EDIT: The official Billboard report is in–Madonna clocks in at #1 with 359,000 sold. From Billboard:

Madonna remains in second place among women with the most No. 1 albums. She now needs only one more No. 1 to tie Barbra Streisand, the leader among women with nine chart-toppers.

“MDNA” sold 359,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan, and is Madonna’s fifth straight studio album to debut at No. 1. It follows 2008′s “Hard Candy,” which moved 280,000 in its first week. “MDNA’s” opener is her best sales week since 2000′s “Music” shifted 420,000 when it debuted at No. 1.

The opening week album sales surpasses that of Rihanna‘s Talk That Talk (198,000), Katy Perry‘s Teenage Dream (192,000), Beyonce‘s 4 (310,000), The Holy Spearit‘s Femme Fatale (276,000) and yes, even Adele’s 21 (352,000). The only one to outsell her opening week is, of course, Lady Gaga‘s Born This Way (1,108,000). (Lest we forget, the controversial $0.99 Amazon MP3 sale accounted for roughly 440,000 of those copies. Also, entire subways and buildings were covered in her face.* La, la, la…)

The sales also best the opening weeks of several of her most recent efforts, including 2008′s Hard Candy (280,000), 2003′s American Life (241,000) and slightly edges out 2005′s Confessions On A Dance Floor (350,000).

But wait! There was one major promotional move: Those who purchased tickets to the MDNA Tour via Ticketmaster also had the option to receive a copy of MDNA along with their purchase. Since those albums factor into the mix, sales from concert-goers factor into the final tally. (There aren’t any official figures around the Ticketmaster-specific albums, but 1 album per $150 ticket is a different story than 150 albums for $150. I digress.**)

That’s right, y’all: Madonna just outsold almost every single one of your favorites (and mine too) relying on a single Super Bowl performance back in February, a 20 minute Facebook chat and a Q&A on Twitter on the night of the album’s release.

*I’m being facetious. Calm the fuck down, Little Monsters.
**I’m still being facetious. Calm the fuck down, Little Monsters.

Madonna: Queen of Everything.

MDNA was released on March 26. (iTunes)